The Role of Technology in Urban Inclusiveness-With the Emphasis on the Presence of People with Disabilities in Urban Spaces

The importance of inclusive access to urban spaces has become important due to the rapid growth of urbanization in recent years. Inclusive design and planning create equal opportunities for all groups of citizens, regardless of their personal limitations and abilities. According to the principles of inclusive cities, all groups of citizens, including people with disabilities (PWDs), should have equal rights to access urban spaces. According to the rules of inclusive cities, all groups of citizens, including PWDs, should have the right to access and be present in urban spaces; but this is not the case in cities of our country, including Tehran.

This research aims to investigate the role of technology in urban inclusiveness, with an emphasis on the presence of PWDs in urban spaces.

The research goal is met by using a descriptive-survey research method following two main consecutive steps: meta-analysis and review of the international library documents related to the research subject and then analysis of the findings of a questionnaire with 80 participants with disabilities in Tehran city.

The research findings confirm that all participants in the study face many challenges in participating in urban spaces. The results of the questionnaire show that 82% of the participants use smart electronic devices more than five times a day, and the examples of using assistive technology are attractive to over 90%. Finally, it is anticipated that the use of such technologies will facilitate accessibility and increase the presence of PWDs in the city. This article introduces three new approaches: inclusive smart city (ISC), application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and E-inclusion.