Phone booths for the disabled by next year

Monday July 30, 2012

Phone booths for the disabled by next year

PENANG is ready to introduce disabled-friendly public telephone booths by the end of the year.

Penang Municipal Council councillor Muhammad Sabri Md Osman said two telecommunication companies were already planning with the council to install this type of public telephone booths.

“Among the guidelines set by the council for the companies are at least one disabled-friendly public telephone booth in shopping complexes, government offices and public places such as the ferry terminal, bus station and airport,” he said.

He said the disabled-friendly telephone booth should also be placed near information centres.

They should be easily visible with a big signboard.

“The telephone must be easily reachable for those on wheelchairs and have a foldable seat for those with mobility problems.

“The coin slot should be between 0.90m and 1.20m from the ground,” he said after the council meeting held at the City Hall recently.

He said the phone should have push buttons with Braille font for the visually impaired.

“The space of the booth should be around 1.2m by 0.85m.

“There must be no obstructions in the area to allow the disabled to access the booth either from the front or the sides,” he said.

He said the telephone wire should also be at least 0.75m in length.