I Know My Rights! A Longitudinal Study of Discrimination due to Physical Inaccessibility from the Perspective of Wheelchair Users

It is a fundamental right to be able to access society and the services in it. From the perspective of disability rights, people with mobility-related disabilities who use wheelchairs must have equal opportunities to participate in and contribute to society – whether it is school, work, or (activity) leisure. This ongoing study is a longitudinal document study with qualitative content analysis. The document study is based on incoming complaints of discrimination due to inaccessibility received by the DO in Sweden, 2015–2023. The study explores how the users of wheelchairs and scooters experience discrimination due to their inaccessibility, using the ICF framework, among reported complaints to the DO from 2015–2023. The preliminary results show an increase in the number of complaints about discrimination across the entire period of 2015–2023. Responding to peoples’ lived perspectives has often been cited as crucial to understanding how inclusion and exclusion play out in real life. A more accessible world depends on the extent of our knowledge and the politics of knowing-making, according to recently published research. Analyzing complaints about lack of accessibility over time generates essential knowledge for how discrimination against people who use wheelchairs can be prevented. This project also contributes to essential knowledge for social sustainability, economic sustainability, and a sustainable, accessible environment for people who use wheelchairs.