For Immediate Release: World Blind Union and City Space Architecture launch a special issue of the Journal of Public Space

June 30, 2022 8:18 am Published by John Lalley

Katowice, Poland

At the 11^th World Urban Forum – taking place in Katowice, Poland – the World Blind Union (WBU) and City Space Architecture have launched “Universally Accessible Public Spaces for All”, a special issue of the Journal of Public Space.

The launch of this issue is the realization of a commitment WBU and City Space Architecture made at the 10^thSession of the World Urban Forum in 2020 in Abu Dhabi. These organizations committed to publish a special issue with the goal of accelerating the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the urban dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals during the decade of action.

“This partnership has resulted in the generation of significant evidence to support the design of more inclusive and accessible public spaces”, said Marc Workman, CEO of the World Blind Union. “Policy makers, urban planners, architects, and organizations of persons with disabilities can draw on the knowledge contained in this special issue to improve the way public spaces are designed, benefitting all those who use such spaces”, added Workman.

The special issue is the culmination of more than two years of collaboration between City Space Architecture and the WBU. It is comprised of research articles, case studies, and viewpoints from across academia, city professionals, city managers and officials, urban planners, and civil society – including organizations of persons with disabilities, older persons representatives, self-advocates, and artists from across the globe.

“At the Journal of Public Space, we’re committed to producing high-quality research that adds to the body of knowledge around public spaces; this issue is no exception to that commitment”, said Dr. Luisa Bravo, Founder and Editor in Chief, The Journal of Public Space. “Our goal is to make this research available to the widest number of people possible, which is why we took pro-active steps to ensure this issue is fully accessible to all”, Added Bravo.

Universally Accessible Public Spaces for All is available to everyone for free in accessible formats on the City Space Architecture website at https://www.journalpublicspace.org.

Contacts

Dr. Luisa Bravo, Founder and Editor in Chief, The Journal of Public Space, luisa.bravo@journalpublicspace.org

Marc Workman, Chief Executive Officer, World Blind Union, marc.workman@wbu.ngo