Static Versus Dynamic Accessibility. Accessibility Management as a Tool to Enable Its Permanence over Time

Area of Science:

• Architecture and Urban Planning
• Disability Studies
• Environmental Design

Background:

• Current accessibility audits offer static snapshots, failing to ensure long-term usability.
• Accessibility often degrades over a building's lifespan due to a lack of continuous management.
• A proactive system is needed to maintain and improve accessibility post-construction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the concept and necessity of a Universal Accessibility Management System (UAMS).
• To analyze existing methodologies for accessibility auditing and management.
• To identify key components for developing a dynamic UAMS that ensures sustainable accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Review and theoretical analysis of two established accessibility management methodologies.
• Evaluation of methodologies based on processes, indicators, and practical disruptors.
• Comparative assessment of strengths and weaknesses of different approaches.

Main Results:

• Static accessibility audits are insufficient for long-term maintenance.
• A Universal Accessibility Management System (UAMS) is essential for sustained accessibility.
• Understanding user perspectives (visitor and worker) is key to UAMS development.

Conclusions:

• A dynamic approach to accessibility audits, integrated into a UAMS, is vital.
• UAMS implementation should consider both design/construction phases and ongoing management.
• The goal is to guarantee the long-term sustainability of accessibility in built environments.