Adaptation of Vessels to the Need of Disabled Persons – A Handbook

This paper describes how the goal for Swedish policy with regards to disabled persons can be summarized in two words – normalization and integration. Sweden’s policy on mobility for disabled people has followed two main directions, one being the adaptation of the public transport system to the needs of the disabled persons and the other the establishment of special transport service. In consequence with the Swedish policy with regards to disabled persons is the basic view that the mobility of impaired persons have the right to and need of public transportation to the same extent as other groups. Making the public transport system accessible to and useable by all categories of people was therefore a natural part of the transport policy goal of ensuring a satisfactory transportation service for all citizens. This paper was of great value to the Swedish Board of Transport when formulating the directions for adaptation of vessels to the needs of disabled persons. A handbook was developed that was primarily directed toward purchasers, designers, and manufacturers of smaller passenger vessels.