Disability, participation, and accessibility governance: a scoping review of advisory committee experiences

Purpose: Public agencies often fail to involve people with disabilities in decision-making on the accessibility of community environments, thus perpetuating barriers to participation. Research suggests that formal involvement of people with disabilities, such as on advisory committees, could strengthen the implementation of accessibility initiatives. However, little is known about the experiences of people with disabilities serving on accessibility-focused committees. Methods. We conducted a scoping review to map the current literature on civic engagement experiences of people with disabilities on public advisory boards and committees related to accessibility. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria identified through the search process. Using content analysis, we identified three key themes that described people with disabilities' experiences on advisory committees. Results. The context and circumstances of civic engagement highlighted the importance of political context and representation in leadership opportunities. We identified barriers, such as unclear roles and accessibility issues, within the challenges of civic engagement processes. The impacts of civic engagement opportunities concerned increasing access to advocacy spaces and reinforcing a positive disability identity. Conclusion. Our findings emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of the quality of experiences in advisory boards and for better support for people with disabilities in their civic engagement roles.