In Kyrgyzstan, persons with disabilities are collecting proof of physical barriers to hold the government accountable

October 14, 2026

The Kyrgyzstan public fund "Oasis" has developed a data-driven project to document physical accessibility barriers faced by people with disabilities in the capital city of Bishkek, seven years after the country ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2019. Through the Digital Sparks granting program, Oasis created the Oasis Data Lab, training over 30 young people, including those with various disabilities, to audit buildings using a mobile application called UrbanEyes that geolocates and photographs accessibility features. The project has assessed 350 buildings so far, revealing that more than 60 percent have inadequate or missing ramps, transforming personal experiences into structured civic data.

Who is affected

More than 218,000 people with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan (approximately 3% of the population)
30+ young participants in the Oasis Data Lab, including people with physical disabilities, blind and low-vision individuals, deaf participants, social activists, and urban experts
The public fund "Oasis" as the implementing organization
Residents of Bishkek who navigate inaccessible infrastructure
Decision-makers at Bishkek's Mayor's Office and the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Migration

What action is being taken

Participants are assessing buildings across Bishkek using the UrbanEyes application with geolocation, photographs, questionnaires, and standardized accessibility indicators
350 buildings have already been assessed and documented
Data is being transformed into an interactive accessibility map with filters, heat maps, and accessibility indices
Workshops are being conducted on disability rights, inclusivity, digital advocacy, data collection, mapping, and storytelling
Participants are learning to communicate findings through digital storytelling and advocacy
The project is producing structured, comparable civic data to support advocacy and evidence-based urban planning

Why it matters

This project matters because it addresses the significant gap between Kyrgyzstan's legal commitments to disability rights and the actual lived experience of people with disabilities. By transforming individual complaints into measurable, structured evidence, the initiative makes exclusion visible and creates accountability mechanisms that governments cannot easily ignore. The project redefines digital democracy by shifting evidence production to the communities most affected, positioning people with disabilities not as passive beneficiaries but as active researchers and civic actors. The documented barriers—such as the finding that over 60% of assessed buildings have ramp-related problems—provide concrete data that can drive policy changes, inform infrastructure planning and budgeting, and ensure that accessibility improvements are based on real-world experiences rather than checklists that miss practical usability issues.

What's next

Continue developing the UrbanEyes app and Bishkek's Accessibility Map with regular data updates
Use findings in structured dialogue with Bishkek's Mayor's Office, the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Migration, civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders
Transform Oasis Data Lab into a long-term civic innovation and evidence hub
Identify priority areas requiring urgent improvement to support more informed infrastructure planning and budgeting
Encourage participants to continue contributing data, producing digital stories, and sharing skills with other young advocates
Adapt the model to other regions in Kyrgyzstan, especially rural areas

Read full article from source: Global Voices