Advisor(s)

Avinash Unnikrishnan

Committee Member(s)

Moiz Usmani
Virginia Sisiopiku

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

1-27-2026

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

School

School of Engineering

Department

Civil Engineering

Abstract

Mobility for people with disabilities (PWDs) depends on both the availability of transportation and public services and the accessibility of these systems. The presence of public transportation systems does not ensure usability. Vehicles, infrastructure, and the built environment must be designed to accommodate diverse physical, sensory, cognitive, and other needs. PWDs must also be able to navigate public buildings and surrounding spaces safely and comfortably. This thesis examines mobility limitations for PWDs in India and the United States, focusing on accessibility along the full mobility chain. A review of existing literature provides context on accessibility policies, design standards, and the lived experiences of PWDs. Empirical analysis using a government survey data from India explores how disability-related characteristics and sociodemographic variables influence the usage and difficulties with public buildings and public transportation. Two bivariate probit models were developed to jointly estimate outcomes for facility usage and difficulties. One dataset contained 98,696 survey responses for the facility usage model, and the second dataset included 39,360 responses for modeling reported difficulties. The findings suggest individuals with cognitive and psychosocial disabilities encounter significantly greater barriers, suggesting these groups may be overlooked in accessibility design and policy implementation. A supplementary preliminary analysis was conducted using unweighted data from the 2022 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) in the United States to explore how nighttime driving restrictions affect travel behavior among PWDs. A filtered subset of 1,631 respondents reporting difficulties was analyzed. Findings suggest that daytime-only driving limitations may limit social participation and increase reliance on others for transportation. The results highlight ongoing accessibility challenges in India and the United States. Implementing systematic monitoring and maintenance programs is essential to ensure accessibility features remain aligned with the evolving needs of PWDs.

Keywords

Mobility;People with Disabilities;Public Buildings;Public Transportation

ProQuest Publication Number

32285026

ISBN

9798273349650

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