To make Singapore more age-friendly and improve facilities for the elderly as well as the disabled, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) launched yesterday a month-long public consultation on proposed amendments to the accessibility code which sets minimum design requirements for buildings and public spaces.
“We would like to incorporate more Universal Design features in the built environment to make it more convenient for people of all ages and with different needs to move around,” said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan in his blog.
BCA will consult senior citizens, persons with disabilities and parents with infants on possible features that buildings could adopt, such as mandating child-friendly toilets and lactation rooms.
Its Barrier-Free Accessibility programme completed in November 2012 helped make HDB estates more accessible to residents of all ages, especially the elderly and disabled.
“In fact, almost all public buildings, including community clubs and MRT stations have achieved some level of basic accessibility. And nearly 9 in 10 buildings along Orchard Road now provide some accessibility features. But we want to do more,” noted Mr Khaw.
Shabnam Muzammil, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email shabnam@propertyguru.com.sg
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