Analysis of accessibility and perception of people with disabilities in vessels

Abstract

Introduction: Marajó Island, located in the State of Pará, Brazil, is composed of 16 municipalities. Approximately 20.3% of its population has some type of disability, and the main means of transport to and from the island are vessels. Objective: To analyze the accessibility in the vessels used to transport people from the municipalities of Marajó Island to the state capital. Method: This is a quantitative-qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research conducted with 23 people with physical and/or sensory disabilities. Ten vessels were assessed. The study is divided into two stages: analysis of the perception of people with disabilities using a semi-structured interview, and analysis of vessel accessibility using a checklist based on the NBR 15450:2006 standard. Results: Most participants did not consider the vessels accessible and found difficulties in accessing and remaining on them. The analysis of the vessels showed that the averages of compliance with the norms in the evaluated spaces were < 50%. Conclusion: There is agreement between the difficulties pointed out by the participants regarding the nonapplication of the NBR 15450:2006 standard, indicating that the lack of accessibility limits the access and mobility of individuals with disabilities who use water transportation in the Marajó Island region. Residents of Marajó Island with physical and/or sensory disabilities may be deprived of their basic right to come and go, facing barriers in their autonomy and independence regarding mobility and other occupations that depend on it.