Accessible Spaces and Active Stakeholder Engagement Processes
摘要
Vulnerable communities often face socio-spatial exclusion and discrimination, primarily due to insufficient institutional attention, limited social awareness, top-down decision-making processes, inadequate training of political decision-makers on accessibility issues, and a lack of sensitivity from the so-called “able” society. These challenges relate to the right to the city for all and the pursuit of socio-spatial justice, which connects the quality of community environments to the enhancement of both individual and collective well-being. The creation of truly equitable and accessible spaces for all can arise from political and research practices grounded in action research, where direct stakeholders are transformed from passive subjects into active participants in the research and design process. A notable example of best practices in spatial accessibility is provided by the DeafSpace project guidelines, developed by Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., which effectively address the visu-centric (focused on the dimension of sight) communication needs of the deaf community, offering an innovative model of inclusive design.