INTRODUCTION

• Disability is an evolving concept and it results from the interaction between

persons with Impairments and attitudinal as well as environmental barriers that
hinders their full and Effective participation in society on an equal basis with
others (UN, 2006).

• Disabilities can occur at any stage in a person’s life from infancy to old age. The
major causes of disabilities include: infections, poisoning, radiation, genetic
defects, accidents, Violence including war, lack of oxygen during birth, harmful
traditions, poverty and Ignorance, lack of sufficient and balanced food, lack of
social contact, and the occurrence Of chronic diseases (MoLSA, 2021).
 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH

• Article 31 of UNCRPD has given due emphasis to take appropriate measures to

ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the
physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications,
including information and communications technologies and systems, and to
other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in
rural areas.
• These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of
obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia Buildings, roads,
transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing,
medical facilities and workplaces, Information, communications and other
services, including electronic services and emergency services.
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The purpose of this study was to find answers for the following basic research
questions:
i) Are the light railway stations in Addis Ababa designed in a way to support
persons with physical disabilities?
ii) What are the most crucial problems of Persons with physical disabilities/ PwDs
On the railway
iii) What social problems do persons with physical disabilities encounter in
railway stations in Addis Ababa?

iv) What are the stakeholders’ views on the means through which the society
can address problems that are facing persons with physical disabilities in railway
stations in Addis Ababa
 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

• General Objective
i) To assess the challenges of persons with physical disabilities on the LRT
with reference to Specific Objectives

• The specific objectives of this study are to:

i) Analyze the infrastructure of the LRT to see if it allows people
with physical disabilities to use comfortably.
ii) Investigate those factors that make people with physical impairment be
absent from the service providers.
 SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

Scope of the Study

The study focuses on investigating challenges and status of life of Persons with physical

disabilities in Addis Ababa, specifically, on the LRT stations

Significance of the Study
The results of the study would have the following contributions:

• It will create awareness especially for persons with physical disabilities and concerned
stakeholders about factors that are causing inaccessibility for persons with physical
impairment;
• It will sound an alert for the community in general and the stakeholders in particular to
develop alternate options for those with physical disability to prevent their absenteeism from
service providers;
CHALLENGES PWD FACE WHEN
ACCESSING ADDIS ABABA
LIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT
STATIONS
 DEFINING DISABILITY
• Definition of disability often depends on the national social
legislation and cultural standards. This makes the concept
difficult to understand in global context. According to
centers for disease control and prevention, disability is any
condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it
more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain
activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world
around them (participation restrictions). There are many
types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person’s:
• -Vision
• -Movement
• -Thinking
• -Learning
• -Communicating
• -Hearing
 POPULATION OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES
• Statistics show that 15% (approximately 1 billion) out of the total
global population are people with some form of
disabilities(WHO,2011). According to the UNDP report (2011), 80% of
the world’s People with disabilities live in developing countries
belonging to the poorest group.
• According to UNICEF’s 2018 survey, it is estimated that 7.8 million
people in Ethiopia are living with some form of disability, which is
approximately 9.3 percent of the country’s total population.
• In Ethiopia, disability is generally considered to be a curse, so
families as well as communities discriminate against people with
disabilities. This number could be inadequate because of
misconception in defining as to what constitutes disability, omission
of persons with certain types of disabilities, unwillingness of parents
to disclose that they have a child or family member with disability, as
well as the exclusion of some geographical areas in survey reasons
(MoLSA, 2012).
UNOOSA.OR
G
CHALLENGES AFFECTING PWD
IN ETHIOPIA
• Among all the factors challenging the lives of
PWDs environmental inaccessibility shares
the highest percentage, i.e. 38.6% (BoLSA,
2012). Accessibility of the transport system
for PWDs plays pivotal role in realizing their
right to reach different services. However
poor street design and unsuitable transport
vehicles in Addis Ababa greatly influence
PWDs to decide to stay at home (Misrak,
2006). Under Article 41(5) of the FDRE
constitution the government is responsible for
the provision of necessary rehabilitation and
support services for PWDs.
This responsibility must be interpreted to
include working towards the issue of
accessibility. Moreover, the UN convention on
the Rights of PWDs (CRPD) under Article 9
clearly stated that States Parties shall take
appropriate measure to tackle obstacles that
are related with accessibility. Except for
ratifying the CRPD in 2010, Ethiopia’s effort to
create all inclusive environments based on
these legal regimes, especially, in the transport
environment is not satisfactory (Addis Ababa
Transport Policy, 2011)
major challenges of PWDs in Ethiopia includes
poor physical & technological accessibility that
hinders independent mobility and adversely
affect their overall inclusion in society.
The transport problems in Addis Ababa are a
difficult problem in the daily life of people
without disabilities let alone PWD. These
problems might be associated with poor urban
planning when devising the plan of the city with
inefficient classification of the vehicle and
sidewalk leading to heavy traffic and slow arrival
of public transport services(busses, mini busses,
automobiles…etc). The construction of the Addis
Ababa light railway and other more recent
developments in the transport sector aim to
demolish this issue.
ITDP.ORG
THE ADDIS ABABA LIGHT RAIL
TRANSPORT SYSTEM
• To alleviate the lack of transportation in the city, the
Ethiopian government constructed Addis Ababa light
rail transport by signed and Agreement with the
Chinese China Railway Group Limited company (CREC),
which was built and started to operate under the
development and transformation plan, Built at cost of
475 million US dollars. The design speed is 80 km/h
and the operational speed is 70 km/h. It travels
underground, through tunnels and bridges, and has
pedestrian and car crossings. It has 39 stations which
locate 27 on the ground, 9 on the bridge, 2 on the
partial bridge and one in the tunnel. The light rail has
39 ticket offices and 18 power stations. It has 22
elevators and 12 escalators.
RAILWAYGAZETTE.COM
 ACCESSIBILITY OF THE ADDIS
ABABA LIGHT RAILWAY STATIONS
• We will examine its strengths and weaknesses
in catering to various needs, including visual
impairments, hearing impairments, and
mobility limitations.
ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE BLIND

• Braille signage: Currently, limited availability of

Braille signage for station navigation.
• Audio announcements: Availability of audio
announcements for station stops are inconsistent.
The current system offers limited accessibility for
blind passengers. Braille signage for navigating
stations is not yet widely implemented. While
audio announcements for stations might be
available, their consistency is uncertain. There's a
need for improvement in these areas to ensure a
smooth travel experience for visually impaired
individuals.
 ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE DEAF

• Sign language support: Limited presence of staff

trained in sign language at stations.
• Visual indicators: Availability of visual indicators
for announcements (e.g., flashing lights)
unconfirmed.
• Currently, the light railway offers minimal support
for deaf passengers. Staff trained in sign language
is not readily available at all stations. The presence
of visual indicators for announcements requires
further confirmation. Improvements in these areas
are essential to enhance accessibility for the deaf
community.
ACCESSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH
MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT
• It has 39 stations which locate 27 on the ground,
9 on the bridge, 2 on the partial bridge and one in
the tunnel. It has 22 elevators and 12 escalators.
Therefore with 11 stations on an elevated space
there should be an easy way to access it for
people with mobility impairment while it is true
that elevators and escalators exist, its not safe to
say that these features work consistently
• Lifts and ramps: Inconsistent functionality of
elevators and ramps reported at some stations.
• Priority seating: Availability of designated
priority seating for disabled passengers on trains.
Accessibility for passengers with mobility
limitations presents a mixed picture. There
have been reports of elevators and ramps
being malfunctioning at times. However,
designated priority seating on trains is a
positive aspect that ensures easier access for
those who need it. Upgrading and maintaining
accessibility infrastructure is crucial for a more
inclusive experience.
ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL:
SOLUTIONS FOR THE ADDIS ABABA
LIGHT RAILWAY

• The Addis Ababa Light Railway has the potential

to be a vital transportation resource for everyone
in the city. However, accessibility barriers can
hinder its ability to serve all residents equally.
Practical solutions that can transform the railway
into a truly inclusive system, ensuring a smooth
and comfortable travel experience for people with
disabilities.
 CHALLENGES FOR
ACCESSIBILITY
• Inoperable elevators and ramps
• Lack of Braille signage for visually impaired
passengers
• Limited availability of staff trained in sign
language Inconsistent audio announcements
SOLUTIONS FOR THE LIGHT RAILWAY TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO
DISABLE PEOPLE'S AS WELL AS TO EVERYONE

• Install Braille signage: Implement Braille labels

throughout stations for navigating platforms,
restrooms, and exits.
• Ensure consistent audio announcements:
Guarantee clear and consistent audio
announcements for station stops, platform
changes, and important information
• Explore tactile guidance systems:
Research and implement tactile floor surfaces
or guiding rails to assist blind passengers in
navigating stations.
• Train staff in sign language: Provide sign
language training for station personnel to
facilitate communication with deaf
passengers.
• Install visual indicators: Implement flashing
lights or visual displays alongside audio
announcements for a multi-sensory approach.
• Offer text-based information: Consider
providing real-time information on delays or
disruptions via text message or display
screens.
• Prioritize maintenance of lifts and ramps:
Regularly maintain and repair elevators and
ramps to ensure consistent functionality.
• Implement clear signage for accessible
entrances: Clearly mark accessible entrances
and exits at stations.
• Increase designated priority seating:
Expand the number of designated priority
seating areas on trains for those who need
them.
 CONCLUSION
•
In
general, the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transport System
in Ethiopia faces challenges in terms of accessibility
for persons with disabilities (PWDs). These challenges
include limited availability of Braille signage,
inconsistent audio announcements, lack of staff
trained in sign language, and inconsistent
functionality of elevators and ramps. However, efforts
to enhance accessibility, such as implementing
Braille signage, ensuring consistent audio
announcements, and providing training for staff, can
improve the inclusivity of the system for all
passengers, including those with disabilities.
 CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY

Transportation systems play a crucial role in enabling people with disabilities (PWDs) to fully participate in
society. However, many transportation systems around the world face challenges in terms of accessibility,
including the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transport System in Ethiopia.
The challenges faced by PWDs in using the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transport System highlight the need for
universal design principles to be incorporated into all transportation systems. Universal design aims to
create environments and products that are accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities
or disabilities.
By implementing universal design principles, transportation systems can become more inclusive and
equitable for all passengers. This includes providing accessible features such as Braille signage, audio
announcements, staff trained in sign language, and functional elevators and ramps.
Furthermore, it is important to engage with disability rights organizations and PWDs themselves to ensure
that their needs are met and that transportation systems are truly accessible for everyone.
Only by making transportation systems accessible for all can we create a truly inclusive society where
everyone has the opportunity to participate fully.