Mega-events can expose and address disability-attitude gaps in destination design.

Why It Matters

Designers and planners can leverage the high visibility and societal focus of mega-events to drive systemic change. This approach moves beyond mere physical accessibility to address the crucial attitudinal barriers that limit full inclusion and participation for people with disabilities.

Key Finding

Mega-events can drive physical accessibility improvements, but addressing ingrained negative attitudes towards disability is crucial for true inclusion.

Key Findings

• Mega-events can serve as catalysts for significant national commitments to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
• While physical infrastructure improvements are often prioritized, persistent negative attitudes and stigma can still hinder full social inclusion and mobility for people with disabilities.

Research Evidence

Aim: How can mega-events be strategically utilized to address and reduce the disability-attitude gap in destination development and accessible tourism?

Method: Qualitative research

Procedure: The research analyzed how Japan used the Tokyo 2020 mega-event as a platform to implement social policies aimed at improving accessibility and challenging ableist thinking towards people with disabilities, examining transformations in the built environment, public awareness, and educational initiatives.

Context: Accessible tourism development and mega-event planning

Design Principle

Inclusive design requires addressing both tangible and intangible barriers to user participation.

How to Apply

When designing for public spaces or events, conduct thorough user research that includes understanding and addressing potential attitudinal barriers faced by diverse user groups.

Limitations

The study focuses on a single mega-event and may not fully capture the long-term effectiveness of implemented policies or the diversity of experiences across different disability types.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Big events like the Olympics can help make places more accessible for people with disabilities, but sometimes people still have old-fashioned ideas that make it hard for them. Designers need to fix both the physical stuff and try to change people's attitudes.

Why This Matters: Understanding the 'disability-attitude gap' is essential for creating designs that are not only usable but also socially equitable and truly inclusive.

Critical Thinking: To what extent can design interventions truly influence deeply ingrained societal attitudes, and what are the ethical considerations involved in attempting to do so?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights the critical need to address the 'disability-attitude gap' in design, emphasizing that while physical accessibility is paramount, it is insufficient without concurrent efforts to dismantle stigmatizing social attitudes. Mega-events, as demonstrated by the Tokyo 2020 example, can serve as powerful catalysts for such change, prompting designers to consider the broader societal impact of their work beyond mere functionality.

Project Tips

• When researching user needs, actively seek out perspectives from marginalized groups.
• Consider how your design might influence societal perceptions and attitudes.

How to Use in IA

• Use this research to justify the inclusion of attitudinal research in your user needs analysis.
• Reference this study when discussing the broader social impact of design decisions.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of how design can influence social attitudes, not just functionality.
• Critically evaluate the long-term social implications of your design choices.

Independent Variable: Mega-event implementation (physical and social policy changes)

Dependent Variable: Accessibility for people with disabilities (physical and attitudinal)

Controlled Variables: National commitments, public awareness campaigns, educational initiatives

Strengths

• Focuses on a critical, often overlooked aspect of accessibility (attitudes).
• Provides a real-world case study of policy and design integration.

Critical Questions

• How can designers effectively collaborate with policymakers to address attitudinal barriers?
• What are the most effective design strategies for fostering positive social attitudes towards diverse user groups?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate how a specific cultural event or festival in your region impacts accessibility and attitudes towards a particular demographic group.
• Propose design interventions for a public space that aim to both improve physical accessibility and foster greater social inclusion and positive attitudes.

Source

Leveraging accessible tourism development through mega-events, and the disability-attitude gap · Tourism Management · 2023 · 10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104766