The important of accessibility within the built environment
Inaccessible environment gives a huge impact to a person with disability by creating barriers to participation and inclusion. The World Report on Disability (UNICEF, 2011) emphasized the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) highlighted environment as factors that contribute towards functions in a person day-to-day activities. It’s recognized that human functioning can be categorized into 3 interconnected areas, which are impairment, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
Table 1: Three categories of human functioning (Source: UNICEF – Online)
According ICF, environmental factors are defined as the world in which people with different levels of functioning must live and act. Therefore, disability can be referred as difficulties encountered in any or all three areas of functioning (Table 1). In order to allow all users including those with human functioning disorder, the obstacle within their surrounding need to be resolved. Thus, ‘Universal or Inclusive Design’ was introduced. …show more content…
(Source: Asiah et. Al., 2015)
However in built environment, careful planning is required to ensure the range of tolerances required can be achieved. Planning without consideration on universal design will caused disconnectivity between spaces. Therefore, to achieve a well design of an accessible environment, a designer should be referring to the 7 principles of universal design which are;
Principle 1: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. Powered or automatic door will give a great help not only to the disable, but also to parents with kids, elderly, even to a person with lots things to handle (Figure 1 :).
Figure 1: An automated door at retails helps diverse abilities. (Source: JLC Automation Services – Online)
Principle 2: Flexibility in
Inaccessible environment gives a huge impact to a person with disability by creating barriers to participation and inclusion. The World Report on Disability (UNICEF, 2011) emphasized the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) highlighted environment as factors that contribute towards functions in a person day-to-day activities. It’s recognized that human functioning can be categorized into 3 interconnected areas, which are impairment, activity limitations and participation restrictions.
Table 1: Three categories of human functioning (Source: UNICEF – Online)
According ICF, environmental factors are defined as the world in which people with different levels of functioning must live and act. Therefore, disability can be referred as difficulties encountered in any or all three areas of functioning (Table 1). In order to allow all users including those with human functioning disorder, the obstacle within their surrounding need to be resolved. Thus, ‘Universal or Inclusive Design’ was introduced. …show more content…
(Source: Asiah et. Al., 2015)
However in built environment, careful planning is required to ensure the range of tolerances required can be achieved. Planning without consideration on universal design will caused disconnectivity between spaces. Therefore, to achieve a well design of an accessible environment, a designer should be referring to the 7 principles of universal design which are;
Principle 1: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. Powered or automatic door will give a great help not only to the disable, but also to parents with kids, elderly, even to a person with lots things to handle (Figure 1 :).
Figure 1: An automated door at retails helps diverse abilities. (Source: JLC Automation Services – Online)
Principle 2: Flexibility in