Leveraging universal design and work health and safety laws to promote and progress SDG 11.7: access to public spaces for people with disabilities

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Harpur, Paul
Stafford, Lisa
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)

Dolley, Joanne

Hardy, Keiran

Matthews, Tony

Date
2025
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

The right to access and occupy public space is valued in Western urban and social policy discourses, yet people with disabilities continue to be directly and indirectly excluded from public spaces. This entrenched discrimination occurs because planning and design operate from an ableist lens that values and upholds a normative (unrepresentative) ideal about human ‘bodyminds’. In addition, design that complies with only minimal standards often prevents full access to and use of public spaces by diverse people with disabilities. This chapter outlines the benefits to individuals and society of allowing full access and participation in public spaces for people with disabilities. The authors introduce mechanisms that are crucial to helping to disrupt ableism and achieve goal 11.7 for people with disabilities. The chapter illustrates how closer alignment between work health and safety laws and efforts to promote access can help achieve more inclusive public spaces.

Journal Title
Conference Title
Book Title

Public Space and the Sustainable Development Goals: Inclusion, Safety, Culture and Nature

Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Persistent link to this record
Citation

Harpur, P; Stafford, L, Leveraging universal design and work health and safety laws to promote and progress SDG 11.7: access to public spaces for people with disabilities, Public Space and the Sustainable Development Goals: Inclusion, Safety, Culture and Nature, 2025, pp. 30-44

Collections