The problem of the physically handicapped and architectural barriers has been a growing international, national, and University concern. Handicapped citizens are frequently "walled out" of public buildings because of thoughtlessness of the design. The handicapped have the right of access to public buildings. Because Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public university, in fact and tradition, it has a responsibility to assure the accessibility of the campus to all who wish to use it. The first step in remedying the access problem at the university level would be to inventory the architectural barriers in the campus buildings and on the University site and access the current status of other factors effecting access at the University. The purpose of this study was to examine the problem of access and the handicapped at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University through these four research questions: 1. What was the current status of the problem of architectural barriers within the facilities of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? 2. What was the extent of the activity, either proposed or in progress, for relieving the existing architectural barriers within Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? 3. What was the extent of activity designed to prevent architectural barriers in future construction of University facilities? 4. What were the activities or programs which would be appropriate to provide for the removal of architectural barriers within current and future facilities of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? The study developed the data to answer these questions through three research methods. First, an architectural survey form was developed from existing forms, architectural specifications, and related literature. This survey form was used to inventory the architectural barriers in fifty-one academic and administrative buildings on the University's main campus. The second method involved contacting handicapped students and staff in order to obtain their viewpoint concerning problems associated with access at the University. The contact was made by a mailed questionnaire and through personal interviews. The third method involved interviewing various members of the University administrative staff to determine the experience and perceptions of administrative staff concerning problems of access. Secondary purposes of these interviews were to determine if funds would be available to support the process of making the University accessible. It was found that the University was not generally accessible to handicapped persons. No building on the campus complied with current National or state access standards. No local organization or person had the responsibility to assure a barrier-free campus. Funds for removing campus barriers were non-existent and few discretionary funds could be used for this purpose. The single activity directed toward removal of architectural barriers on the campus was the development of an Ad Hoc Committee of the University Faculty Senate to study the problem. The study concluded with several recommendations in the areas of policy and architectural and site alterations. The primary implication for further research was directed toward defining the characteristics of Virginia's and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's handicapped population and to use this data to determine wny the University's handicapped population was so low. / Ed. D.

P.L. 101-476 (IDEA) mandates the educational inclusion of students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. Leaders in the field of special education support the inclusion of students with disabilities in neighborhood schools, and many school divisions now indicate that they are using an inclusive model. In such programs appropriate inclusion of students is to take place in school and community recreation programs, academics, art, music, industrial arts, consumer and homemaking education, vocational education, physical education, at meals and recess. Education is to take place in the school the child would attend if he or she was not disabled. Educational technology must be provided to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities. If schools are to follow these statutes, then total school and program accessibility must be addressed. Research and development methods used in this study include: (1) a survey of school divisions in Virginia to determine: size of division, disabilities categories in the division, if an inclusive model is being used in the division’s elementary schools, existence of a written policy on inclusion; (2) development of the Elementary Accessibility Checklist; (3) review of the instrument by experts in school facilities and elementary curriculum; (4) field testing of the Elementary Accessibility Checklist in six elementary schools in Virginia (small, medium, large divisions using an inclusive model and small medium, large division not using an inclusive model); (5) final review of the instrument by expert panel and participating school principals; (6) final revision of the Elementary Accessibility Checklist. The results of this study should provide an indication of the number of school divisions in Virginia using an inclusive model in elementary schools, and the number of divisions that support the inclusive model with written policy. The accessibility checklists developed will be useful to all elementary schools to determine their level of accessibility, suggest needed modifications in school facilities and programs. / Ed. D.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The United Nations (UN) declared the period 1983 to 1992 the “Decade of Disabled Persons”, and introduced the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The Rules demonstrate a strong commitment to upholding human rights and provide guidance for policy formulation to improve the lives of persons with disabilities through their equal participation and maximizing their welfare. There is no consensus on a definition and measurement of disability (Altman, 2001; Mitra 2005:7). The study used the medical, social, and theological models to explore the theoretical, conceptual and theological meaning of living with disabilities; examine the respondents’ perceptions of the church’s influence on their spirituality and daily lives; describe the respondents’ socio-economic conditions with particular attention to civic participation, discrimination, employment, education and health, and make recommendations, based on the findings, to inform policy on people with disabilities in South Africa. The researcher adopted a qualitative and quantitative approach in the study. The population consisted of parents or caregivers to minor and adult children with varying degrees of disabilities, adults with physical disabilities, and family members with disabled persons. Data was collected by means of informal and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observation. The main barriers to participation were that the respondents did not feel well enough to participate owing to their disabilities; lack of money; lack of confidence, and the attitudes of others either in the community, at work or at service points. Choice and control in the respondents’ lives was established to be an important aspect of wellbeing and life satisfaction. The respondents who felt they had a choice were satisfied with the services they received. The respondents with mental health conditions reported the least positive experiences and outcomes. Many of the barriers they reported related to their lack of confidence and the attitudes of others in their communities. The study was limited to a relatively small sample of respondents in the greater Cape Town area in the Western Cape, comprising only Evangelical Christians. Consequently, the findings cannot be generalised to all areas of the country and all the Christian churches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Geen opsomming"

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1975. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: leaves 210-212. / Gayle Tweeton Epp. / M.C.P.

EVALUATING TWO SHOPPING CENTERS IN THE LIGHT OF PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN Sev&uuml / k, Muhammet Sancar M. of Arch., Department of Architecture Supervisor of the thesis: Prof. Dr. Vacit Imamoglu April 2011, 156 Pages Starting from the second half of the 20th century, the number of aged people and people with aging-related disabilities has increased significantly in the world. Parallel to this increase, special projects have been developed for aged people in the developed countries, but with these projects aged people were often excluded from society. People with disabilities were already living isolated from society. With the effect of raising awareness in the public after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, in the course of the last sixty years studies have been realized and new standards and principles have been developed for elderly people and people with disabilities to benefit from the social life equally together with everyone and to raise their quality of life. Starting with the barrier-free design approach, a new period improving and changing the view point of design from general and private design to design for all, to inclusive and/or the universal design has begun. In the thesis, this period has been reviewed through the summarized definitions of these stages. The effects of these improvements have been related to the design and construction of the built environments and buildings. Therefore, people with disabilities started to participate in the society more than ever. The implementation of principles of the Universal Design in the public buildings, especially to hospitals, cultural centers and shopping centers has gained more importance in order to advance full social integration of people with disabilities to the society. Number of shopping centers in Turkey increased rapidly after 1995. In this thesis, two examples were examined and evaluated in the light of universal design principles. The problems faced in these buildings were examined in order to design more inclusive buildings and environments. A brief history of shopping centers was presented. Brief information about some examples of old bazaars from Anatolia and shopping centers from different countries were given.

Using a phenomenological hermeneutic methodology, this thesis describes the lived experience of people with mobility impairments in the context of their home environment. Nine individuals with mobility impairments were interviewed at length regarding their experiences in their homes. From the resulting narratives, the data were arranged under three thematic statements: Doing my thing, Being myself, and Evolving with my environment. The study highlights the interdependent nature of the person-environment-occupation relationship and reveals the potential for an enabling home design to affect all areas of human occupation (self-care, productivity and leisure). The efficient performance of self-care activities in the home emerged as being somewhat predictive of the extent to which participants were involved in the areas of productivity and leisure. This thesis offers support for the social model of disability and illuminates the need for incorporating universal design in all homes. / x, 98 leaves ; 29 cm. --

The focus of this creative project is the interior rehabilitation of Renaissance Place, a historic alley-type structure in Downtown Muncie, Indiana, circa. 1895. The emphasis is on the rehabilitation of three of the six units with sensitivity to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Digital lighting studies of the interior space are completed for different times of the year by using a program called Accurender 3. The techniques and products introduced through this project will be presented to the owner. The final product is also intended to be inspirational for other individuals rehabilitating similar structures with desire to incorporate ADA and LEED guidelines. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Thesis (M.S.) -- Mississippi State University. College of Architecture, Art and Design. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

The therapeutic opportunity for the elderly due to building control automation use in a retirement home was investigated. Previous research suggests that a basic understanding of elderly functional needs and building control automation capabilities is required Ifn order to secure the opportunity for maintaining existing elderly functional abilities. This study explores the extent to which building control automation can be applied in retirement homes. The research questions generated for this study were: To what extent is the success of building control automation dependent on the level of demand by residents, staff, and administration? How can elderly of varying disabilities interact with and around what building control automation features? How can building control automation support elderly independence and minimize the need for relocation to a higher level of care? What type(s) of building control automation will either promote independence or threaten it? A nurse aide questionnaire was used to identify the nurse aide's perception of the retirement home environment, residents' activities, and issues of elderly well-being. A resident questionnaire addressed residents needs and desires to maintain independent living with assistance of building control automation. And lastly, participant observation was used to reveal unique aspects of the physical environment and activities in questionnaire responses. / Master of Science