Final Thesis.

Title Page (for example)

 

 

 

Abstract

Seeing persons with disabilities engaging in shopping mall activities is evidence that having body impairment does not mean incapacitated. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of the shopping mall in the lives of persons with disabilities. Shopping malls play a vital role in the lives of persons with disabilities by providing a convenient place for them to engage in social and economic activities. Using a cross-case analysis technique, this qualitative study first analyzed information obtained through the fieldwork observation method followed by unstructured interviews with selected participants, and WHAT TYPE OF? documents were analyzed to study why persons with disabilities go to the mall and what they do there. The study describes the shopping mall, from persons with disabilities’ perspective, as a public place and community that enables persons with disabilities to engage in social and economic activities under one-roof. The study demonstrates that persons with disabilities are capable of participating in community activities in a barrier-free environment. The study offers evidence in support of the social model of disability’s argument that disability is socially constructed.

 

Keywords

Discrimination, stigmatization, exclusion, marginalization, social inclusion, segregation, individual support plan, accommodation, inclusive design

 

 

 

Acknowledgments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedication

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents (see the example below)

 

Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………………

1.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..

1.2 Purpose, significance, and rationale of the study………………………………….

1.3 Overview of chapters …………………………………………………………….

1.4 4 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………

 

Chapter 2: Context…………………………………………………………………..

2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………

2.2 Inter-religious coexistence in post-colonial Nigeria……………………………………………..

2.3 Post military era and the power struggle in northern Nigeria…………………………………..

2.4 Boko Haram’s early ideology…………………………………………………

2.5 Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency: A turning point in the spread of terrorism in

northern Nigeria………………………………………………………………………

2.6 Territorializing in the face of government pressure…………………………….

2.7 Boko Haram: A new threat in West Africa……………………………………

2.8 Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF): Trends and Patterns………………..

2.9 Implementing ECOWAS’s counterinsurgency strategy………………………

2.10 Human rights violations……………………………………………………..

2.11 Arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life……………………………………..

2.12 Inhumane prison and detention conditions…………………………………….

2.13 ECOWAS’s policy of conflict prevention, early warning, and response………

2.14 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………

 

Chapter 3: Literature review…………………………………………………………

3.1  Introduction………………………………………………………………………

3.2 Violent extremism, terrorism, and ethnoreligous conflicts……………………..

3.2.1 Terrorism……………………………………………………………………….

3.2.2 Ethnic conflict………………………………………………………………….

3.2.3 Boko Haram: Origin, ideology, causes, and impacts

3.3 Conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding………………………

3.3.1 Nigeria state peacebuilding effort………………………………………………

3.3.2 Regional conflict security effort……………………………………………….

3.4 Regional organization and security………………………………………………

3.4.1 ECOWAS and regional security governance in West Africa…………………..

3.4.2 ECOWAS and the challenges to regional security governance……………………………………………………………………………

3.5 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………..

 

Chapter 4: Methods……………………………………………………………………

4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….

4.2 Qualitative research approach– grounded theory ………………………………

4.3 Researcher background and positionality…………………………………………

4.4 The study site and participants profile………..………………………………

4.5 Research objectives, questions, and scope of the study…………………………

4.6 Participant recruitment………………………………………………………….

4.7 Ethical considerations, informed consent, and confidentiality………………….

4.8 Risks and precautions in the field………………………………………………

4.9 Data collection, analysis, and coding………………………………………….

4.10 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………..

 

Chapter 5. Violent extremism and terrorism in northern Nigeria: Boko Haram’s emergence and continued existence……………………………………………..

5.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..

5.2 Boko Haram, religion, and ideology: Weaponizing ethnicity……………….

5.3 The victims of Boko Haram insurgency: Abuse of power…………………..

5.4 Humanitarian services, and NGOs: Meeting people’s basic human needs…

5.5 Addressing the Boko Haram insurgency……………………………………..

5.6 Key findings……………………………………………………………………

5.7 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………….

 

Chapter 6: ECOWAS, the state, and nonstate actors conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding efforts……………………………………………

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Perceptions of ECOWAS’s conflict intervention, conflict resolution, and   peacebuilding efforts

6.3 Nigeria’s role in preventing the escalation of the terrorist insurgency in Northern Nigeria…………………………………………………………………………………

6.4 Nonstate actors…………………………………………………………………

6.5 Key findings………………………………………………………………………

6.6 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………

 

Chapter 7: ECOWAS’s peacebuilding and conflict prevention capacities…………

7.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….

7.2 ECOWAS, member states and conflict prevention funding…………………….

7.3 The role of external actors and partners in the struggle against Boko Haram’s insurgency…………………………………………………………………………….

7.4 ECOWAS’s peacebuilding interventions in local communities…………………..

7.5 Key findings………………………………………………………………………

7.6 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………….

 

Chapter 8: Conclusions…………………………………………………………….

8.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..

8.2 Overall key findings…………………………………………………………….

8.3 Grounded theoretical concept……………………………………………………

8.4 Limitations of the study………………………………………………………

8.5 Future research………………………………………………………………….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

Introduction

This chapter explores the lived experiences of 6 disabled people attending a Winnipeg mall……….(Develop a short paragraph here to introduce the thesis)

Personal Experiences and Perception

I was born and raised in the Ashanti region of Ghana, in the West of Africa where people with visible disabilities such as the physical/mobility/mental/intellectually impaired are not only marginalized, and excluded from participation in society but they are also stigmatized, and dehumanized religiously, socio-culturally, and economically (Baffour, 2013; Yeo, 2001, 2003; Naami and Mikey-Iddrisu, 2013). The extent of stigmatization and dehumanization go beyond the person with disability to every member of the family in which the person comes from, no matter the generation (Dako-Gyeke and Asumang, 2013; Opoku et al 2016). The tradition and custom of the Akans (ethnic group in Ghana) do not recognize persons with disabilities (Munyi, 2012). The Asantes tradition and culture, an ethnic group in Ghana, which I belong to, even forbid an impaired person from become a chief or queen mother or a leader even if that person is the only one left (Munyi, 2012). Before a marriage ceremony is performed, among the Akans in Ghana, each side of the family has to make a background check to find out if the family has any record of bad behaviour such as a criminal record, and if there is a disabled person s in the family or has ever come from that family that is enough to nullify a marriage. It is believed, among the Akans, specifically the Asantes, that a disabled child is from the “spirit world’’ or s/he is bad luck and so if one gives birth to an impaired baby, the person or the elders in that community have to see off (kill) the baby. Traditionally, some people believe that impaired children come from the gods of the forest or the river and so they usually send that child back to the river bank or to the forest and leave the child to die (Baffour, 2013). All these practices and beliefs are as a result of local community’s lack of knowledge and understanding of disability. The misconceptions and negative perceptions about disability and persons with disabilities are often transferred from generation to generation through negative stories and fiction about persons with disabilities. I inherited negative perceptions about disability and persons with disabilities, and so grew up to have no interest in the well-being of persons with disabilities. Due to my lack of knowledge about disability, instead of encouraging persons with disabilities, families, and the friends of persons with disabilities in school, I did the opposite. I thought that persons with disabilities have no abilities until I had an encounter that changed my life and my perceptions about persons with disabilities, an encounter that aroused my interest in understanding people with disabilities and their participation in the social and economic activities in the community.

It all began just a day after my arrival in Canada (Toronto), in August 2015. I went to a shopping mall at Jane and Finch called the Finch Mall. I also went to the Yorkdale Shopping centre at North York. At the Mall, I saw many persons with disabilities, and I was astonished and could not take my eyes off of them. This was because in my home country Ghana, it is uncommon to see persons with disabilities in shopping malls and other public places. So, I asked myself several questions such as: Why is s/he here? Who brought him/her here? What does s/he want? How did s/he get here? What are they doing at the shopping mall?

In 2017, I relocated to Winnipeg and here too I found that rain, wind or shine, Summer or Winter, there is an increasing likelihood that I would meet a person or persons with disabilities carrying out their day-today activities in a shopping mall. So, this experience informed my curiosity and my research question of why persons with disabilities go to the mall, and what do they do there?

As a support staff worker, working with multiple organizations in Winnipeg that provide support services to persons with disabilities, I noticed that in almost all of these organizations, many of the people they support have an Individual Support Plan (ISP). There is an activity chart for each person in their ISP. Most of the people have a community inclusion and participation program in their activity chart. Among the community participation programs, going to the shopping mall is the most common activity in their daily support plan. This clearly indicates that persons with disabilities like to go to the shopping mall.

So, why do persons with disabilities go to the mall? What do they do at the mall? What is at in the mall that attracts or motivates people with disabilities to deal with all of the barriers located at the mall? Persons with disabilities encounter barriers in their attempt to engage in community activities (Maart et al., 2007; Shier et al., 2007). Yet, persons with disabilities leave various locations and go to the shopping mall each day. They manage numerous barriers be they physical or environmental when they go to the mall.

Persons with disabilities are neglected and have lagged behind in many aspects of life globally in terms of their participation in society (Barns & Sheldon, 2009; Wolbring, 2009). This is as a result of their continuous exclusion and marginalization from social participation directly or systemically (Barns & Mercer, 2005). Persons with disabilities face segregation and in some parts of the world segregation still exist (Grech, 2009). Talking of systemic exclusion and marginalization, societies are built with blockages and lack of accessibility to public facilities, which discourage persons with disabilities from participation (Maroto & Pettinicchio, 2014). Ghana is among the few African countries that not long ago passed a law to allow persons with disabilities to fully participate in all of its socio-political activities (Opoku et al., 2016; Sackey, 2014; Asante and Sasu, 2015). Persons with disabilities were disenfranchised from exercising their rights as citizens and were excluded from active participation.

Social inclusion promotes community living and an inclusive society (Rawal, 2008). In Manitoba, the implementation and practice of social inclusion has gradually impacted the lives of many persons with disabilities positively in terms community integration in areas such as public transportation, community living, public places and facilities (Pratima, 1993).

 

Research Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this phenomenological research inquiry is to examine the role of a Winnipeg shopping mall in the lives of persons with disabilities. The study objectives were

1. To discover what the shopping mall means to persons with disabilities;
2. To identify at least two accessible facilities that enhance their participation and two barriers at the Shopping Mall that impede persons with disabilities’ participation; and
3. To outline at least two things a shopping mall could do to improve and promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation at the mall.

 

 

 

Research Questions

A set of questions were outlined to direct and guide the research process. These questions were also developed around the study’s purpose and the objectives set. The main research question was what does a shopping mall mean to persons with disabilities? The following sub-questions were also used as a guide to direct the research.

• Why do persons with disabilities go to the shopping mall?
• What do persons with disabilities do at the shopping mall?
• What barriers do persons with disabilities face at the shopping mall?
• What could shopping malls do to improve and promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation?

Overview of Chapters

Please include an abstract of each chapter here.

 

Conclusions

A short paragraph to wrap this chapter and transition to the next

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

Literature Review

Introduction

Each chapter has a beginning (Introduction) and an ending (Conclusions)

Chapter two highlights some of the key arguments within the Disability Studies literature. Specifically, Chapter 2 explores (1) community participation and independent living, (2) disability policy enforcement, (3) accessibility and design, (4)……………………, (5)…………….., and (6)…………

 

Community Participation and Independent Living

A great deal of literature has been written about persons with disabilities and their inclusion and participation in the community and their social activities (Milner & Kelly, 2009). Studies have shown that independent living and community participation are important to persons with disabilities as it is to everyone else. Rock (1988) suggested that persons with disabilities must have a complete independence and the willpower to freely decide for themselves their day-to-day activities. Rock’s (1988) argument is supported by Hammell’s (2015) point of view that persons with disabilities have the right to a quality of life and access to participate in communal activities. Rock (1988) asserts that community living enhances the idea that persons with disabilities are part of the larger community and are connected to the people within the community.

In the same way, Community Living disABILITY Services of Manitoba has made it their vision and mission to support persons with disabilities to live and do things in the community that are important to them and to be able to live and socialize fully with family and friends in the community (manitoba.ca-Community Living disABILITY Services). Rock (1988) points out that the nature of the environment as well as inaccessible transit is a contributory factor leading to their exclusion and marginalization. The exclusion and marginalization of persons with disabilities in the community is largely caused by an inaccessible built environment (Bashiti & Abdul-Rahim 2015; Hashim et al. 2011; Imrie & Kumar 1998; Poldma et al., 201; Swaine et al., 2014 ). Rock concludes that independence, to the people with disabilities, means living in the community and having the right to make choices.

Verdonschot et al. (2009) compare and contrast the participation level of persons with intellectual disabilities living in the community to those people living in segregated settings and persons with disabilities living in integrated settings that are engaged in more community activities yet their level of involvement is lower compared to non-disabled groups. Randt (2011) asserts that the emotional and psychological effect of experiencing isolation and exclusion from the community activities can be harmful (Opoku et al., 2016). Randt (2011) further suggests that public education about disability and disability issues is an effective way of combating direct and systemic discrimination as well as bullying and abuse.

 

Disability Policy Enforcement

Enforcing accessibility policies and regulations in designing and constructing public places and spaces promote the inclusion and participation of all. Imrie and Kumar (1998) establish that the needs of persons with disabilities are not taken into consideration in designing public places and spaces. Weak policies and regulations account for the inaccessible nature of spaces (Hashim et al., 2011; Labbe et al., 2017; Poldma et al., 2014). Bashiti and Abdul Rahim (2015) also point out the role of the local authorities in the formulation of policies and regulations to enforce the universal design principles to create barrier-free environments in public facilities.  Imrie and Kumar (1998) conclude that a built environment that is not designed to include all persons restricts the independence of persons with disabilities as well as causing exclusion, marginalization, and discrimination . They argue that inaccessible environment hinders the free movement of persons with disabilities limiting their independence, concluding that disability is socio-environmentally constructed either by the actions of society that creates barriers or the inaction of society in creating access and accommodation for persons with disabilities to participate in community activities. It is also established from the social model of disability’s perspective that physical and structural barriers that block persons with disabilities from participating in social and economic activities undermine persons with disabilities’ ability to be more active (Milner & Kelly, 2009). These barriers are socio-politically constructed. Bashiti and Abdul Rahim (2015) contend that barriers hinder persons with disabilities’ ability to participate and limit their full potential. Milner and Kelly (2009) point out that advocating for disability education can improve and promote persons with disabilities’ participation and inclusion in the community. Power and Bartlett (2018) further argue that social and environmental hostility against persons with disabilities results in discrimination, stigmatization, isolation, and loneliness that limit their freedom and rights. They argue that the combination of body impairment, societal attitudes, as well as inaccessible physical environments contribute to disability.

 

 

Accessibility and Design

Disability is socio-environmentally constructed according to the foundation of the social model (Shakespeare & Watson, 2002). Improving accessible facilities and removing barriers increase persons with disabilities’ participation in all community activities. Swaine et al. (2014) articulate that physical obstacles and social barriers are some of the major barriers that people with disabilities face. They are also of the view that there is a need to improve accessibility, and educate shopkeepers to provide good customer service to persons with disabilities. Mazera et al. (2014) explored barriers and accessible facilities in shopping malls that persons with disabilities encounter. They revealed that physical barriers such as steps, narrow aisles, high level counters and accessible facilities such as ramps, wide and spacious doorways, and automated doors that exist in shopping malls are constructed by the actions and inaction of society. Poldma et al. (2014) were of the opinion that ideal public spaces and places should promote the positive experience of all users including persons with disabilities by implementing the universal principles of design. They assert that the lack of accessibility in commercial places and spaces restrict persons with disabilities’ involvement in community activities and do not promote social inclusion. Bashiti and Abdul-Rahim (2015) describe the shopping mall as a public place and space that offers valuable multi-purpose services for all people. They point out some facilities that improve shopping malls’ accessibility and promote the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities. Labbe et al. (2017) describe participation as being able to engage in socioeconomic life as well as recreation and leisure. They reveal that persons with disabilities experience isolation, neglect, marginalization, and are unable to partake in community activities due to socio-physical barriers concluding that the shopping mall is a multi-function community for diverse people.

Many studies focused directly or indirectly on recognizing persons with disabilities “as part of humanity and human diversity” (un.org/crpd). Therefore, persons with disabilities must be involved in community activities. Almost all the studies were aimed at improving accessibility in the community. To improve and promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation in the community, there must be an improvement of persons with disabilities’ accessibility in the community.  No studies looked at why persons with disabilities go to the mall or how shopping mall participation impacts their lives.

A shopping mall is a large building or several buildings linked to each other. It is a complex of shops representing merchandisers with interconnecting walkways that enable customers to walk from unit to unit to see and or buy varieties of products and services under one roof (Kushwaha et al., 2017). Due to its multi-purpose services and its shopping convenience many people like to shop there. It is where shoppers interact with products and services (Poldma et al., 2014). Labbe et al (2017) describe the space as a place for relaxation and work. It is a place where consumers go to break boredom (Bloch et. Al., 1994). Malls are multi-functional spaces for daily use by everyone irrespective of sex, age, and ability.

I visited Ghana in January 2019 while this study was in progress, and I went to the newest shopping mall, Kumasi City Mall, which was opened in May 2017.  Its beauty can be compared to many shopping malls in Western countries. I spent fifteen hours over three days in the mall just to satisfy my curiosity. This shopping mall has parking spaces allocated for persons with disabilities, the entry and exit doors are wide enough for wheelchair users. The hallways are spacious and smooth. There are entertainment centres as well as relaxation facilities. There are two elevators, one at each end of the building. I was pleased to see all these accessible facilities. However, there are many terraces and steps. All four entry doors have steps and curbs but no ramp to facilitate wheelchair users’ entry. The doors did not have push button access. Almost all the shops had high counters far above wheelchair height. There were no accessible washrooms yet, the mall has disabled parking spots. No wonder I didn’t meet a single visibly physically disabled person during my visit.

 

Models of Disability

There are many concepts of disability. The meaning and understanding of disability and people with disabilities and who they actually are, have been described in many ways based on the model of disability that one adheres to hence the misconception and misrepresentation of disability and people with disabilities (Grue, 2015). The model of disability is a way in which scholars define, understand, and classify individual’s impairment and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) in an attempt to define disability, linked a person’s body impairment to their socio-environmental interaction. For the benefit of this study, much attention will be given to these three models.

 

The Medical Model of Disability

The medical model of disability as the name implies, originated from the biomedical perception of disability. Under the medical model, disability is regarded as a defect or sickness. The medical model of disability sees a disabled person as a victim or a sick person (Russell, 2018).  Subscribers to the medical model of disability believe that the individual impaired person is the problem (Jonas-Sébastien, 2016). People who follow the medical model of disability believe that there is something wrong or abnormal with a person (Russell, 2018).

From the medical model’s perspective, all individuals with impairments have problems that must be cured or corrected medically so that they are seen as fit to participate in community activities (Goering, 2015). Historically, disability has been perceived by many others including persons with disabilities that disability is a problem that exists in a person’s body and that problem (impairment) is what discriminates against persons with disabilities, excludes them from society, and oppresses them. Therefore, the only way out is to cure or correct that problem medically (Oliver, 2013). The fundamental principle of the medical model of disability is to normalize the perceived abnormality so as to be accepted by society (Oliver, 2013)

Failure of the medical intervention to cure and correct the so-called abnormalities to integrate impaired persons into the community has led to, calling people with disabilities names such as abnormal, deaf, cripple, blind, sick person, weak and the ripple effects are negative perceptions, stigmatization, discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion (Green et al, 2005). As a result, a disabled person’s presence in a public place like a Shopping Mall amazes others, raises concern, and questions. People think that persons with disabilities do not belong and should not be in public places (Power and Bartlett, 2018). Similar to what I experienced, when I first witnessed persons with disabilities at Shopping Malls in Toronto. The belief that persons with disabilities are sick, weak, unfit, abnormal, and incapable and should not be at public places such as  Shopping Malls (Russell, 2018), because of their “wrong body in the wrong place” (Hansen and Philo 2006. P. 495), when it comes to inclusion and participation in the community activities like Shopping Mall.

 

 

The Religious/Moral/Charity Model of Disability

These models are interrelated and have common features. They can also be said to have their roots in medical model. The moral or charity model also sees the individual impaired person as the problem. This model sees disability as tragic and pitiful (Russell, 2018). People who subscribe to this model believe that disability is a problem in a person’s body that reduces the fullness or fitness of that person. Therefore, people without disabilities who are good people must pity people with disabilities and give charity for their support (Mugabi, 2017). The charity model asserts that persons with disabilities must depend on others to survive (Jackson, 2018).

 

The Social Model of Disability

The failure of the models discussed above to integrate persons with disabilities into the community, and to promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation in society called for a model that recognizes persons with disabilities as people who are equally human but with diverse body and mind (www.un.org/crpd), a model that recognises persons with disabilities not as sick, weak, tragic or pitiful (Russell, 2018), but as people who are capable of doing things differently in their own ways as Hansen and Philo referred to as “the normality of doing things differently” (Hansen and Philo, 2006. 493). The social model does not see persons with disabilities as sick, weak, tragic or pitiful rather it recognizes disability as “part of human diversity and humanity” (www.un.org/crpd).

The social model of disability argues that an individual is not disabled by the person’s impairment rather it is society that disables an individual through physical barriers, attitudinal barriers, environmental barriers (Oliver, 1984, 2013; Shakespeare and Watson, 2002). These barriers cause discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion of persons with disabilities (Shakespeare and Watson 2002; Goering, 2015; Russell 2018).

The social model of disability does not attribute a person with disability’s socioeconomic disfavour to the person’s bodily impairment but rather to society (Oliver, 1984). This is to say that the negative attitude of society and the barriers within society that result in discrimination against persons with disabilities, marginalization, and exclusion of persons with disabilities from socioeconomic activities, as well as limiting persons with disabilities’ ability and make them less able than the impairments do (Goering, 2015; Oliver, 2013). Michael Oliver, one of the pioneers who formulated disability models fervently argued that disability is a social phenomenon and not a medical condition (Oliver, 1984; 2013). The social model believes that a person’s impairment alone does not hinder and exclude the person from engaging in Shopping Mall activities.

The social model shifts disability from the individual’s impairment to the failure on the part of society to accommodate that individual (Hansen and Philo 2006). The social model, again, shifts the problem from the impaired person to society that designed and constructed structures and thoughts to marginalize persons with disabilities. According to the social model, disability is socially constructed (Oliver, 1984; Shakespeare and Watson, 2002; Goering, 2015; Russell 2018). This means disability is caused by societal activities and behavior but not the individual’s impairment.

This social model argues that disability can be de-constructed by the same society (Danforth and Rhodes, 1997), by integrating persons with disabilities into society and by promoting inclusion and the participation of persons with disabilities in community activities. Again, disability can be de-constructed through accessibility creation and removal of barriers.  With recent advances technology making every part of the world accessible, persons with disabilities should not be marginalised, excluded from, and discriminated against by socio-environmental barriers (Oliver, 2013; Shakespeare and Watson 2002).

The reality on the ground is that persons with disabilities face barriers in all aspects of life socially, economically, and politically. These barriers are what have contributed largely to the poverty nature among the people with disabilities across the globe (WHO). Yeo (2001, 2003) attributed the chronic poverty among persons with disabilities to the societal barriers. Naami and Mikey-Iddrisu (2013) concluded that it is the marginalization and exclusion of persons with disabilities from socioeconomic activities by society is what has caused poverty among the people with disabilities. This is not as a result of their impairment rather the refusal of society to change their attitude to fully embrace and institute inclusiveness (Hansen and Philo, 2006; Oliver, 1984, 2013).

The social model sees disability as the results of continuous actions of creating barriers and failure to remove barriers within society. This model is by far the best model that addresses the concern of persons with disabilities. Understanding of the social model of disability means an improvement in the lives of persons with disabilities. The social model promotes social inclusion and facilitates persons with disabilities’ participation in community activities. The knowledge and understanding of social model of disability has provided avenues to persons with disabilities to demonstrate their abilities and contribute their quota toward the national development. This is evidence that disability is socially constructed. People are not disabled by their impaired body rather it is society that disabled impaired people (Shakespeare and Watson 1996, 2002).

According to the social model disability, a disabled person’s inability to participate in social or community activities will be as a result of socio-environmental barriers constructed or de-constructed by society (Danforth and Rhodes, 1997; Shakespeare and Watson 1996). This is to say that in a barrier-free socio-physical environment, a person’s impairment will not restrict the person from participating in community activities (Imrie and Kumar, 1998; Bashiti and Abdul-Rahim, 2015; Shakespeare and Watson 1996, 2002).

Therefore, in order to study and understand persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation one has to understand the social model of disability. It was in this view that this exploratory research study was based on the social model of disability’s perspective to explore persons with disabilities and their activities at the mall, what they do at the mall, what problems or difficulties they encounter, how Shopping Mall participation impact their lives, and what society can do to promote inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in community activities.

 

Conclusions

You need a short paragraph to wrap up the chapter and transition to the next

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

Research Methodology

Introduction

This qualitative research study used a systematic approach to derive answers to the research questions outlined. As the slogan of people with disabilities movement goes “nothing about us without us” (Scotch 2009, pp. 1). The study used qualitative research method as it provides an opportunity to the research participants to express themselves (Patton, 2015). This method also helps to gain in-depth and extensive information for better understanding of issues under study (Jamshe, 2014; Patton, 2015). Qualitative research methods according to Patton (2015, Pp. 22) “facilitate the study of issues in depth and detail while quantitative methods, require the use of standardized measures to draw conclusions based on numbers”. Again, qualitative research was used because it focuses on social issues predominantly on the experiences of people and mostly relies on the researcher as the main and primary instrument of the research (Sutton and Austin 2015; Teherani et al., 2015; Patton 2015).

For a deeper understanding of people and their experiences, an in-depth and extensive interaction with the people is needed (Bowen 2005; Patton 2015). Using qualitative research method through extensive interaction with people and their environment brought to light hidden information as participants had the opportunity and the flexibility to express themselves and shared their stories and experiences (Patton, 2015; Creswell and Poth, 2018).

 

 

Naturalistic Inquiry

In my teaching days, we used to say that when a child sees it, touches it, and feels it, he or she will not only remember but will also understand. To study and understand remote and unfamiliar cultures you will have to go there and be among the group (Patton, 2015). To gain knowledge and deeper understanding of why people do what they do, to understanding the socio-cultural experiences of people in their social environment, you have to immerse yourself in that environment or culture (Bowen, 2005, 2008; Guba, 1979; Lincoln, 2007). Naturalistic inquiry is about studying things in their natural environment for better description, knowledge, and understanding. Making sense or meaning of human experience requires a naturalistic inquiry approach (Lincoln, 2007; Bowen 2008). It is about studying real-life issues as they occur without any input to control or change the outcome (Patton 2015). In qualitative research inquiry, “context is a key to the understanding of issues” (Patton, 2015, pp. 49). In qualitative research, a phenomenon is well-studied holistically and contextually. Qualitative research designs according to Patton (2015, pp. 48) “are naturalistic in the sense that the research takes place in real-world settings”.

Naturalistic inquiry approach is best used by social scientists to observe study, understand, describe and interpret the experiences of the social beings under study through observations and interviews at their natural or cultural settings. Research participants who were persons with disabilities were first observed, and then interviewed at their natural settings. The researcher observed and recorded research participants as they interacted in the Shopping Mall environment. Emergent flexibility was adapted to accommodate emerging issues (Patton, 2015).

 

Purposeful Sampling

A sampling technique was necessary since it was impossible to study all persons with disabilities and all Shopping Malls. The study therefore employed a purposeful sampling strategy. This is selecting information-rich cases that will explicitly and vividly describe the phenomenon under study for deeper understanding (Patton, 2015). Creswell and Poth (2018) describe purposeful sampling approach as intentionally selecting. That is selecting cases that have quality information that can effectively depict the issue under study (Devers and Frankel, 2000).

 

Data Gathering Strategy

Data collection in qualitative research is a systematic process of gathering relevant information that has the likelihood of answering the research questions (Barrett and Twycross, 2018). In qualitative research, data are words that contain meaningful information relating to the issue under study (Patton, 2015). In choosing a source of collecting data, the researcher considered the misinterpretation of information that could possibly occur as a result of the interviewee’s emotional discomfort or personal interest in the subject matter.

This could also lead to misinformation which could consequently weaken the credibility and reliability of the study (Opdenakker, 2006). The researcher realised that just observing people without trying to find out what they do and why they do what they do by asking people to get their response rather than just observing them secretly will also not yield good results. In an unobtrusive observation, one may be tempted to make assumption which could also affect and degrade the reliability and credibility of the research results (Boyko, 2013). Knowing and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of using interviews on their own or observations alone as sources of data collection coupled with the intention of producing credible results, the study adopted triangulation approach of data collection, the idea of using multiple sources of data gathering strategies (Olsen, 2004; Carter et al. 2014; Patton, 2015).

 

Selection of Sites (Shopping Malls) for Fieldwork Observation

A list of twelve Shopping Malls was compiled for the study using Google search. A first visit was conducted to see these shopping malls and their location, and size. After the first visit, six of these Malls were selected based on size, location, and proximity of one Mall to the other. A second visit was carried out purposely to find out which sites had a greater possibility of meeting persons with disabilities. The researcher then selected three Shopping Malls by comparing one Shopping mall to another and selected the first three Shopping Malls that persons with disabilities were found or visit the most. The Shopping Malls were coded as Shopping Mall A, B, and C.

 

Selection of Participants

At the recruitment stage, the aim was to select persons with physical disabilities between the ages of 18 and 65 who could speak English and could communicate clearly. Letters were sent out to various institutions in Winnipeg, Universities and Colleges, people with disabilities movements and activists, as well as organizations. Recruitment posters were put on public notice boards. Rewards and benefits, as well as the purpose of the study were briefly outlined.

 

 

Withdrawal of Participants

In all, twelve persons showed interest in participating in the study. The researcher booked an appointment to meet and brief them individually about their role as participants, the study purpose, and to seek their consent to record and use their responses in the study. Five persons did not meet the researcher. Seven participants signed the informed consent and received their rewards of appreciation. The participants decided the date, time, and venue they preferred. All participants chose their means of transportation and how they wanted the researcher to assist them from their various locations to the meeting point. Transportation was arranged ahead of time.

 

Description of Participants

Participants comprised of different racial backgrounds, genders, and forms of physical disability. There were three male participants and four female participants. Three participants were wheelchair users, two used clutches, and two had mobility disabilities. Research participants were interviewed individually. One research participant was interviewed each day. This was to ensure that ample time and attention as well as flexibility was given to each participant.

 

Data Collection – Observation

Observing participants in their natural settings provide a holistic understanding, taking context into consideration (Kawulich, 2005). The researcher spent fourteen days, eight hours per day in each location observing persons with disabilities as they participated in Shopping Mall activities. The fieldwork began at Shopping Mall A, on the 14th of February and ended at Shopping Mall C, on 30th March 2019. The study relied on the researcher as the primary instrument of the research. The primary units of observation were the research participants (persons with disabilities), non-participant’ interaction with participants, and the Shopping Mall and its environment (Sedgwick, 2014; Patton, 2015).

During the actual fieldwork observation, the researcher followed, observed, and studied research participants unobtrusively. The researcher observed and recorded participants’ activities at the Shopping Mall. The researcher focused on what participants were doing, how they were going about in their activities, what facilities within and around the shopping enhanced their participation, what hindered participants’ activities, means of transport to and from the Mall. The researcher also observed and recorded the physical environment (the structure) and non-participants at the Mall who interacted with the research participants the context of the research questions. The researcher observed and recorded participants’ activities such as shopping, eating and drinking, playing games, walking around and other services. The researcher observed and recorded barriers such as stairs/steps, curbs, malfunctioning facilities, and non-participants using accessible facilities. The researcher also observed and recorded facilities that enhanced participants’ activities such as elevators, ramps, automated doors, spacious hallways and aisles. In addition, non-participants’ activities that helped or hindered study participants were recorded.

 

Data Gathering – Interview

The study used unstructured interviews to collect data. The unstructured interview is open-ended approach that flows naturally (Jamshed, 2014). It provides flexibility and makes interviewees feel free from pressure. It enabled study participants to provide as much information as possible and ample time to resource persons who have the knowledge and experience to share (Fraser, 2004).

 

Interview Process

On the day of interview, research participants who needed transport from their location to the Shopping Mall were picked up and dropped off. Participants who came by their own means were reimbursed. The researcher went to the meeting place one hour early to wait and also familiarize himself at the setting. Upon arrival of the research participants, the researcher walked to the participants to welcome them. The researcher introduced himself and briefed participants again on the study purpose, the process, and their role as participants. The researcher asked participants to confirm if they still agree to proceed. The researcher sought participants’ consent and activated his recording device. The researcher and the research participants began the walk-about interview conversation at the drop off area. The researcher and the research participants walked through the parking lot and asked participants questions.

After the researcher had exhausted all his questions and follow up questions, the researcher asked study participants if there is anything they would want to add. All the study participants added something. One study participant who said she is a member of an activist group and an executive member of her organization had a lot listed on paper. She gave as much information as she could and contributed a lot by sharing her personal experience and the experiences of other members in her organization. The researcher thanked participants and arranged pick up for them.

 

Analysis of Fieldwork Data

From the fieldwork observation, data collected at each Shopping Mall was organized and analyzed separately using individual case study approach as the organizing structure (Patton, 2015). Therefore, all data collected through fieldwork observation from Shopping Mall A was organized and analyzed as a single case. The researcher began analysis during data collection by attaching descriptions to some specific information. In some cases, detailed description of event at the field was recorded. At the end of each day, the researcher spent some time to read through the notes recorded and filled the gaps. The researcher read through all the data collected from day one to fifteen from Shopping Mall A and underlined all key words, phrases, and sentences that could potentially answer or relate to any of the research questions. Thematic coding techniques, the idea of creating codes, sub-codes, and themes from the data to suit or answer the research questions was introduced (Maguire and Delahunt, 2007). Codes with similar meaning or purpose or function were all grouped and under one theme. However, words, phrases, and sentences that did not fall under any of the research questions were classified as emerging issues (Patton, 2015).

After data from each Mall was analyzed separately to obtain answers to all the research questions, the researcher then introduced cross-cases analysis technique to further analyze the results from each site (Khan and VanWynsberghe, 2008; Patton 2015). Under each research question, the researcher compared the commonalities and the differences in the results obtained from each Shopping Mall.

 

 

 

Analysis of Interview Data

In the same way, data collected from the interview process was organized and analyzed using case study approach as the organizing structure (Patton 2015). The individual case analysis technique was first introduced to analyze data collected from each research participant’s interview. The researcher began data analysis at the field during the interview process. Detailed descriptions and interpretations were noted down and recorded. Points that research participants stressed on or attached importance to or expressed with emotions were noted and underlined (Creswell and Poth, 2014; Patton, 2015). Gaps were filled at the end of each interview process.

The audio recordings of each research participant were transcribed. The audio recordings were replayed for multiple times to fill in gaps. The researcher read through the transcripts repeatedly and underlined words, phrases that re-occurred or that participants attached importance or expressed with emotion. Those underlined words and phrases were coded. Also new codes were created from transcripts. All codes were compiled, organized, and categorised under each research question. Other words, phrases, sentences, and points that did not answer a specific research question but were found relevant to persons with disabilities, and disability studies were also grouped and classified as emerging issues (Dator, 2018; Patton, 2015).

The researcher used the same process to analyze data collected from all the participants. After the individual case analysis, seven set of answers were obtained for each research question. Cross-case analysis was used to analyze the results for each research question from all participants by comparing the similarities and variations with the information obtained from each participant. Main themes and sub themes were also created. For example, physical and structural barriers were coded as the main theme. Themes that did not fall under any of the research questions but were deemed relevant to disability issues and disability studies in general were also grouped and labeled.

 

Analysis of Data from Existing Documents

Content analysis approach, one of the most common and widely used techniques in analyzing documents was used to organize, and categorize the data derived from the documents (Hsieh and Shannon, 2005; Patton, 2015). The researcher used the same processes to analyze data from the social media postings (you tube video) that were selected. The researcher merged results from you tube and the articles to get one uniform answers for document analysis method.

 

Conclusions

Short paragraoh required to summarize the chapter and transition to the next

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

Getting To The Mall

Introduction

The study found that persons with disabilities consider certain factors before going to the Mall. These factors or facilities affect their ability to get to the mall and influence their choice of mall. Proximity of the mall, availability of transportation, availability of parking, and accessibility of entry and exit are some of the factors that enhance or impede persons with disabilities’ ability to get to the mall.

 

1. Proximity of the Mall.

Distance to the mall is an important factor for people with disabilities. Finding transport can be difficult, time consuming, and expensive. During the fieldwork observation, the researcher found that few of the shopping malls that are quite far from the city center there were not much of persons with physical disability such as persons who use mobile devices or assistive devices. It takes much time, money, and energy to get to a mall that is quite far. For example, the person may have to use more than one bus or much time by taxi to get there if it is far, which will also cost much money than going to the mall which is closer the person that can be a walking distance or may be few bus stops or a short drive by taxi. A study participant said

 

Why should I go to a mall that is too far from me when there is one closer to me that I can get anything I need. Jumping from one bus to another alone is a lot of work and when I use taxi, I probably will be paying about $50 to $60 to and from the mall which is a lot of money to me” (Participant 4). One study participant, in her narration said, ‘I have a friend who uses mobile device. She always likes to shop at the mall near her place’ (Participant 3).

 

It was also found that shopping malls that are close to residential areas and close to the city center and other public buildings, many persons with disabilities were found participating. At the shopping mall A, B, and C, the inquirer found many persons with disabilities at shopping mall B which is located at the city’s downtown which is also connected to several commercial buildings than the shopping mall A, and B. Study participants who were interviewed selected shopping malls that are closer to them for meetings. One study participant said that; “I like to come to this mall because it is closer to me and they have everything I mostly need” (Participant 1). Another study participant also said that; “I come to this mall because they have most of the things that I will be frequenting. I like their bookstore. I come here to read at my leisure hours because it is very close to me” (Participant 2).

 

1. Availability of Accessible Transportation

Being able or disabled, everyone needs some form of transportation to get to the mall. This makes availability of accessible transport an important factor that impact persons with disabilities’ ability to participate at the mall. All the shopping malls visited have access to public transport that run from various part of the city to the mall. These buses are accessible to persons with disabilities. There were also taxis and transit van specially made to transport persons with disabilities. Many persons with disabilities rely on accessible transport to go to the mall. There were multiple instances where a person with disability was either leaving the mall to board a bus or getting off the bus to go to the mall. At one of the malls the researcher observed that a man with disability using a motorized wheelchair left the mall and drove to the bus stop. Upon arrival of the bus the wheelchair user was given priority to board the bus first. The driver pressed a button and a metal plate rolled over from the front door of the bus to land at the curb to form a ramp which made it accessible for the wheelchair user to board the bus. At all the malls there were accessible transit vans and taxis that picked up and dropped off persons with disabilities. Availability of accessible public transport from various part of the city to the mall enhances persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall. One study participant, in her narration said, “Persons with disabilities, just like any other person like to go out to certain places like the mall but which mall the person would like to go depends on the person. I have chronic pain, but I can walk to catch bus to any mall of my choice” (Participant 3).

Another study participant also said that; “I use Handi-Transit to go to the mall. They pick me up and drop me off. I’m so glad I have the Handi-Transit to go out to the mall though it cost me $50 a month I still love it” (Participant 4).

Lack of availability of accessible transport also impedes persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall. In one of the documents reviewed, Labbe et al. (2017) pointed out transportation as barrier to persons with disabilities’ participation at the shopping mall especially if the person’s resident is quite far from the Shopping Mall and if taxi is the only means of transport. Imrie and Kumar (1998) identified lack of transportation as a major barrier that persons with disabilities face in community for example going to the Shopping Mall. The authors said;

 

Many people like to go to the Shopping Mall but many people with disabilities have little option but to stay at home because the facilities to transport them around either do not exist and or are prohibitively expensive (Imrie and Kumar, 1998. p. 358).

 

The high cost of transportation was indirectly mentioned by one of the study participants in an interview. In her comments, the study participant said that; “I use Handi-Transit, they take me to where I want to go. They drop me off and pick me up, but it cost me a lot of money to go to the Shopping Mall” (Participant 4).

In Labbe et al. (2017), some participants suggested that due to transportation barriers, rehabilitation workers should train clients who have disability issues on rehab programs at clients’ residents. “Tele-rehabilitation in clients’ home reduces the barriers associated with transportation” (Labbe et al 2017, pp. 7). Availability of accessible transport to and from the shopping mall was also highlighted in Labbe et al. (2017) that lack of transportation affects persons with disabilities’ participation. The above reports are evidence that transportation poses barriers to persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall.

 

 

 

1. Availability of Parking Facilities

The availability of transportation to and from various parts of the city to the mall requires availability of parking facilities. All the shopping malls that were visited have parking spaces for the public transit buses, public parking lot, drop off and pick up areas for taxis and Handi-Transit vans, and also have demarcated parking spots designed, labeled, and reserved for persons with disabilities’ use. These spots are usually at a vantage points or areas close to the mall building and close to the Mall’s entrance so as to enhance accessibility by reducing the walk distance from the parking lot to the mall.

These parking facilities enhance persons with disabilities’ accessibility to get to the mall. At all the shopping malls that were studied, there were several instances where persons with disabilities were either dropped off or picked up at these designated areas. One of the study participants who were interviewed came to the mall by accessible taxi. The taxi driver parked at the dropped off area. In her comments about the parking, she said; “the number of accessible parking is great at each side of the mall. The drop off area is very close which is good. I have no issue at all with parking” (Participant 2). One Handi-Transit van after dropping off a wheelchair user at the drop off area, the driver moved to park at the accessible parking spot. Another study participant also expressed her views on accessible parking spot and how it enhances her going to the mall. She noted the following in her story:

 

Half of the year is snow and ice and you must go to the shopping mall, so I really like disabled parking where you can park against the building. I think other malls should have that. It is sometimes difficult for example if you are going to park far away across the street so close parking spots give us advantage (Participant 1).

 

One study participant also described the drop off and pick up area as a convenient place that enhances access and reduces walking distance to the mall. “I use Handi-Transit to go to the mall. They pick me up and drop me off at a convenient place” (Participant 4).

The importance of accessible parking to persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall was also highlighted in the existing documents reviewed. One of the documents pointed out that disabled parking spots that are close to the shopping mall are convenient for persons with disabilities (Hashim et al. 2011). Another study participant reported on this sissue as follows:

 

It is important that Shopping Mall management creates enough parking spots for persons with disabilities that are close to the building or the entrance because you never know when it is going to rain or snow or storm. When situation like these happen some people can run into the mall but a person who has very slower movement like me obviously will be beaten by the rain if the accessible parking is quite far. So I hope management of Shopping Malls recognize this need and implement them in future (Participant 3).

 

Just as availability of accessible parking enhances persons with disabilities’ access to the mall and ultimately promotes participation, it is also true that lack of accessible parking also impede persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall. Limited number of accessible parking is one of the difficulties persons with disabilities face at the shopping mall. In an interview, one of the study participants said that; “Disabled parking spots are very limited especially at the busy days for example during Christmas time” (Participant 3). Another study participant also said that; “Well, especially during Christmas time and big sales days like black Friday and others it is really difficult to find a spot” (Participant 2). Limited accessible parking was also mentioned by Swaine et al. (2014) as among the difficulties that persons with disabilities face when going to the shopping mall.

In some cases, there are accessible parking spaces available but are located at areas that are not much helpful to persons with disabilities. One participant expressed concern about accessible parking spot that are located distant far away from the building or the entrance.

“It is sometimes difficult for example if you are going to park far away across the street and walk in the snow to get to the mall” (Participant 1).

Unsafe accessible parking lot caused as results of potholes, ridges, and bumps also poses difficulties to persons with disabilities’ access to the mall. A study participant who uses a wheelchair reported on the issue as follows:

 

The issue I have is that there are several potholes, small ridges and bump that make a bit difficult especially when someone is pushing me. The person might not see the potholes and the ridges and that can cause accident. I fell off from my wheelchair sometime ago as a result of these potholes and ridges. It was so bad (Participant 2).

Bashiti and Abdul Rahim (2015) and Labbe et al. (2017) also described how unsafe it is for persons with disabilities who are wheelchair users or visual impaired persons to use inaccessible parking lot caused by potholes and ridges which can cause accident. The authors said “malls rarely have a well-marked footpath to travel from outside parking lot to the mall, making it unsafe for people with visual impairments and for those with limited mobility” (Labbe et al; 2017 pp. 5).

Another parking related issue that the study identified as hindrance to persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall was the design of the accessible parking spots. The study found that some of accessible spots are not wide and spacious enough to be used by all kinds of mobile devices used by persons with disabilities. Some devices are quite bigger than others which need bigger space to allow the driver, staff or whoever is with the person to assemble and dissemble them. Especially when there is a vehicle parked close to theirs, it becomes difficult to off load and assemble them. One study participant described a similar situation where the dimension (small size) of accessible parking spot caused a person with disability to lose $300 by way of a ticket fine.

The participant expressed the following in her narrative:

 

The other concern with parking is that the actual size of the parking is not wide enough for the person to have the driver assemble or disassemble the device. You see, some of these mobile devices have to be dissembled and then pack into the vehicle and then assemble them when they got to their destination. Last time one of our members got a $300 ticket fine in the mail box because the machine is so large that the driver had to use the lane in front of the shopping mall. The security never went up to them to find out. He just drove by and took a picture of them and then send them $300 ticket fine into the mail. So, my point is that the parking spots are not wide enough for say, when people park too close then there is no way to get their mobility device into or out from the van. So that is one of our main concerns about the parking (participant 3).

 

The final parking related issue that persons with disabilities face when they go to the mall is the use of accessible parking spots by people who are not registered to use accessible parking. Some people often borrow from family or friends to go to the mall, whiles others wrongfully park at the accessible parking especially during busy or high sales days. This act affects persons with disabilities who are registered to use accessible who really need it. Situation like this negatively affect persons with disabilities and discourage them from going to the mall. In an interview, one study participant vividly described how the use of accessible parking spaces by non-registered persons affects persons with disabilities’ accessibility in terms parking which ultimately affect their participation at the mall.

 

The handicap parking spots are very limited especially at the busy days for example in Christmas time, there is not enough security guards to make sure that the person coming out from the vehicle is actually the one that has registered to use accessible parking. Because very often people borrow from family or friends to seem that they are handicap meanwhile they are not and the person who is actually handicap sitting in the Handi-Transit will be circling and circling until that person is done with shopping and when they come out from the mall they appeared to be walking fine. You can’t always tell what a person’s disability is, but it does appear that frequently people who parked at the stalls are not the ones who have registered with handicap parking sign (Participant 3).

Never end a section with a quote. Plewase add a 2-3 page paragraph

 

1. Entry and Exit

The entry and exit design of a shopping mall has great impact on persons with disabilities’ accessibility and participation. A shopping mall that has wide entry and exit doors, installed with press or push buttons, or automated slide doors enhances persons with disabilities’ access and promotes participation. The study found that all the sites that were studied have accessible entry and exit doors. The doors were wide and spacious to allow persons with disabilities using different kinds of mobile devices to enter or exit the shopping mall without difficulty. These facilities require less or no energy to open the doors which make it quite easy to access the entry and exit doors to and from the mall. One study participant in an interview described the press/push button doors and the automated slide doors as wonderful considering the way they work to provide access. In her comment, the study participant said,

 

The push button doors work perfectly for me. I have no issues at with them. You only have to press one little button and they will all open sequentially (Participant 1).

Another study participant also said that; “I like the automated slide doors. You don’t have to do anything the door opens for you by itself as soon as you get closer to the door. Isn’t it wonderful?” (Participant 2).

A study participant also added that “the press button doors are very helpful. You don’t need much force to open but the automated ones are fantastic. They make the Mall easily accessible by all people. I wish all Malls will have that” (Participant 4). All the study participants mentioned and recommended that all shopping malls should have press button doors and automated slide doors. Bashiti and Abdul Rahim (2015), Hashim et al (2011), and Labee’ et al (2017) all described wide entry and exit doors, automated doors as facilities that enhance persons with disabilities’ accessibility and ultimately promote participation.

The study however found that persons with disabilities face barriers at the entry or exit points of the mall. These barriers sometimes leave them with negative experience that make them feel and think that they are not wanted in there because they are not included which ultimately impede their participation. The study found narrow doorways, height of the access button, and broken push button as barriers at the entry and exit points of the mall. With the high level of the access button, a person who is shorter may not be able to reach it. That person may have to depend on someone to open the door for him or her to enter. One study participant described how press button open doors that are fixed at a high level deny some persons with disabilities’ entry into the mall:

 

There are varieties of people but sometimes people forgot about people who are short, but they are adults. I hear from them that sometimes they can’t reach the push button, so they have to wait for someone to push it for them (Participant 1).

 

A person with disability who uses larger mobility device may not be able to access the entry doors that have narrow doorway. Also, sometimes the push button and the automated slide don’t work. When that happens, a wheelchair user obviously would not be able to open and enter. That person may have to depend on someone to open for him or her which make them dependants and unable to do things for themselves. Another study participant who shared similar concern about entry barriers that persons with disabilities face at the shopping mall reported on the issue as follows;

 

Well, at the entrance there is only one door that opens when you hit the handicap sign. There are also people who are bedridden who can’t sit nor stand. These people can’t use the entrance unless somebody press it and go round to open the other side (Participant 3).

 

Other study participants also shared their experiences on how broken door openers pose difficulties to persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall. One of them said; “It’s really important to have those push button openers. But sometimes the push button doors don’t work effectively. So, shopping malls should use push button door that work effectively. The shopping mall management must also ensure that the push buttons work by checking them first thing in the morning and fix all broken push buttons” (Participant 1,).

Another interviewee explicated an interesting point with regards to getting his wheelchair into through the mall doors:

 

Non-functioning push button door at times also halt persons with disabilities’ access to the shopping mall. While others can maneuver, a person with disability in a wheelchair cannot grab the door and the wheelchair at the same time so obviously they will not be able to enter unless they wait for someone walking by to assist the person. This situation makes the person’s self-esteem very low because they always have to ask for help before they can do something (Participant 3).

 

These were validated by what was found in the literature that physical obstructions such as steps at the entry doors, narrow doors and pathways act as active blockade and hurt persons with disabilities access (Hashim et al. 2011; Swaine et al, 2014). Poldma et al (2014) again, highlighted barriers persons with disabilities face when getting to the shopping mall in terms passage. “There is no access for the person in the motorized wheelchair” (Poldma et al., 2014, pp 213).

 

Research Findings

The data analysis revealed that persons with disabilities take certain factors into consideration before choosing the Shopping Mall they want to go. The nearest the Mall in relation to persons with disabilities’ place of resident, city center, or other commercial buildings, the more accessible that particular Shopping Mall is to persons with disabilities as discussed under proximity of the Mall. Availability of accessible transportation to and from the Mall is another key factor that influences persons with disabilities decision to go to the Mall and which Mall they should or want to visit. Availability of accessible public transport as well as the cost of transport either promote or hinder persons with disabilities participation at the Mall. “I mostly come to this Mall (Shopping A) because it very close to me. It doesn’t cost me much to come here even when I come by taxi” (Participant 2). The data also shows that availability of accessible parking spots as well as accessible entry and exit doors are all taken into consideration by persons with disabilities before deciding which Mall they would want to visit. As one participant noted, “I like coming to this Mall. They have everything I need, beside I like their overhang parking that saves you from snow or rain” (Participant 1).

 

Conclusions

A short paragraph to sum up the chapter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

At The Mall

Introduction

The study found that different people go to the mall for different reasons or to perform different activities or tasks. These activities were found to be the reasons why people with disabilities go to the shopping mall. Among the reasons were to buy products, to seek services, compare products or services, to explore, to meet family or friends, to go out for a meal, to mingle, reduce boredom, exercise, leisure, and entertainment. These activities or tasks were categorised under the following main themes commercialization and exploration purposes, socialization and restaurant, and rehabilitation, relaxation, and recreation purposes based on the meaning, similarities, or commonalities in purpose that the activity or task has in relation to the main themes.

 

1. Commercialization and Exploration

The primary function of a shopping mall is to shop for a product or service. Therefore, activities or reasons such as to buy products, to seek for some services, to compare products or services, to explore products or services that people go to the mall to perform were considered to be economic activities were classified under commercialization and exploration. The study, through fieldwork observation, interviews with study participants, and documents review found that some people including persons with disabilities go to the mall purposely to buy products or services at the mall. At the shopping mall A, the inquirer observed a woman with disability in a wheelchair been pushed by a man. They entered about two or three clothing shops. The woman compared three jackets of different colours and chose the black jacket. At the shopping mall B, a young adult female with disability who was using crutches with three other females believed to be friends or relatives were observed happily chatting as they moved from one mobile phone shop to another. At one of the mobile phones and accessories in a glass show case, the lady pointed to three mobile phone cases or covers. She compared the three and chose a purple colour and paid for it. At the shopping mall C, a man using a motorized wheelchair was spotted at the second floor near the eatery area. He drove to a shoe shop and bought a pair of shoes. He was alone. While some people go to the mall to buy products, others also go to the mall for services, to explore and compare products or services. At the shopping mall A, a person with disability using a mobility device was spotted entering an internet service provider’s office. He took a number to join the queue, but he was given a priority service to pay his bill. At the shopping mall B, a woman with disability was accompanied by another woman entered an office to pick up some document.  At the shopping mall C, a male person with disability who was using crutches with a female were spotted moving from one shop to another. At one of the shops, one of the sales’ girls asked them if she can help them. The lady replied and said “we are just looking”.

All the study participants who were interviewed also mentioned that they go to the mall to buy products. “I go to the mall for shopping” (Participant 1). Another study participant also said that; “Well, most of the things that I will be frequenting are in this mall. I just missed the fact that they don’t have grocery store. But I like the bookstore I like the clothing and shoes” (Participant 2).

One of the study participants who was also an executive member of her organization said that; “persons with disabilities, just like everyone also go to the mall for shopping. They are people and they are customers too just like any other customer. They have their money to buy something. So yes, we go to the mall for shopping” (participant 3).

Another study participant in her response said that; “I hate it when someone asks me why I go to the mall. Just as you go to the mall to buy things, I also go there to buy things I need” (Participant 4).

The literature reviewed directly or indirectly illustrated that people with disabilities go to the mall to perform economic activities such as buying products or services. One study participant who was interviewed who was a wheelchair user also said;

 

I enjoy clothes shopping. I enjoy picking out clothes that I am going to buy. I do think that if you pick clothes that you feel good in, it gives you a real boost (Participant 7).

 

In one study the authors stated that; “Yet, persons with disabilities, like other people, want good customer service and want to have a personal experience while shopping” (Swaine et al. 2014, pp. 219). In another document it was found that persons with disabilities enjoy participating in purchasing and payment activities at the shopping mall (Labbe’ et al. 2017).

 

 

1. Socialization Purposes

Apart from the basic shopping function of the mall, the study found that persons with disabilities also go to the mall for other activities such as to have meals, mingling with the mall community, meeting family and friends. During the fieldwork the inquirer observed multiple cases at all the selected sites where persons with disabilities were performing activities or exhibiting features relating to socialization. In shopping mall’s A, B, and C, persons with disabilities were observed dining and chatting with family or friends. At one of the shopping malls a woman in a manual wheelchair in a group of four believed to be family members were observed having lunch at the eatery area. They were chatting and laughing while eating. Another male person with disability in a group with three other men were observed sitting by the glass window/wall facing the main street. They were looking through the glass window to catch outside view while having their coffee, chatting, and playing on their phones.

All the study participants who were interviewed also mentioned social participation as part of their reasons for going to the shopping mall. A study participant, in her response said, “I come to the shopping mall to meet friends for coffee” (Participant 1). One participant also said; “I go to the mall for lunch because they have varieties of food” (Participant 2). Study participants 5 said “I go to the mall for several reason; to have coffee, and meeting family and friends, and hanging out with family members or friends” (Participants 5). Study participant 6 also shared similar views as participant responded by saying; “I like going to the mall because I can do multiple task at one place. I don’t need to go to different places. I can shop and have lunch at one place” (Participant 6).

 

Another interviewee articulated that the mall is an excellent place for her to socialize. This is what she had to say on the issue:

 

I go to the shopping mall to meet family and friends, to have coffee, drinks, and eat. It is nice to go to somewhere where you can meet other people. I mean you can’t stay in every day. You must go out eventually and the mall is a good place to go. So, yes I go to the shopping mall to meet and socialize with people (Participant 3).

 

In another research study the authors found that the mall is a place for socialization. The authors said “the mall then becomes a space of services, of social engagement and of gatherings, and subsequently a place where social interactions take place” (Poldma et al. 2014, Pp. 210). In another document too it was found that social purpose was part of the reasons why some people go to the mall. “Finally, for the participating clinicians, the mall provided opportunities for socialization and improvement of psychological health for people with disabilities. They mentioned the benefits of asking shopkeepers for help or meeting with friends. The mall is a place to meet with friends, to go and eat at the restaurant” (Labbe et al., 2017. Pp.4). One research participant in another document also said; “coming to the mall to meet a friend was more valuable than staying away, and the social experience with friends was important” (Poldma et al. 2014, p. 214).

 

 

 

1. Rehabilitation, Recreation, and Relaxation

The study analysis revealed that people including persons with disabilities go to the shopping mall not only for shopping or to socialize but also for rehabilitation, relaxation, and recreation purpose. At the shopping mall A, the inquirer observed a woman using assistive walker, she was slowly walking back and forth at the hallway. Two women were observed supporting another woman to walk at the hallway area which was less busy. One study participant in an interview said; “I go to the shopping mall for mall walking” (Participant 1). Another study participant also added that “The shopping mall is a good and public place and the only place to go to for example during the winter where you can go for fresh air or to walk around and to stretch and exercise your body” (Participant 3).

The use of the mall for rehabilitation and exercise purposes were found in the literature studied. One of the documents the authors stated that “Increasingly, in an effort to connect, people use public space as place to promote well-being. The mall becomes then a space of service” (Poldma et al. 2014. p. 210). In another document too the authors said; “The mall was also identified as a place for rehabilitation, for clients to improve their general physical health; for example, they could walk longer distances or carry purchases to develop endurance. I go to the mall with clients who have to practice walking because very often building apartment are not spacious enough” (Labbe’ et al. 2017, pp. 4). A study participant also added that “Apart from the fact that shopping itself is exercise, the mall is a good place to go for exercise so in my free time I go to the mall to walk around to stretch and exercise your body whiles looking at new things in the market” (Participant 5).

Relaxation was found to be another reason why persons with disabilities go to the shopping mall. At the shopping mall B, a female middle age person with disability was spotted sitting and relaxing on a bench. She had her walker in front of her. She was reading a magazine. At the shopping mall C, several persons with disabilities were spotted relaxing in the couches, on the benches and chairs. At the shopping mall A, a woman with disability with two other women believed to be staffs were watching video on their tablet. One of the study participant’s comments depicted that people including persons with disabilities go to the shop for relaxation purposes. She said; “Also at the relaxation area some of the chairs are so low that it is very difficult to get up yourself, they have to make it a little bit higher or mix them” (Participant 1). Another study participant who was a wheelchair user said that; “after a long walk and shop, I kind of want to change position so I would transfer from my wheelchair to one of the couches to relax whiles going through the things I have bought” (Participant 2).

A study participant gave number of reasons why he goes to mall and relaxation is one them.  The participant said that; “Sometimes I go to the mall just to chill. Most of the malls have free wi-fi so I go there to relax and watch you tube videos or face book videos. This Shopping mall is pretty much quite. It has comfortable chairs and sofa so you can sit, relax, and do your own thing” (Participant 5).

Recreation and leisure are another reason why persons with disabilities go to the shopping mall. During the fieldwork, it was observed in all the three sites studied that persons with disabilities go to the shopping mall for fun, entertainment, movies, or just to spend some time there to break boredom from home. At the shopping mall A, the inquirer observed two persons with disabilities who came into the mall. They wanted to go to the movie theatre, but they couldn’t enter because the stair lift was broken. Three days later when the stair lift was fixed the inquirer observed multiples of persons with disabilities who went in there to watch a movie.

At the shopping B, two male persons with disabilities who were using motorized wheelchairs were observed at the lobby, they were watching and listening to piano music been played live by someone. There was another man using manual wheelchair at the water fountain. He was been push by woman. They stood by the water fountain for quite long. They were chatting and watching how the water gushes out into the sky. The man in the wheelchair took some pictures. Another male person with disability was observed been supported by a young lady believed to be staff at the shopping mall B. They were playing cards game. A study participant said that; “sometimes I go to the mall to have fun with friends. We play board or card games. Sometimes if I am a lone I play games on my phone or do Suduko or cross-words” (Participant 3).

In an interview with one of the study participants, she said “I come to the shopping mall for varieties of reasons including movies” (Participant 4). Another study participant also mentioned leisure as one of the reasons she goes to the shopping mall. In her response, she said, “I like the bookstore, I like reading so in my leisure time I come to the shopping mall to read books” (Participant 2).

One study participant compared shopping mall to the museum as places for recreation and leisure. She said “Places like the museum is also good to go but you have to pay to go in there. But to go to a mall you don’t have to pay to get in unless you want to buy something” (Participant 3).

This is particularly important because many disabled people have very low incomes and little money for leisure activity. Recreation and leisure was mentioned in the literature. In one of the studies the authors highlighted study participants feelings and their reason for going to the Mall. “Respondent with disabilities added that they felt it was easy for them to go to the mall for entertainment” (Swaine et al 2014. Pp. 222). Poldma et al. (2014) describe shopping malls as places of recreation where people including persons with disabilities can go for community participation. In line with Poldma et al (2014), persons with disabilities go to the shopping mall to avoid isolation or to reduce boredom. This was also pointed out by a study participant who said; “Sometimes too I go to Shopping Mall just to break boredom” (Participant 5).

 

Research Findings (8-10 key findings and 8-10 pages of findings)

The data described above is evidence which clearly shows that persons with disabilities go to the Shopping Mall for either economic purposes or social purposes or both. Whiles others go to the Shopping Mall to buy or explore products and services as described under commercialization and exploration which can be summed up as economic reasons, others also go to the Mall for restaurant purposes, use the Mall as a meeting place to meet family and friends, as a place for rehabilitation by going there to stretch and exercise their body as well as entertainment purpose as described under socialization, rehabilitation, and recreation also can be summed up as social purposes. Therefore, to persons with disabilities, the Shopping Mall is a public place where everyone can visit for socio-economic activities.

First,

Second,

Third,

 

Conclusions

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Chapter 6

Inside The Mall (Physical Barriers)

Introduction

The study findings in chapter 5 show that persons with disabilities go to the mall for the various purposes. The study clearly and vividly described the importance and the desire persons with disabilities have for going to the Mall. Yet, at every instance persons’ with disabilities face barriers. There are many barriers that they have to overcome before getting to the mall. At the mall too persons with disabilities still face many barriers. Some of these barriers are facilities intentionally created for other purposes yet they also create systemic barriers to persons with disabilities’ participation. This is so because most often than not, the designers, builders, and management do not seek or consult disability’ organizations when designing and constructing structures. The study found barriers such as smooth shiny floors, steps, open staircases, narrow aisles, high counters, limited accessible washrooms, limited accessible changing rooms, and difficult way finding at the mall a hindrance to participation for disabled people.

It was found that all the shopping malls studied have smooth shiny floors that look beautiful but are very slippery which can easily cause someone able or disabled to slip and fall. In an interview with study participants, one of them who described herself as a walking-disabled person expressed deep concern about the flooring of shopping malls. She compared good and bad floors and cited example of good floor and suggested that Shopping malls should have that kind of rubberized floor. The participant said that,

 

To get into the building, they need to make the floor good and non-slippery. Most of the shopping malls in the city have shiny smooth and slippery floor. Let me give you an example of good flooring.  Good flooring is that of, for example, the one at St. Boniface Hospital, and the one at Winnipeg Regional Hospital (HSC). The floor is kind of rubberized tiles. They are wonderful. They are quite and not noisy, non-skid. With those rubberized type of floor you don’t slip and fall. That is the kind the shopping malls should be use (Participant 1).

 

Almost all the study participants shared a similar concern about the smooth and shiny nature of the malls’ floor. Another study participant added that; “I have issues with the floor. You can slip and fall easily if you don’t take care. They have to make it rubberized. The rubberized ones are safe. You don’t slip and fall” (Participant 5).

Reviewing existing studies on persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall found that Bashiti and Abdul Rahim (2015), Hashim et al (2011), as well as Labbe et al (2017) all mentioned that smooth and shiny floors though could be beautiful aesthetically, they pose danger to persons with disabilities especially those using walking sticks and crutches.

Steps and stairs cases could be made for a purpose but they also act as barriers that prevent persons with disabilities who use mobile devices. Some of the shops have steps at the entrance. Some people can enter a shop with step at the entrance but others especially who use wheelchairs may not be able to enter. In some cases, there were ramps built alongside the steps but others too there were only steps. Shops with steps systemically marginalized persons with disabilities who can enter the shop because of the step. Steps and staircases without ramps or elevators were mentioned by study participants and were also revealed in the documents reviewed as barrier to participation. A study participant said;

 

“Likewise, many disabled people have little option but to say at home because the facilities to transport them around either do not exist and/or are prohibitively expensive. For others, the built environment is hostile in that it is infused with able-bodied values, like steps or restrictions on entry to buildings, which serve to exclude or produce discomfort or nuisance.

Hashim et al (2011) reported that steps without ramps create barriers to wheelchair user and so to create barrier-free environment ramps must be created alongside steps. “By installing a ramp for wheelchairs alongside or in place of some steps, it creates a barrier-free environment” (Hashim et al. 2011. Pp. 57). Similar situation was found in one of the malls studied. There were two long ramps, one at each end of the mall at the second floor. One of the focus group in Imrie and Kumar (1998) also said; “I can’t physically visit some public buildings. A flight of steps, no internal lift, too narrow doorways – all are obstacles which say keep out” (Imrie and Kumar, 1998. Pp. 364).

Several earlier studies showed that physical obstructions such as steps at the entry doors, narrow doors and pathways act as active blockade and hurt persons with disabilities access (Hashim et al. 2011; Swaine et al, 2014). Poldma et al (2014) highlighted barriers persons with disabilities face in the shopping mall in terms passage. “There is no access for the person in the motorized wheelchair” (Poldma et al., 2014, pp 213). According to one study participant, steps and stairs were major problem but now the situation has improved though a lot still needs to be done. “Some time ago, to get into a building was almost impossible but now if you look around and inside the mall almost all the shops have no step at their entrances which makes entry quite smooth. Also, to get to the second floor, the food court area you can use one of the elevators but before there was no way” (Participant 3).

Structures such as payment counters, information desk, shelves are designed and built by shop owners and management of the Mall to serve a purpose but because universal principles of design were not taken into account and because persons with disabilities’ organizations were not consulted to give their input, their good intentions of designing a structure for a good purpose and to serve customers tend to marginalise and exclude others participation. One study participant in his response proclaimed the following:

 

If you look at the shelves, it tells you that they didn’t think about persons with disabilities coming to their shop. Because if they did, they wouldn’t have made shelves too tall like that. How do you expect a person in a wheelchair or a person who is short to reach products stock up there? You always have to call for help which is sad, but I believe gradually it will change (Participant 5).

 

(the sentence should be a summary of the quote below)

Similarly, another interviewee expressed that leadership was imperative in setting the proper example for employees and how to treat all mall goers. This is what he had to say, “On the issue of counters, leadership by example, instead of the management to set a good example by making information or customer service desk lower enough to be reached by all people, theirs are even higher” (Participant 4). Another study participant also added by saying; “some shops also have high payment counters which are difficult to reach by wheelchair users and people who are short but are adults” (Participant 2).

While some shops have wide and spacious aisles, others too have narrow aisles. In some shops, it was difficult to walk through without meandering yourself. Such shops make it impossible for persons with disabilities who use mobile devices and crutches to go in there to shop. One of the study participants said; “Some shops have pretty narrow aisles to get through” (Participant 1). On the same issue of narrow aisles, another participant also reported on the issue as follows, “Some shops don’t have wide open aisles for mobile devices to pass through. Sometimes I just stay at the entrance and ask salesgirls what I need because I can’t drive through with my device” (Participant 4). Participant 5 also shared similar concern with study participant 3. She said; “there is not enough room to maneuver a mobile device or even a wheelchair is difficult” (Participant 3).

The other issue with narrow aisles is that sometimes some shop clerks leave boxes, ladders, and other things in the middle of the aisle. Some people can maneuver to pass but a wheelchair user may not be able to pass.

 

Well, especially during the Christmas time and other big sales days, they sometimes place booth and stands in the middle of the aisles. You always have to make several detours but that is not the end of the world. But in normal days there are enough room for wheelchair users. Also, some shops when they are stocking shelves, they put a lot of objects such as boxes in the way which also restrict movement through aisles” (Participant 2).

This situation was also noted during the fieldwork. Especially in one particular shop, it is always impossible to get down the aisles. If you are a wheelchair user, you have to make several turns

High counter and shelves were very common at the malls studied. At one of the mall, the management’s information desk or customer service center’s counter was so high that a person with disability in a wheelchair in front of the information service counter could not reach the top of counter so the staff at the counter had to stand up and bend over the counter to reach out to the woman behind the counter using wheelchair. Some of the shops’ shelves were so high that even sales persons sometimes have to use a stick to take a product down.

All these do not promote persons with disabilities’ participation. Almost all the study participants interviewed commented on high level of counters and shelves.

 

Some of the counters are not quite lower enough. I think they didn’t consult people with disabilities who use wheelchairs in the beginning to give a recommendation as to how these things should be built. There has to have a lower section so that if want to write something you can. Sometimes if you want to pay at the counter and it is higher above your level it is difficult, so counters have to be lower to the level of wheelchair users (Participant 2).

 

Another study participant also described how high counters and information desk demean persons with disabilities who are wheelchairs users and others who are short in height and cause low self-esteem. The participant explained that,

Some counters are too high for persons with disabilities and make it inconvenient for us to do things on our own. If the counter is high to be reached by wheelchair users and people who are very short, it makes them helpless and look like a child – always calling for help” (Participant 1).

 

Another study participant said that, “Counters are very high for persons with disabilities who use wheelchairs and others who are adult but are short in height and that make them inconvenient” (Participant 3).

One study participant also added her voice to high counters that persons with disabilities who use mobile devices face at the shopping mall. In her response, the participant said; “You know, if you are behind a counter which is too high and you can’t reach out to them, it makes you feel like a child” (Participant 4).

Study participants 6 and 7 also expressed their concern about the height of the shelves. One participant said; “I think the shelves should be lower a bit. Some of them are too tall to reach the top if you want to get something” (Participant 6). According to one participant “high shelves always tell you that you are disabled so call for help but we can be independent if there are no barriers” (Participant 7).

Bashiti and Abdul Rahim (2016) also outlined that high counters create barriers for persons with disabilities; “the information counter is too high to reach” (Bashiti and Abdul Rahim 2015, p. 419). Hashim et al. (2011) also indicated that high counters and information desks in some shops pose difficulties to persons with disabilities. A study participant put it in the following manner:

 

Shopping mall management and shop owners just build counters that work for them alone without thinking about persons with disabilities that is how come there are high counters. They don’t care about us whether we can reach or not (Participant 5).

 

Research Findings (8-10 pages of findings)

The barriers described above are some of the physical barriers that persons with disabilities face at the Shopping Mall. The data clearly shows that these barriers such as smooth and shiny floor, narrow aisles, high counters, high shelves, steps and stairs, limited accessible washroom are all artificial barriers created by the society. These facilities were created with the good intention of serving other purposes. However, they tend to impede persons with disabilities’ ability to participate at the Mall. These barriers are designed and constructed by professionals not as barriers but facilities to facilitate the purpose for which the Mall is built but because building and construction designers failed to seek and incorporate persons with disabilities organizations’ input and also failed to applied the universal design principles, a well-designed facility tend to become a barrier. These physical barriers created by the society demonstrate how the society disables an individual impaired person. This evidence also shows that a person is not disabled by the person’s body impairment but by barriers created as a result of societal activities as argued by the social model of disability. Eight key findings emerged from the data.

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Conclusions

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Chapter 7

Social Issues Affecting Persons with Disabilities Participation At The Mall

Introduction

Shopping mall activities have become part of life. Different people with different background, able or disabled, everyone goes to the Mall for one reason or another. This has made the Shopping mall a community where people live. Just as in everyone community one’s attitude and behaviour, action and inaction affect another, in the same way at the Shopping mall people’s attitude affect persons with disabilities either positive or negative. In this chapter, the study will examine social issues that impact persons with disabilities’ ability to participate at the mall. Attitude towards persons with disabilities, accommodation, policy and regulation, education and training are some of the social issues found that have great impact on persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall.

 

1. Attitude of People Toward Persons with Disabilities

The shopping mall is small community within the larger community, therefore, behaviour of people within the mall community towards persons with disabilities affect them in one way or the other. Positive attitude of people toward persons with disabilities at the mall encourage and promote participation whiles negative attitude discourages and impedes persons with disabilities’ participation. Positive attitude such as good customer service, open minded, priority service makes persons with disabilities feel comfortable that they are welcome to the mall. Positive attitude towards persons with disabilities make them feel that they are not different rather, they are also customers. Most often than not people like to go to places where they are welcome and serve well. In an interview, one study participant shared her reasons why she likes going to a particular shopping mall. She said good customer service is very important to her that is why;

 

“I like to come to this mall because the sales people are nice to me. The management are respectful and have time for people. No negative issue or whatsoever. That is why I enjoy coming to this mall (Participant 1).

 

Given priority to persons with disabilities somehow boost their participation level at the shopping mall. During the fieldwork, the researcher observed persons with disabilities given priority service at some of the shops. At one of the malls, a wheelchair user was given a priority service at a coffee shop. At another mall a man using a motorized wheelchair was also given priority service at a network provider’s office to pay his bill. When a staff at service providers’ office saw a woman using crutches behind the queue, the staff called and served her. These persons with disabilities who were given priority service facially expressed sign of appreciation for the services given to them.

Being polite, using kind words, and offering support to persons with disabilities at the mall mean a lot to them. One study participant expressed his feelings and how he wished salespeople could be more polite and treat everyone with respect no matter the person’s ability.

 

You see, if you are a salesperson, you ought to be polite and be much respectful. It is ok to be polite to all customers. It doesn’t matter whether the person has disability or not, he/she is a customer who pays money. Some people are kind and very polite, but others are not. So, salespeople should have patience with us and give us much time to do our own thing. Some of us are very slow. They shouldn’t rush us in or out. They should rather help us to find what we need. In my opinion, that is good customer service (Participant 5).

 

The study also found some attitudes or behaviours of people at the mall that hinders persons with disabilities’ participation. These attitudes were classified as negative attitude because of their negative impact on persons with disabilities and their participation. Saying hello to welcome customers, asking them what they need, helping them to find what they need, paying attention to them are all part of the essential services every customer expects to receive. But most often than not, salespeople pay much attention to other customers but not persons with disabilities. This attitude affects persons with disabilities because they feel that they are being treated differently. One study participant who is also an executive member of one of the disabled people’s organization vividly and passionately shared stories and reports of some of the negative attitude persons with disabilities face at the mall. She observed the following in her story:

 

Several members of our organisation have indicated that stores’ employees say hello to their staff and other non-disabled customers coming into the store and ask them if they need help but very few people approach a person in a wheelchair or mobile device to say hello or talk to them. It appears they are afraid to eye-level with them. And if a person in a wheelchair with another person, staff or driver or a friend or family member walking with them, they rather talk to that person as if the person in the wheelchair doesn’t know how to talk or express themselves because they are in a wheelchair. But they are people and they are customers too just like any other customers. They have their money to buy something. But it would be much more helpful to go right to a disabled person and say how can I help you? And then they can direct them. So that’s attitude and education of employees (Participant 3).

 

The study also found that people behave differently when it comes to interacting with persons with disabilities. Either they do not know how to approach persons with disabilities or the misconception that disability is a sickness and therefore they are afraid of contracting diseases. A study participant said “Some salespersons don’t even want to come close to you as if they are afraid of you or as if they have seen something bad. This attitude of employees has to stop. It is very bad” (Participant 5). This was validated in one of the documents reviewed as the authors stated that “the attitude of people in the shop is also bad” (Imrie and Kumar 1998, p. 363).

 

I think people are embarrassed by disabilities, there’s no getting away from it. They don’t like the look of us. It reminds them of something uncomfortable but they’re not sure what. It’s a lack of awareness; it’s as simple as that. They’re so embarrassed that they don’t know how to approach you. So they either don’t approach you at all” (Imrie & Kumar, 1998, p. 363).

 

One study participant, an employee revealed in an interview that she felt so bad working or helping persons with disabilities for no reason other than the fact that they have disabilities. She said; “when I first began to work in a retail and I was serving disabled people, I felt very bad” (Swaine et al. 2014, 226). This attitude of non-disabled people towards persons with disabilities at the mall does not promote participation but rather hinders participation. One participant who shared her experience noted the following in her narrative:

 

You can tell from people’s attitude. Non-disabled people who lack knowledge and understanding of disability and issues with persons with disabilities seem reluctant to get close to you and ask you what you need but there are other people too who are ok to help. So its’ all boil down to public education and awareness on disability (Participant 3).

2 sentence paragraph to sum up this section

 

1. Abuse of Accessible Facilities

The attitude of using accessible facilities designed and labeled with disability access sign for persons with disabilities’ use by the non-disabled people also affect persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall. The most common abuses of accessible facilities at the mall are the accessible parking, and the accessible washroom. The accessible parking is made and reserved for persons with disabilities’ use to help them access the mall. Due to the limited number of accessible parking spaces and the you can’t always tell or ask a persons’ disability to know who should use the accessible parking, there is a policy that persons with disabilities who need and want to use accessible parking must register with accessible parking authorities. However, people who are not registered with accessible parking use them at the expense of persons with disabilities who are registered to use. One study participant narrated how the abuse of accessible parking affects persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall:

 

The handicap parking spots are very limited especially at the busy days for example in Christmas time, there is not enough security guards to make sure that the person coming out from the vehicle is actually the one that has registered to use accessible parking. Because very often people borrow from family or friends to seem that they are handicap meanwhile they are not and the person who is actually handicap sitting in the Handi-Transit will be circling and circling until that person is done with shopping and when they come out from the mall they appeared to be walking fine. You can’t always tell what a person’s disability is, but it does appear that frequently people who parked at the stalls are not the ones who have registered with handicap parking sign (Participant 3).

 

Another abuse of accessible facilities at the mall mentioned by study participants is the use of accessible washroom designed, labeled, and reserved for persons with disabilities by visibly the non-disabled people or persons who could use other washroom stalls. It is important to mention that not all persons with disabilities who look disabled. There are people who have invisible disability such as people with chronic pain and others who may not have any body impairment yet may have some kind of disability that may required that person to use the accessible washroom. The accessible washroom is designed with spacious room to enable wheelchair users to make a turn. It has handrail assist transfer, push button and other facilities to provide user friendly and easily accessibility for persons with disabilities’ use. However, the study revealed that other persons with or without disabilities, who are not wheelchair users or do not use mobility devices, who could possibly use other washroom seats use the accessible washroom. The limited nature of accessible washroom stalls couple with wrongful use of accessible washroom by non-disabled people could lead to unpleasant situation when a person with disability who could only use accessible washroom needs it badly and it is been occupied by a non-disabled person. This could also cause disgraceful accident to happen to the person with disability who could only use the accessible washroom seat and may discourage that person from going to the mall. Two study participants who use accessible washroom shared their thoughts with me as follows:

 

The washrooms that are accessible are very few. Also, accessible washroom designed for persons with disabilities, nobody should use it unless the person has a disability. People should not be using that. I don’t know how to restrict people from using it (Participant 2).

 

Participant 3 noticed that it was impossible to get wheel chairs through most bathroom doors. She reflected on the issue as follows:

 

I don’t know about the men’s washroom, but the women’s washroom is about 20 stalls to 1 wheelchair and the 1 for wheelchair users has private sink in it and so people like to go in there because it has a private sink. They brush their teeth there they brush their hair. They do all sort of things in there because it’s kind of convenient. Meanwhile there are people in wheelchair and mobile devices that don’t have the option to go to the other ones because they are not wide or accessible enough. So basically, they will have to wait no matter how long for them to finish brushing their hair or teeth or other things (Participant 3).

Please include a 2 sentence paragraph to sum up this section

 

1. Education and Training

One of the most important findings the study made that has great impact on the lives of persons with disabilities and their participation is public education on disability. Education and training, public awareness about disability and persons with disabilities will give people the basic knowledge about disability, what it is, and who persons with disabilities are. A study participant disclosed the following in her story:

 

Public education can help. Much education has to go down to create awareness about the use of accessible facilities. It is not just morally wrong but also cost the person in the Handi-Transit a lot of gas when the driver has to go round and round looking for parking spot when those reserved for registered persons with disabilities are taken up by non registered persons (Participant 3).

 

Disability education will enable people to understand disability and also to know how approach or interact with persons with disabilities. Salespersons who have acquired basic knowledge and understanding of disability are open and comfortable to support or serve persons with disabilities at the mall. On the other hand, salespersons who lack knowledge and understanding of disability issues and persons with disabilities find it uncomfortable to provide service or deal with persons with disabilities at the mall. A study participant communicated the following in her story:

 

A lot of work has to be done on the attitude of the employees. Like I said, it looks like they are afraid of persons with disabilities. They rather talk with the person (driver, friend, family, or staff) who is with the person in wheelchair or mobile device. They assume that they are in the wheelchair and so they can’t process or may not understand, or they don’t pick up clues. So, if there is more education in the hiring process or if they had taken training courses on disability and how to interact with persons with disabilities could improve the situation (Participant 3).

 

All the study participants were of the view that education and training could help employees to understand disability and persons with disabilities so as to assist them. Education and training improve customer service, which also promote inclusion and participation. Employers and employees’ knowledge and understanding of disability issues and persons with disabilities affect their attitude towards persons with disabilities. Knowledge and understanding of disability will help employers and employees to understand that different people have different abilities. A study participant, in his response narrated on this issue as follows:

They should give us more time to slowly do our things. They should take it easy with us because some of us are very slow in our activities. They shouldn’t rush us. They should help us in and out when we need help to find something. After all we all pay money” (Participant 5).

Please add 2 sentence paragraph to sum up the section

 

1. Accessibility Policy Enforcement.

Disability and accessibility policy enforcement has great impact on persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall. Effective policy enforcement enhances accessibility and participation while weak policy enforcement impedes accessibility and participation. A shopping mall that has strong and effective accessibility policy will ensure that all venders, employers, and employees follow accessibility policy. The management must lead with examples by implementing accessibility policy at the mall by ensuring that information counter is lower enough to be reached by wheelchair users, good non-slippery floor, washrooms are accessible, ramps and other accessible facilities are in good working condition and conform to universal design principles. One study participant in her response highlighted the following in her story:

 

It has to start from the top. The management must enforce and intensify disability and building act with vendors. Management must ensure proper education among employers and employees. Management must ensure that stores have at least one changing room or booth that is accessible for persons with disabilities (Participant 3).

 

The study results show that shopping malls should be built in accordance with accessibility and standard act to ensure that all persons’ needs are incorporated in the building process to ensure inclusiveness (Bashiti and Abdul Rahim 2015; Hashim et al, 2011; Swaine et al, 2014). By enforcing policy and regulation, the management of the shopping mall should see to it that store owners focus on accessibility. “Malls should say to their tenants: you want to open a store here? You have to know that we focus on accessibility and openness to people with disabilities. So, if you are ok with that you have to bring that vision into your store” (Swaine et al. 2014, pp. 226).

The study found that management of a shopping mall should implement policy and regulation that focus on access to persons with disabilities as basic requirement and must be enforced (Hashim et al. 2011). One of the documents reviewed pointed out that the shopping mall should strengthen and enforce policy and regulations that provide accessibility to persons with disability; “The regulatory control which oversees disabled people’s access needs is weak” (Imrie & Kumar 1998. p. 358).

 

1. Accommodation

Accommodation in disability studies simply means finding ways to create a system that makes things work for persons with disabilities to participate in societal activities. The socio-economic activities at the shopping mall make the mall an indispensable place for one to live without going there. To improve access and promote participation, the shopping mall environment must be made accessible to accommodate all persons including wheelchair users. Management of a shopping mall can provide reasonable accommodation by hiring and training staffs to go round to assist persons with disabilities who may need help at the mall.  One study participant who shared her experience with me was of the following opinion:

 

“During the winter season people get stuck if the person doesn’t have physical capability. Some people use wheelchair easy. But others have limited mobility and so once they get stuck, they stuck until they get somebody to help them and give them a push. On many occasions, I have had to assist people off the bus and get stuck on the sidewalk because of snow. If they have security guards who go round to watch the parking lot, they will see and help people in wheelchair who get stuck. So, if at least one security guard at the bus stop patrolling and supervising the parking lot and assisting persons in wheelchair could be helpful (Participant 3).

 

During the fieldwork, it was observed that most of the chairs and couches at the relaxation area in all the shopping malls visited have uniform height, sizes, level. At the hallways, and relaxation area, there were no chair or couch reserve for a person with disability who has difficulty walking who may need to sit and rest. This is what he had to say:

 

Most of the chairs are of the same height and level. The couches do not have back and so people with chronic back pain like me find it difficult to sit on them when we are tired and would want to sit and rest (Participant 5).

One study participant also mentioned that; “At the relaxation area, some of the chairs are too low that it is difficult to get up by yourself, they have to make it a little bit higher or mix them” (Participant 1). Understanding that the mall is a public place for everyone including persons with disabilities will enable management and shop owners to think and include persons with disabilities’ needs in all their doings. Creating accommodation for persons with disabilities promote participation. One of the documents reviewed mentioned that lack of accommodation creates barriers to persons with disabilities’ participation at the shopping mall; “People become disabled when society fails to accommodate and include them in all process of social and infrastructural development due to social prejudices and environmental barriers” (Hashim et al., 201,. p. 56).

The chairs available also have one size. There were no varieties to suit different people’s need. No accommodation was given to persons with disabilities in designing and producing furniture. If they had thought of persons with disabilities coming to the mall, they would have thought of making varieties of chairs that a wheelchair user or a person with back pain can use. That is what accommodation is about. One study participant, in an interview at one of the malls reported on the issue in the following manner:

 

If you look at the tables and chairs, they are all basically of the same level. There are no varieties. Very few are higher. There are few wheelchair spot but again, they are very limited. The only option is the person has to move the chair and then they can push themselves in. The couches most of them don’t have lean back where a person can rest his or her back. So, I suggest they should consult persons with disabilities, or any disabled people’s organization for their input in future (Participant 3).

 

Research Findings (again you need 8-10 key findings, 8-10 pages of new knowledge)

Attitude toward persons with disabilities in our communities in general has tremendous impact on the lives persons with disabilities and their participation in community activities. Positive attitude toward persons with disabilities at the Mall encourages and promote participation whiles negative attitude as well as misuse of accessible facilities made and reserved for persons with disabilities’ use hinder participation. To improve and promote persons with disabilities participation at the Mall, it is important for the management of the Mall to implement and enforce accessibility policies to ensure that the Shopping Mall is barrier-free environment. Another key revelation from the data is education and training. The management could make disability education as part of their policy to ensure that all employers and employees have basic knowledge about disability. In addition, accommodation, finding a way to make things work for persons with disabilities is also a key to participation. Providing accommodation to persons with disabilities encompass all. Providing accessibility is a way of accommodating persons with disabilities, having disability education, positive attitude, implementing accessibility policy are all ways of providing accommodation to persons with disabilities to participate in the Mall’s activities. Ten key findings emerged from the data.

First,

Second,

Third,

Fourth,

Conclusions

Short paragraph needed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8

Conclusions: The Shopping Mall as a Community

Introduction

The shopping mall is a public community made up of several shops concentrated within one big building or multiples of buildings connected together (Bashiti and Abdul Rahim, 2015; Labbe et al, 2017; Swaine et al, 2014). The mall plays a vital role of providing an avenue for people to engage in social and economic activities. Chapter 8 is the conclusions chapter and it discusses the overall key findings, and future research.

 

Overall Key Findings

From the study analysis and findings, one can argue that the Shopping mall is a public place and a community for diverse people. The mall is a public place in the sense that irrespective of age, gender, colour, belief, ability everyone can go to the mall. This was pointed out by study participants. “The mall is for everyone, you can go there and I can go there. You don’t need to have a pass to get in there” (Participant 5 ).

The mall can also be said to be a community in the sense that people such as employees who work at the mall spend most of their time at the mall. Other people also go to the Mall at their free time to have fun, mingle with people or just to hang-out. This was also mentioned in Swaine et al (2014) that the mall is a hang-out place for the youth. One participant mentioned that “I like to come to this Mall in my leisure hours to read books and newspapers” (Participant 2). Another participant also said “when I am bored, I go to the mall to break the boredom” (Participant 6). Poldma et al (2014) described the mall as the second home of consumers. The above support the idea that the mall is a public place and a community for everyone.

The shopping mall being a community has a culture and that is, it is opened for everyone (Bashiti and Abdul-Rahim, 2015). The primary function of the shopping mall as the name implies is for buying and selling of products and services. The study results indicate that persons with disabilities go to the mall for same primary function the mall offers. All the study participants interviewed mentioned that they go to the mall to buy a product or service.  One study participant’s response is an evident that persons with disabilities go to the mall for the products and services at the mall; “I go to the shopping mall to shop. Well, most of the things that I will be frequenting are in this mall. I just missed the fact that they don’t have grocery store. But I like the books store. I like the clothing and shoes” (Participant 2). “Persons with disabilities just like everyone also go to the mall for shopping” (Participant 7). “They are people and they are customers too just like any other customer. They have their money to buy something. So yes, I go to the mall for shopping” (participant 3). Another study participant in her response said that; “I hate it when someone asks me why I go to the mall. Just as you go to the mall to buy things, I also go there to buy things I need” (Participant 4). All study participants mentioned buying of products and services as the major reason for going to the mall. This is in line with what existing literature has been established. Labbe et al (2017) stated that the mall is a place where shoppers interact with products and services.

Aside from economic activities which are known to be the fundamental function and the common reasons people go to the mall (Bashit & Abdul Rahim, 2015; Swaine et al, 2014), there are many people who also go to the mall for social purposes such as socialization, recreation and leisure, relaxation, and rehabilitation purposes (Bloch et al., 1994; Labbe et al., 2017; Poldma et al., 2014). These social activities are important to people and are part of their lives’ activities. Bloch et al (1994) established that consumers go to the mall to break boredom. Matthews et al (2000) also stated that the mall is a place the youth hang-out. The study, from the data collected from individual participants, and through fieldwork also found similar social reasons why persons with disabilities go to the mall. For example, one interviewees noted the following in her narrative:

 

“I go to the shopping mall to meet family and friends, to have coffee, drinks, and eat. It is nice to go to somewhere where you can meet other people. I mean you can’t stay in every day. You must go out eventually and the mall is a good place to go. So, yes I go to the shopping mall to meet and socialize with people (Participant 3).

 

One research participant in another document also said; “coming to the mall to meet a friend was more valuable than staying away, and the social experience with friends was important” (Poldma et al. 2014, pp. 214).

Some persons with disabilities go to the mall not because of the economic and social activities at the mall but because going to the mall is free. There are other social amenities such as the Zoo, Museum, and others where people can go for social engagements but there are gate fees that one has to pay to get in but to go to the mall requires nothing as explained by a study participant who said; “Places like the museum is also good to go but you have to pay to go in there. But to go to a mall you don’t have to pay to get in unless you want to buy something” (Participant 3).

This makes going to the mall an obvious choice for persons with disabilities who are among the poverty and low-income people (Barns & Sheldon, 2009; Yeo, 2001, 2003; Naami & Mikey Iddrisu, 2013). Evidence of poverty among persons with disabilities also came up in a study participant’s account of how a person with disability was fined to pay $300. “They didn’t even consider the fact that she is a disabled person who is poor. She was still fined to pay $300. 00 and was given very limited time to challenge” (Participant 3).

Again, places like parks and gardens are free for people who want to go out for walk, to stretch and exercise their body however, in Winnipeg Manitoba, the hash whether condition and snow make it inaccessible to stay outside for walk especially during the Winter season which is almost half of the year. This makes the shopping mall an obvious place to visit for mall walk, to stretch and exercise their body during the winter season as mentioned by study participant said; “The shopping mall is a good and public place and the only place to go to for example in the winter where you can go for fresh air or to walk around to stretch and exercise your body” (Participant 3).

The concentration of several shops offering different products and services in one building or multiples of buildings connected together is also a major factor that attracts people including persons with disabilities to go to the mall. Almost all the shopping malls visited have Bank, ATM, Network providers’ offices, food court, clothing and shoe shops, pharmacy shop, Post center, coffee shops, movie theatre and others. These are essential products and services that people need in their everyday life. Having all these essential products and services at one location makes it easy and saves time and money to shop at the mall where everything is under one roof (Hashim et al, 201; Swaine et al, 2014).

To persons with disabilities, going to the mall is so important because instead of going to one shop in one area to buy clothing and then to another shop in another to buy groceries, and then to another area for lunch or coffee, the Mall becomes a valuable place of services to them because they can do a lot at one place. The study results indicate that persons with disabilities like to go to the mall because the concentration of many products and services enable them to do most of their shopping at one location without having to leave or go out to another place. “Well, most of the things that I will be frequenting are in this mall. So, I like coming to this mall to shop” (Participant 2).

Shopping at the mall where everything is under one roof also saves persons with disabilities some money. Instead of using taxi or Handi-Transit from one place to another to shop and pay multiple fares, they can do most of their shopping at the mall which helps them to reduce transport cost. Saving little money on transport means a lot to persons with disabilities who are low income earners (Barns and Sheldon, 2009; Naami and Mikey Iddrisu, 2013; Yeo, 2001, 2003), yet have to spend a lot transportation to go to the mall. “I love to go to the mall even though it costs me a lot to go to the mall. I pay $ 50 a month to go to the mall with Handi-Transit. But I must say that I am so lucky to have Handi-Transit. They pick me up and drop me off exactly where I want” (Participant 4).

Again, shopping at the mall also saves persons with disabilities who have difficulties walking distance from going one place to another. It reduces the laborious nature associated with shopping. Though at the mall one has to walk a lot, it is much better than a situation where a person with disability who cannot perform difficult task or hard work or anything that involves much energy has to move from one locality to another which involves getting on and off multiple buses, or taxis, or Handi-Transit and walking in and out of multiples of stores to buy something. Study participants mentioned that going to the mall saves them much energy. “Someone like me who has chronic pain has difficulties in walking longer distance. So the mall is a good place to shop” (Participant 3).

There are many forms of barriers that persons with disabilities face in their day to day activities. These barriers limit persons with disabilities’ ability to perform certain task on their own (Hashim et al 2011). These barriers disabled persons with disabilities and perpetuate the misconception that persons with disabilities are not capable of doing things on their own (Imrie and Kumar, 1998; Swaine et al., 2014). These socio-environmental barriers and physical barrier are present in our society and in every community including the shopping mall (Bashiti &Abdul-Rahim, 2015). Yet, persons with disabilities choose to shop at the mall instead of other stores. The results from the study revealed that in spite of the numerous barriers found, there were many accessible facilities as well that enhance persons with disabilities’ access and participation. Accessible parking, drop off and pick up area, push button doors, automated slide doors, audio-visual elevators with Braille buttons, stair lifts, ramps, accessible washroom, are some of the accessible facilities found during the fieldwork observation. These facilities create barrier-free environment and enhance persons with disabilities participation (Swaine et al., 2014). The results from study participants experiences at the mall one way or the other recognize and confirm that to improve and promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation, there should be an improvement in accessibility facilities. One study participant in her response noted the following:

 

It is really important to have those push button openers. But sometimes the push button doors don’t work effectively, so the shopping mall management should use push button doors that work effectively (Participant 1).

In addition to this is a participant who also said; “The sliding ones are very good too. Other stores have the sliding doors. They are good. There are varieties of people and some are short but are adults. I hear from them complaining that sometimes they can’t reach to push the button, so they have to wait for someone to push it for them so sliding doors are good” (Participant 2)

Another study participant who acknowledged the usefulness of the accessible facilities. This is what she had to say:

 

added that; “The push button ones are also good. I just like the way they work. If you press one little button it will open the doors (Participant 5).

 

The study results demonstrate that these accessible facilities mentioned not only create barrier-free environment but also enable persons with disabilities to access the mall and perform their activities on their own with little or no support from someone. Seeing persons with disabilities engaging in activities at the mall, performing tasks at the mall support the idea that there is ability in disability at barrier-free environment (Hashim et al., 2011; Swaine et al., 2014). This also undercut the misconception that persons with disabilities are not capable of performing their own activities (Imrie & Kumar, 1998).

It is important to point out that a shopping mall that recognizes persons with disabilities as potential customers will ensure that every department of the mall is fully accessible without barriers. One study participant commented on one of the mall’s accessibility and said; “The hallways are spacious, the aisles are wide enough for me to pass through and shop with my wheelchair” (Participant 2).

The study has demonstrated in many ways that shopping mall participation is vital to persons with disabilities. It is also fair to say that persons with disabilities also contribute to the success of the mall whether big or small. When persons with disabilities go to the mall, they buy products or services which add to the gross sales shop owners make. The study results show that the primary reason why persons with disabilities go to the mall is same as the primary function of the mall as established by many of the existing studies. Yet, persons with disabilities face numerous barriers at the mall (Bashiti & Abdul-Rahim, 2015; Hashim et al., 2011). These barriers limit persons with disabilities’ ability and exclude them from participation (Imrie & Kumar, 1998; Swaine et al., 2014). These barriers discriminate against, marginalize, and further disabled persons with disabilities making them dependant on others as if they cannot do anything on their own (Maart et al., 2007; Randt, 2011). The results clearly describe how barriers at the mall negatively affect persons with disabilities’ access and participation. All study participants confirmed that barriers disabled persons with disabilities more than their body impairments. A study participant made the following known to me :

 

There are varieties of people but sometimes people forgot about people who are short, but they are adults. I hear from them that sometimes they can’t reach the push button, so they have to wait for someone to push it for them (Participant 1).

Adding to this is a study participant in an interview shared her views that; “Sometimes it is difficult to get into the shops because there are steps, or there are other things that stop you from getting in” (Participant 4).

Facilities such as smooth and shiny floor, steps, stirs, and others, no matter how beautiful they could be, they can also act as agent of barriers to persons with disabilities which undermine social inclusion, the effort of integrating all persons into socio-economic activities in the society (Pratima, 1993). These results were also mentioned by other existing studies on persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall (Hashim et al., 2011; Swaine et al., 2014; Poldma et al., 2014).

The discussions above which build on the study results support the idea that disability is socially constructed as argue by the social model of disability (Shakespeare & Watson, 1996, 2002). The social model disability according to Oliver (1984, 2013) strongly established that a person is not disabled by the person’s impairment but by the socio-physical barriers created by the society. It has also been established that the actions of the society of building structures that create barriers and limited building access either directly or systemically disabled individuals more than their impairments (Shakespeare & Watson 2002; Goering, 2015; Russell 2018). The study identified designs and structures such as steps, high level counters and shelves, narrow aisles, and others at the mall that create barriers which impede persons with disabilities participation at the mall. These barriers are what limit persons with disabilities’ ability but make them seem that it is their impairments that make them unable to perform certain task at the mall. This is what one participant had to say on the issue:

 

The counters are very high for persons with disabilities who use wheelchairs and others who are adult but are short in height and that make them inconvenient. You know, if you are behind a counter which is too high and you can’t reach out to them, it makes you feel like a child always calling for help (Participant 4).

 

The existing documents reviewed also pointed out several evidence that support the social model of disability’s argument that barriers created by the society disables an individual more than the person’s impairment; “People become disabled when society fails to accommodate and include them in all process of social and infrastructural development due to social prejudices and environmental barriers” (Hashim et al., 2011. p. 56). In another document one of the participants said; “I can’t physically visit some public buildings. A flight of steps, no internal lift, too narrow doorways – all are obstacles which say keep out” (Imrie & Kumar, 1998. p. 364).

The facilities that create accessibility and enhance persons with disabilities’ participation are also created by the society either by the building and construction designers, management of the mall, or shop owners. With these accessible facilities, an individual though may have an impairment using a wheelchair, yet the person’s impairment will not stop the person from participating in the mall. Interestingly, both the facilities that create barriers which impede participation and facilities that create access that enhance persons with disabilities’ participation are all created by the same society through their actions and inaction. Therefore, it can be concluded that disability is socially constructed and can be de-constructed by the same society (Goering, 2015; Shakespeare & Watson, 2002).

The study results seem to suggest that disability can be de-constructed by creating access (Russell, 2018). The best way to create access and enhance persons with disabilities’ participation in community activities is through the use of universal principles of design (Thompson et al., 2002). The universal principle of design is also known as barrier-free concept (Hashim et al., 2011). It is also described as the act of balancing design theories and individual needs in creating objects or structures for public usage (Weber, 2014).

Universal principles of design, the practice of making products and services usable by many people of different abilities was mentioned in many of the literature reviewed as a way of promoting inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in community activities. Imrie and Kumar (1998) argue that persons with disabilities’ needs are not taken into consideration in the design and construction of public building as a result, the building then becomes inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Swaine et al. (2014) explained that universal design aligned with universal understanding of disabled facilities within the physical environment and focus on making it usable by as many people as possible. Hashim et al. (2011. p. 57) referred to universal design as “an inclusive design and or design for all”. The idea of making products and services usable by majority of people with different forms of ability, height, weight, and age will ensure that young or elderly, able or disabled will have access and opportunity to participate in the usage of that product or service.

Study participants did not mention the use of universal design principle as a means of improving access and promoting participation but their suggestions and recommendations implied that by using universal principles of design could provide equitable use of products and services. One study participant in her recommendation mentioned the following in her story:

Push button should be lower enough to be reached by all people including wheelchair users and short people. There is no point fixing the button so high. As low as 30 inches could be reached by everyone including children yet it will serve the same purpose (Participant 1).

 

From the above, a product designed with the intention to provide useful service to all people can still exclude others if the universal principles of design are not taken into consideration. For example, the push button doors, they are good and can be easily accessed but if the press button is fixed above the level of wheelchair users and people who are adult but short in height, the intention of making it usable by all cannot be achieved. A smooth, shining floor can be beautiful but in terms of usage, may pose danger to persons with disabilities. By using rubberized floor which is non-slippery the danger will be reduced. Therefore, to design a product or service, object, structure, or building for universal usage, the seven basic principles of design must be considered. According to the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design and the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University, the fundamental principles of universal design are equitability, flexibility, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, size and space. These principles, when taken into consideration in designing a building or structure provide maximum accessibility to many users of different forms of ability (Follette, 2010).

Study participants indirectly suggested that introducing the universal principles of design in building and constructing facilities at the mall can help to provide access. One participant had the following to say:

You can look around the mall. You will find that most of the counters are high, products shelves are high, aisles are too narrow for the passage of mobile devices and those little steps at the shop entrance that pose difficulties to persons with disabilities are created as a result of failure to consult persons with disabilities’ organization in the beginning to give a recommendation as these things are built (Participant 3).

 

All the study participants made indirect reference to the fundamental principles of universal design such as space, height, equitability, and low physical effort. The primary goal of designing an object or structure is to address a particular need (Razzouk & Shute, 2012; Strate School of Design). Design can enhance access and impede access as well. Design can create barriers that cause exclusion and can also remove barriers to promote inclusion (Swaine et al., 2014; Mazere et al, 2014). To include all people or majority of people in the usage of a product or service or structure such as the Shopping mall, it is important to take the fundamental principles of universal design into consideration.

The process of de-constructing disability does not only require the implementation of universal principles of design in creating accessibility but also the implementation of accessible policies and regulations as well as its enforcement. Shopping malls, just as it is in every community or organization, also have policies and regulations (Brian et al., 2010). Non-smoking for example is one of the commonest displayed at the mall. Shopping malls ought to have strong accessibility policy to ensure that every department of the mall is accessible to a wide range of people if not all. Building and constructing designers should implement public building accessibility acts. The management of the mall also has responsibility to implement and enforce accessibility policies by making sure that shop owners, employers and employees follow the building and accessibility policies (Imrie & Kumar, 1998; Swaine et al., 2014). One study participant study participant suggested by saying; “it has to start from the top. Management has to enforce and intensify disability and building act with vendors. Management must ensure proper education among employers and employees” (Participant 3).

The study results about accessibility policy and enforcement was also highlighted in one of the existing documents reviewed. One study participant argued that the management has a vital role to play. The participant said that “malls should say to their tenants; you want open a store here? You have to know that we focus on accessibility and on openness to people with disabilities. So if you are ok with that you have to bring that vision into your store” (Imrie & Kumar, 1998, p. 226).

The goal of implementing effective accessibility policies and regulations is to improve and promote persons with disabilities’ accessibility and participation (Gray et al., 2003; Church & Marston, 2010). It is therefore the duty of all stakeholders, building and construction designers, management, of the mall, shop owners, employers and employees as well as the general public to contribute their quota to create barrier-free environment (Bashiti & Abdul Rahim, 2015; Sawine et al., 2014). The study results, as mentioned in most of the existing studies, revealed that most of the shopping malls have accessibility policies and regulations that should enhance persons with disabilities participation at the mall, yet lack of enforcement weakens the policies. The data shows that all the shopping malls have accessible parking policy where a demarcated area mostly close to the mall is reserved as parking for persons with disabilities who are registered with accessible parking. As a result of lack of enforcement by way of supervision, people who are not registered to use mostly use the spots at the expense of persons with disabilities who are registered with accessible parking. One study participant vividly explained it as follows:

 

Handicap parking spots are very limited especially at the busy days for example, in Christmas time there is not enough security guards to make sure that the person coming from the vehicle is actually the one that has registered to the handicap sign. Because very often people borrow from friends to seem that they are handicap meanwhile they are not and the person who is actually handicap sitting in the Handi-Transit will be circling and circling looking for parking until that person is done with shopping and when they come out from the mall, they appear to be walking fine.

I mean you can’t always tell what a person’s disability is, but it does appear that frequently people who parked at the handicap spot are not the ones who have registered with handicapped parking sign. Under the vulnerable persons’ act, you cannot ask the person what his or her disability is. So a security guard cannot go to a person and ask but if there are security guards patrolling and supervising the parking lot, they can ask them to show their registration card and they  will admit that it is their sister’s or brother’s or friend’s card (Participant 3).

 

Since these parking spots are purposely made and reserved for persons with disabilities who are registered with accessible parking, anyone other than registered persons with disabilities who uses it abuses the use and the purpose for which the accessible parking spots are made (Cope & Allred, 1991). A study revealed that the abuse of accessible parking affect over 70 percent of persons with disabilities in the United States (Tierney, 2002). A study participant in response to a question explained how the misuse of accessible parking affects persons with disabilities. She explained it as follows:

 

Well, that is part of the problem because so many of the handicap parking spots are taken up by people that are not necessary handicap and are not the ones who have registered with the handicap sign. It is not just morally wrong but also cost the actual persons with disabilities a lot gas and money when the driver has to drive round and round looking for spot (Participant 5).

 

The literature reviewed did not discuss the abuse of accessible parking. However, several studies have looked at the issue of the abuse of accessible spots. According to Miller “one morning in May 1999, Linda Shepard-Gebhart observed a vehicle illegally parked in a handicapped space outside a Bagel Works restaurant in Churchville, Maryland” (Miller, 2003. p.1). Tierney (2002) explained that as a result of rampant abuse of handicapped parking spaces, a bill was imposed to increase parking violation fine from $100 to $1000 in San Francisco and from $250 to $1000 in New York including a one-year possible jail sentence. These are evidence that show that accessible parking violation is of greater concerned.

Yahaya and Zain (2002) described the three types of accessible parking abuse as follows, parking without proper permit, misuse of permit by non-disabled, and fraudulent acquisition of disabled parking permit to park illegally. The Winnipeg Parking By–Law No. 86/2016   Section 18(1) says,

“Spaces reserved for physically disabled persons; No vehicle may be stopped or parked in a designated parking space or a disabled loading zone; or in such a manner as to obstruct access to such a space; unless a disabled person’s parking permit is being used and displayed in the vehicle in accordance with The Highway Traffic Act and the regulations under that Act; members of the disabled community rely on availability of accessible parking more than other parkers, and their proximity have health and mobility implications (https://winnipeg.ca/parking).

 

Violators pay a fine of $300 (https://winnipeg.ca/parking). All these policies and regulations enforcement are to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with the necessary access to enhance their participation in all community activities such as the shopping mall.

The last but not least findings from the study but perhaps one of the most important subject matter as far as disability studies and persons with disabilities are concern is not just education but disability education. Persons with disabilities have faced discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization largely because of the lack of basic knowledge and understanding of disability issues (Kudlick, 2003). Stigmatization, segregation, dehumanization, and other atrocities committed against persons with disabilities could be attributed to lack of knowledge and understanding of disability and persons with disabilities’ issues (Das et al., 2000; Kudlick, 2003). Today persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in all aspects of life (Barns &d Sheldon, 2009; Wolbring, 2009).

Socio-economically, persons with disabilities face numerous barriers that impede their access and hinder their participation not only at the shopping mall but in all forms of community activities (Swaine et al., 2014). These barriers do exist as a result of lack of disability education and awareness. Not all the barriers that persons with disabilities face come from the way the shopping mall and its structures are designed but also the socio-cultural believes about disability (Baffoe 2013). It is the lack of disability education that causes building and construction designers and planners, including the management of the mall, and shop owners to build structures within the mall without considering the needs of persons with disabilities. One participant had the following to say on the issue:

 

Some counters are too high. I think they didn’t consult persons with disabilities’ organization or any wheelchair user in the beginning to give a recommendation as these things are built. Counters should have a lower section if you want write something (Participant 2).

 

From the data analysis and the results’ it can be argue that lack of disability education causes both physical and social barriers that persons with disabilities face at the mall. The physical environment of the mall is built for the able-bodied and infused with disabler facilities that perpetuate the misconception that persons with disabilities are not fit to participate because of their impairment (Imrie & Kumar, 1998). Both the study results and the literature reviewed support that the negative attitude that persons with disabilities face at the mall is as a result of lack of disability education. A study participant (shopkeeper) in another study said “when I first began to work in retail and I was serving disabled people, I felt very bad” (Swain et al., 2014, p. 226). The participant felt bad perhaps that participant believed that disability is medical and so getting closer to a person with disability put him or her at risk of getting a disability. Another study participant vividly shared her experience at the mall saying that,

 

Several members of our organization have indicated that stores’ employees say hello to their staffs and other non-disabled people coming into the store and ask them if they need help but very few people approach a person in wheelchair or mobile device to say hello or talk to them. It looks or as if they are afraid to eye-level with them. And if a person in a wheelchair with another person staff, or driver whoever, a friend is walking with them, they rather ask or talk to that person as if the wheelchair user doesn’t know how to talk or express themselves because they are in a wheelchair.

But they are people and they are customers just like any other customer. They have their money to buy something. So, it would be much more helpful and appropriate to go right to a person with disability and say how can I help you? And then they can direct you. But it all boils down to attitude and education of employees (Participant 3).

 

Study results support the literature review’s argument that disability education and awareness is the key to correct the misconceptions people hold about disability and persons with disabilities (Imrie & Kumar, 1998; Swaine et al., 2014). Without education, training and awareness on disability issues, store owners and employees would not develop positive attitude towards persons with disabilities. Without education and public awareness on disability issues, people will not understand that disability is more of social than medical (Shakespeare & Watson, 2002). For building and constructing designers, management of the mall, store owners, employees to provide the necessary accessibility facilities and accommodation for persons with disabilities at the mall, these stakeholders ought to have some kind of knowledge and understanding of disability to know that persons with disabilities are people and are also customers who come to the mall for the socio-economic activities the mall offers. Therefore, their needs should be taken into consideration in putting up any structure at the mall for public use by consulting disability organizations to give their input.

In a nutshell, the shopping mall is a public community where diverse people visit for social and economic purposes. The primary function of the shopping mall is commercialization of products and services. The nature of shopping mall and its function requires that all stakeholders, building and constructing designers, management of the mall, shop owners, employers, and employees to create inclusive environment to accommodate all persons including persons with disabilities.

The purpose of the study was to examine the role of the shopping mall in the lives of persons with disabilities. The study had three objectives. Firstly, to examining what shopping means to persons with disabilities. The existing literature reviewed in Chapter 2 established that the shopping mall is public place where all consumers visit to buy products and services whiles others go to the mall for social purposes such us meeting family and friends, hangout, and for relaxation. The results through observations and interviews in chapter 4 also revealed that persons with disabilities just like any other person go to the mall primarily for social and economic activities.

Second, the study’s aim was to identify barriers that hinder persons with disabilities’ activities as well as accessible facilities that enhance their participation at the mall. The literature review in chapter 2 made mentioned of some of the physical and social barriers persons with disabilities face at the mall. The results from the study in chapter 5 also confirm what has been established by previous studies that persons with disabilities still face physical barriers such as narrow aisles, steps, high level counters, and social barriers such as negative attitudes, abuse of accessible facilities made and reserve for persons with disabilities’ use, weak and unenforced accessible policy and regulation, as well as lack of disability education and awareness. These barriers are what further disabled an individual impaired person and hinder the person’s ability to participate in all community activities. In spite of these barriers, the study found some accessible facilities such us ramps, wide aisles, spacious door and hallways, good customer service as facilities that enhance persons with disabilities ability to participate at the mall. These facilities promote social inclusion.

The third objective of the study was to suggest how the mall could improve and promote persons with disabilities’ participation. The study discussion suggest that to improve and promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation, all stakeholders including the building and constructing designers, management of the mall, shop owners, employers and employees should factor persons with disabilities’ needs into their designs and plans in building physical structures for public use. Public education and awareness on disability should be made a major policy of the mall, as well as implementing and enforcing strong accessibility policy and regulation. This will improve accessibility and accommodation and enhance persons with disabilities’ access and participation at the mall.

Putting it all together, the shopping mall is a public place and a community for social and economic participation for everyone including persons with disabilities. However, persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation are affected and limited due to barriers that present at the mall as a result of societal actions and inactions. These barriers systemically marginalise and exclude persons with disabilities from engaging in community activities. These barriers undermine the purpose of shopping mall and do not promote social inclusion as well as community integration. To promote persons with disabilities’ inclusion and participation at the mall, management should improve accessibility and accommodation, education and awareness, as well as implementing accessible policies and regulations.

The role of the Shopping Mall in the lives of persons with disabilities cannot be over emphasised as the Mall serves as an avenue for persons with disabilities to participate in the socio-economic activities in the community. In spite of the numerous barriers found at the Mall that impede persons with disabilities’ participation, the study also found several accessible facilities that promote persons with disabilities participation at the Mall. It is important to mention that the study noted that both barriers and accessible facilities are all created by the society. Therefore, it can be concluded that disability is socially constructed and can be de-constructed by the same society.

Making the case that disability is socially constructed and can be de-constructed by society without outlining ways in which disability can be de-constructed is somehow meaningless. It is therefore appropriate to point out few points but very broad, that as a society we can to do de-construct disability. First and foremost, education and training as well as creating public awareness on the issue of disability is the key. Educating the public about disability will enhance the general understanding of disability and persons with disabilities’ issues. This will eventually change the negative attitude of society toward persons with disabilities. Second, building a culture of accessible socio-physical environment in our communities through the use of universal principles of design will encourage inclusion and promote effective participation of persons with disabilities in community activities (Iwasrsson and Stahl 2009). The last but not the least is accommodation. This simply means finding ways and means to make things work for persons with disabilities to participate without creating any undue hardship (manitobahumanrights.ca). These three key points identified, to the best of my knowledge, are the fundamental elements of disability studies, as well as the social model of disability

In this study, the sample size was not broad enough to elucidate diverse information as the study focused on three shopping malls in Winnipeg city and interviewed only seven participants who were physically disabled. It is recommended that future studies should broaden the sample scope by using focus groups as well as including people with different forms of disability to participate so as to obtain diverse ideas and information. The study found that non-disabled people use accessible facilities designed, labeled, and reserved for persons with disabilities’ use. The impact of the abuse of accessible facilities by the non-disabled people on persons with disabilities has not been broadly studied. Therefore, further studies should look at the abuse of accessible facilities at public places by the non-disabled people and its effect on persons with disabilities’ participation at the mall.

 

Future Research

What future research needs to be done

 

Conclusions

Short paragraph to summarize the chapter and to sum-up the thesis

 

I had requested you to divide the Literature Review Chapter into 3 sections to parallel your 3 empirical chapters

(1)Violent extremism, terrorism, and ethnoreligious conflict.

(2) Conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

(3) Regional organizations and security.

 

Some citations from 2015-2020 need to be included in sections 2 and 3. I have sent you a substantial bibliography that I have put together on recent peacebuilding scholarship (2015-2020). Please read and make sure that the key references are in included in your thesis.

 

Please write an 8-10 page section for the Terrorism and Intra State and Ethno-religious Conflicts section using references from the period 2015-2020.

 

Please delete the other 40 pages in this Chapter as they are dated and irrelevant

 

 

Are you using APA style?

If so, then all of the headings in the thesis should be lower case. For example,

Personal experiences and perceptions

 

Why are you citing old material please reference the scholarship of the last 5-10 years

 

This reference is 22 years old. What is the new literature telling us?

 

Each empirical qualitative chapter needs to have 8-10 pages of findings.

 

This chapter needs headings to organize it

 

There should be no data in your Conclusions chapter.

I would suggest that you download a PACS or Disability Studies thesis and see how it is put together.

For example, Kris Fics, Ashley cummer, Leonardo Luna

 

Please include headings to organize this chapter.