No abstract available. / Thesis (LL.M)-University of Durban-Westville, 2001.

This research investigates the travel paths of pedestrians along residential frontage roads in the immediate vicinity of bus stops. This investigation was performed to characterize association between seasonality, age, gender, physical impairments and travel path selection. For the purposes of this research, a pedestrian travel path is defined as the physical route chosen by transit users on their walking journey immediately before boarding or after alighting the transit bus, along residential frontage roads in the immediate vicinity of bus stops. A study site screening process that encompassed multiple site visits, Automated Passenger Counting / Automatic Vehicle Location and Geographic Information Systems data analyses identified four study sites (with two bus stops each). At these sites, unaware bus stop users were observed and their travel paths were classified into one of three categories: (a) pedestrian walking on the frontage road; (b) pedestrian walking on the outer separation; or (c) pedestrian walking on the main road. The required sample was collected during eight months, and was divided into ‘no-snow’ and ‘snow’ seasons. After performing statistical tests of association to the travel path selections of bus stop users, the research found that seasonal effects are statistically significant, indicating that there is a higher number of people walking on the main road during the ‘snow’ season. There was also a statistically significant difference in pedestrian path choices regarding site characteristics. When comparing the study sites, the only site that provided a splash strip was found to have a significantly higher amount of people walking along the outer separation, where the splash strip is provided, and which is used by pedestrians as a sidewalk. This finding indicates that if pedestrian facilities were provided along outer separations, they may have an impact on the path chosen by pedestrians when traversing frontage roads. There was not enough evidence to find a statistically significant relationship between pedestrian walking paths and gender, age or ambulatory capabilities.

Bakalauro darbe analizuojamas fizinės aplinkos pritaikymas asmenims, turintiems judėjimo negalią, Šiaulių mieste. Suformuluotos hipotezės, kad 1) fizinė aplinka prastai pritaikyta, asmenims turintiems judėjimo negalią, nors fizinės aplinkos pritaikymas neįgaliesiems yra reglamentuotas teisiniuose aktuose; 2) tai sąlygoja nevisavertį socialinį dalyvavimą visuomenės gyvenime; 3) fizinės aplinkos pritaikymas aktualus ne vien neįgaliesiems, bet ir kitai visuomenės daliai. Tyrime dalyvavo 202 atsitiktiniai respondentai, 180 - neturintys judėjimo sutrikimų ir 22 - asmenys, turintys judėjimo negalią. Bei ištirta Šiaulių miesto fizinė aplinka (172 objektai), jos prieinamumas asmenims, turintiems judėjimo negalią. Anketinės apklausos metodu tirta, kaip vertinamas fizinės aplinkos prieinamumas Šiaulių mieste. Fiziškai aktyvių asmenų bei asmenų, turinčių judėjimo negalią, anketų atsakymai lyginami su Šiaulių miesto objektų prieinamumo analize. Analizuojant tyrimo duomenis, ieškota ryšio tarp statistikos, įstatyminių bazių ir realaus fizinės aplinkos pritaikymo asmenims, turintiems judėjimo negalią. Tyrimu nustatyta, jog Šiaulių mieste fizinė aplinka prastai pritaikyta asmenims, turintiems judėjimo negalią, kas įtakoja jų socializaciją bei pastangas tapti visaverčiais visuomenės nariais. Pastebėtas ir bendras visuomenės susirūpinimas dėl neįgaliųjų diskriminacijos (akivaizdžiai netinkamai ar visai nepritaikytos fizinės aplinkos), tačiau konkrečių pasiūlymų kaip šias problemas spręsti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The bachelor’s paper deals with adaptation of physical setting for the people with motion disability in Siauliai City. The following hypotheses were formulated: 1) physical setting is poorly adapted for the people with motion disability, though such adaptation is regulated in the legal acts; 2) this predetermines limited social participation in the social life; 3) adaptation of physical setting is urgent both for the disabled and for the rest part of community. 180 random respondents without motion disorders and 22 motion-disabled participated in the study. Physical settings of Siauliai City (172 units), their accessibility for motion-disabled people were explored. Questioning survey was used to analyse evaluation of physical setting accessibility in Siauliai City. In order to find adequacy of evaluation of physical setting of physically healthy and motion-disabled people, their responses were compared with accessibility analysis of the sites of Siauliai City. Research result analysis was used to find a link between statistics, legal bases and actual adaptation of physical setting doe motion-disabled people was looked for. The research showed that physical setting is poorly adapted for motion-disabled people in the city, which means their reduced socialization opportunities. General concern regarding discrimination of the disabled was noticed; however there were no specific suggestions on how to solve the problems received. The third hypothesis partially corroborated:... [to full text]

Syftet med arbetet är att kartlägga hur en organisation arbetar med tillgänglighet för anställda med ett funktionshinder, samt vilka eventuella hinder organisationen stöter på i förbättringen av tillgängligheten inom organisationen. Studien är en kvalitativ undersökning där vi gjorde sju enskilda intervjuer med olika personer inom organisationen. Vi intervjuade personer inom organisationen som var chefer och arbetar med arbetsmiljö och tillgänglighet samt även medarbetare. Vi fick även möjlighet till att intervjua ett par personer med funktionshinder. Resultatet visade att tillgängligheten är mycket god inom organisationen. Däremot finns det områden i byggnaden som behövs förbättras och som inte är tillgänglig för alla funktionshindrade. Cheferna inom organisationen jobbar med att uppdatera sig själva angående tillgänglighet genom informationsmöten, tidsskrifter, mail och så vidare men framförallt genom eget ansvar. Däremot noterade vi att kommunikationen mellan chefer och medarbetare ibland inte är tillräcklig för att arbetet med att förbättra tillgängligheten på arbetsplatsen ska kunna utvecklas. Resultatet visar också att delaktigheten ibland har sina brister då medarbetarna inte lämnar information om förbättringar som organisationen skulle kunna göra. / The purpose of this work is to identify how the organization works to improve accessibility for its employees who have a disability, as well as any obstacles the organization may encounter in the improvement of accessibility within their organization. This work is a qualitative study where seven different individuals within the organization were interviewed. Some of those interviewed are in managerial positions who manage work accessibility issues, and some of the employees had disabilities. The results showed that accessibility is very good within the organization. However, there are areas within the building where improvments are needed, for example, not all areas are accessible for those with a disability. The heads of the organization are working to update themselves regarding accessibility through information meetings, magazines and email, but above all by their own responsibility. However, we noted that communication between managers and employees are sometimes not sufficient enough to improve accessibility in the workplace. Employee participation could also improve, for example, faster results could be achieved if employees ‘spoke out’ more reguarlarly in regards to accessibility issues.

The tourism industry involves people with specific but different needs to be satisfied, whether one is able-bodied or has a disability. People with disabilities are a global phenomenon and research indicated that 600 million people in the world have some type of disability. Therefore the market for tourists with disabilities cannot be disregarded, for it can significantly contribute to a country's tourism receipts. To understand and effectively cater for the disability market, there are several aspects that the tourism industry should look at. This leads to the aim of this study viz. to determine what the barriers and constraints faced by people with disabilities are. In order to achieve this aim, a hundred questionnaires were distributed to various sectors of the tourism industry, for example the accommodation sector (hotels, guesthouses, Bed and Breakfasts), tour operators and travel agents. The study indicated that: *The tourism industry needs to adapt and promote “Tourism for All”. *The lack of available and accessible facilities, transport, accommodation and attractions have an impact on the travel patterns of tourists with disabilities. * Marketing should include information to tourists with disabilities. * To achieve this goal and server diverse tourists, a universal design needs to be included in the current and future developments of tourism products. Evaluation of existing facilities and tourist attraction need to take place in order to provide a quality service and experience to people with disabilities. * Government and local authorities have an important role to fulfil to ensure that a universal design be implemented in tourist attraction and facilities. The key aspect that the tourism industry need to know and remember is that if a person has a disability, it does not mean that he/she is unable to travel or does not want to travel. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2003.

This research investigates the travel paths of pedestrians along residential frontage roads in the immediate vicinity of bus stops. This investigation was performed to characterize association between seasonality, age, gender, physical impairments and travel path selection. For the purposes of this research, a pedestrian travel path is defined as the physical route chosen by transit users on their walking journey immediately before boarding or after alighting the transit bus, along residential frontage roads in the immediate vicinity of bus stops. A study site screening process that encompassed multiple site visits, Automated Passenger Counting / Automatic Vehicle Location and Geographic Information Systems data analyses identified four study sites (with two bus stops each). At these sites, unaware bus stop users were observed and their travel paths were classified into one of three categories: (a) pedestrian walking on the frontage road; (b) pedestrian walking on the outer separation; or (c) pedestrian walking on the main road. The required sample was collected during eight months, and was divided into ‘no-snow’ and ‘snow’ seasons. After performing statistical tests of association to the travel path selections of bus stop users, the research found that seasonal effects are statistically significant, indicating that there is a higher number of people walking on the main road during the ‘snow’ season. There was also a statistically significant difference in pedestrian path choices regarding site characteristics. When comparing the study sites, the only site that provided a splash strip was found to have a significantly higher amount of people walking along the outer separation, where the splash strip is provided, and which is used by pedestrians as a sidewalk. This finding indicates that if pedestrian facilities were provided along outer separations, they may have an impact on the path chosen by pedestrians when traversing frontage roads. There was not enough evidence to find a statistically significant relationship between pedestrian walking paths and gender, age or ambulatory capabilities.

The tourism industry involves people with specific but different needs to be satisfied, whether one is able-bodied or has a disability. People with disabilities are a global phenomenon and research indicated that 600 million people in the world have some type of disability. Therefore the market for tourists with disabilities cannot be disregarded, for it can significantly contribute to a country's tourism receipts. To understand and effectively cater for the disability market, there are several aspects that the tourism industry should look at. This leads to the aim of this study viz. to determine what the barriers and constraints faced by people with disabilities are. In order to achieve this aim, a hundred questionnaires were distributed to various sectors of the tourism industry, for example the accommodation sector (hotels, guesthouses, Bed and Breakfasts), tour operators and travel agents. The study indicated that: *The tourism industry needs to adapt and promote “Tourism for All”. *The lack of available and accessible facilities, transport, accommodation and attractions have an impact on the travel patterns of tourists with disabilities. * Marketing should include information to tourists with disabilities. * To achieve this goal and server diverse tourists, a universal design needs to be included in the current and future developments of tourism products. Evaluation of existing facilities and tourist attraction need to take place in order to provide a quality service and experience to people with disabilities. * Government and local authorities have an important role to fulfil to ensure that a universal design be implemented in tourist attraction and facilities. The key aspect that the tourism industry need to know and remember is that if a person has a disability, it does not mean that he/she is unable to travel or does not want to travel. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2003.

Midsize cities face a number of sustainability challenges, particularly in terms of transportation and land use, however only a small subset of the literature has addressed these issues. Examination of the literature reveals two reasons for this: there is no consensus on a definition of midsize cities used for transportation research purposes, and there is very little empirical understanding of midsize city characteristics. This thesis addresses both of these issues. In order to establish the bigger picture, an empirical classification of Canadian cities is completed and used as a tool to analyze the travel behaviour characteristics of Canadian midsize cities. This work is followed by two detailed case studies of midsize Canadian cities – the City of Kamloops, British Columbia, and the Town of Milton, Ontario. The case studies employ both qualitative and quantitative research methods to explore the context around travel behaviour in each community.

Midsize cities face a number of sustainability challenges, particularly in terms of transportation and land use, however only a small subset of the literature has addressed these issues. Examination of the literature reveals two reasons for this: there is no consensus on a definition of midsize cities used for transportation research purposes, and there is very little empirical understanding of midsize city characteristics. This thesis addresses both of these issues. In order to establish the bigger picture, an empirical classification of Canadian cities is completed and used as a tool to analyze the travel behaviour characteristics of Canadian midsize cities. This work is followed by two detailed case studies of midsize Canadian cities – the City of Kamloops, British Columbia, and the Town of Milton, Ontario. The case studies employ both qualitative and quantitative research methods to explore the context around travel behaviour in each community.

This study examined the experiences of Canadian postsecondary learners who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing and have received services from the campus accessibility office. Data collected from interviews with nine learners were analyzed using a constructivist grounded-theory approach, thus allowing the basic social process (BSP) to emerge. I called this process negotiating communication access in postsecondary education. It consisted of three key supporting processes: (a) advocating for self, (b) navigating the learning environment, and (c) building relationships. The research outcomes achieved in this study include (a) a documented analysis and synthesis of the perceptions of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students specific to the theoretical and practical issues involved in accessing communication support services in postsecondary institutions and (b) a theoretical model that depicts the above synthesis. Last, the discussion chapter contains recommendations for increasing accessibility to postsecondary institutions for learners who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.