Stakeholders Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN): user-led audit and photographic documentation in Canada

Abstract

The neighbourhood built environment influences mobility and participation of persons using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Documentation of environmental barriers/facilitators by MAT users can enable them to vocalize and advocate their needs. This article presents results from a study with 24 MAT users who collected observational and photographic data on neighbourhood environments in three municipalities in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada using the Stakeholders Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN) tool. The SWAN tool is a checklist enabling participants to assess the walkability/wheelability of their neighbourhood in both an objective and a subjective manner across five domains of functionality, safety, appearance and maintenance, land use and support features, and social aspects. Study findings documenting barriers and facilitators to mobility and participation were later used to engage community stakeholders through community forums. This type of participant-centred approach is a resource for MAT users to become informed and engaged partners in neighbourhood physical planning and decision-making processes.

Keywords:

• environmental audit
• user-led tool
• urban street design
• walkability
• mobility assistive technology
• participatory research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This research project was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Grant # 895-2013-1021