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Mobility as a Basic Human Right: A Situated Understanding of Mobility among Persons with Physical Disabilities in Rural Talensi District, Ghana

Lawrence Opoku Agyeman*

Mobility is a requisite for accessing social, economic, cultural, and political development. The mobility obstacles in cities have been well-documented, leaving rural areas with few studies on critical challenges related to movement in both the natural and built environment. This study then sought to fill this gap. Snowballing was used to select 75 persons with physical disabilities in the district for a household survey. Face to face interviews were conducted with the association of persons with physical disabilities, and the officers from the department of social welfare to provide further insights into the findings. The data gathered were coded, categorized, and analyzed to identify patterns to create an understanding of the mobility barriers among persons with physical disabilities. The topographical features of the district, consisting of stones, rocks, valleys, hills, and slopes, have made maneuvering extremely difficult for people with disabilities. The built environment, such as small entrances and bad roads, and high ramps have created mobility barriers for people with disabilities. The presence of native stairs and smaller gates forced people with disabilities to park their wheelchairs outside their homes. The lack of a sidewalk puts disabled people at high risk of accidents as both shares the same road with vehicles. The study recommended that rural homes and roads be designed and built to make their disability responsive.