The study examined the accessibility of the physical college environment by all learners. The findings from interviews with teachers, focus group discussion with students and access audit of buildings indicated that the physical college environment was not accessible by all learners. Some of the physical facilities were not accessible by a particular group of students, for example, students with visual impairments and those who use wheel chairs. Some offices at the administration and nearly all toilets were not accessible by students on wheelchair (see appendix 10). Not all classes were specifically designed to accommodate all students. These results were substantiated by data from access audit of the classrooms, buildings and college grounds that involves students. Table 4 shows the data collected from the access audit of classrooms and other buildings.
Table 4: Data from access audit
Description of facilities Number of facilities
Buildings with ramps 33
Buildings without ramps 2
Toilets accessible by wheel chair users 2
Toilets not accessible by wheel chair users 18
Steps with hand rails 30
Steps without hand rails 5
Wide doors 50
Doors not wide 10 …show more content…
However, the ramps had steep gradient and their surfaces were not slip resistant and colour contrasted; and the ramps had no handrails on the sides (see appendix 11). As a result, students with physical impairments had to be assisted by their peers in order to get physical access to buildings. The corridors were wide enough and free from obstruction to wheel chair users to manoeuvre and for other people to pass, but were hazardous to people with impaired sight.
Most steps on the buildings had handrails on each side but they were not colour contrasted to aid people with impaired vision. In addition, there were no visual and tactile warnings at the top and bottom of the steps (see appendix
Table 4: Data from access audit
Description of facilities Number of facilities
Buildings with ramps 33
Buildings without ramps 2
Toilets accessible by wheel chair users 2
Toilets not accessible by wheel chair users 18
Steps with hand rails 30
Steps without hand rails 5
Wide doors 50
Doors not wide 10 …show more content…
However, the ramps had steep gradient and their surfaces were not slip resistant and colour contrasted; and the ramps had no handrails on the sides (see appendix 11). As a result, students with physical impairments had to be assisted by their peers in order to get physical access to buildings. The corridors were wide enough and free from obstruction to wheel chair users to manoeuvre and for other people to pass, but were hazardous to people with impaired sight.
Most steps on the buildings had handrails on each side but they were not colour contrasted to aid people with impaired vision. In addition, there were no visual and tactile warnings at the top and bottom of the steps (see appendix