A research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the Degree of Masters of Management (in Public and Management Development) February 2017 / Accessibility in the built environment has always created barriers for persons with disabilities. Accessibility in public buildings is a key factor for persons with disabilities in achieving livelihoods and independence. However, inaccessible public buildings limits the rights of persons with disabilities to equal participation and prevents them from being equal citizens. Persons with disabilities are often faced with barriers that limit them from actively participating in social and economic life. Many of these barriers are related to accessibility in the built environment. This research report looked into the Department of Public Works’ Accessibility Programme. The accessibility programme intends to make all state-owned buildings accessible for persons with disabilities. The participants of the study were mostly implementers of the accessibility programme and participants from organisations of persons with disabilities. Most of the participants acknowledged the work the Department of Public Works has done. However, they also noted shortcomings in implementing the accessibility programme. The lack of knowledge on disability issues and understanding on how to address accessibility in the built environment was a contributing factor to the ineffective and efficient accessibility programme. The recommendations of the study include inclusive disability programmes in the built environment in the planning, policy development, designing and completion stages. Education and advocacy are highly recommended at all stages of the implementation of the accessibility programme. / MT2017

This design thesis is part of CATEA's RERC workplace accommodations grant, and it adopts a human centered design methodology to research, develop, test and evaluate designs of behind-the-counter workspaces that maximize independence and participation of employees and increase their employment possibilities. Preliminary research shows that current designs of behind-the-counter workspaces do not accommodate needs of intended employees including the seated and standing users. According to the research, factors like task design and lack of ease of use have contributed to job loss and reduced employment. Through participatory research techniques and ergonomic studies, this project identified accessibility and usability needs and outlined basic and extended design guidelines for behind-the-counter workstations that would address these needs. Results from observational research, usability studies and user interviews were analysed to create design specifications for a range of workstations. The resulting workstation designs incorporate universal design guidelines and aim to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities and older adults.

The goal of this project is to create an outdoor environment that responds to the social, physical and emotional needs of older adults.The main objective of this project is to provide quality outdoor spaces associated with a housing facility. To meet this objective, the project stresses three major objectives: (1) to integrate the older adults' housing facility with the neighborhood in order to eliminate segregation and loneliness; (2) to determine the aspects of nature that are beneficial to the older adults' physical and mental health; and (3) to create an appropriate outdoor environment that will increase social contact and enhance active and passive recreational spaces to improve physical and emotional health.The literature section of this project focuses on setting up criteria for the questionnaire. The Literature review also helps to identify guidelines for design and design principles. Criteria for the final conceptual design was set using the data from the survey and the case studies. Finally a conceptual design was created to meet the objectives. / Department of Landscape Architecture

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [154-159]).

This thesis is aiming on designing of project documentation within the extent of the building Act. This documentation describes the building of family house with external and internal wheelchair access and operational arrangements related to these needs. One of the goals is also familiarization with the building Act as well as with Decree on general technical requirements for the construction. Wheelchair accessibility is wide and complicated subject, where are the requirements for the construction strictly given, therefore the Decree 398/2009 Sb. about the general technical requirements establishing the use of barrier-free buildings has become the starting basis. The building must comply with technical and architectural demands to allow the disabled persons normal usage of the construction.

Subject: Optimal Parameters for Barrier-free Indoor Swimming Pools Focusing on the Needs of People with Limited Motion and Orientation Abilities. Objectives of the thesis: The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the optimal parameters of barier - free indoor swimming pools taking into account the requirements of persons with reduced mobility and orientation; based on the needs of these persons and the current legal standards to list the parameters for the construction and evaluation of swimming facilities in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, to find out views on this topic in the students of the faculties of building. Methods: A questionnaire survey of selected population will be carried out. Furthermore, the methods of a semistandardized interview will be used and a field research in the monitored objects will be implemented. Results: The results will confirm or disprove the predetermined hypotheses and will contribute to understanding the issues. A basis for creating an optimal barrier-free project will be made. Keywords: barrier-free environment, swimming pool, visual impairment, physical handicap 3

This diploma thesis deals with the reconstruction of intersection streets Jeremenkova, Pasteurova and Černá cesta. This design is a new roundabout with three branches and one bypass. The aim of renovation is to improve traffic safety at the intersection and increasing continuity and respecting architectural principles. This project addresses the design of roundabout, analyzing problems and developer technical studies.

This diploma´s thesis deals with the processing of project documenation for a four – storey, none – basement, hotel building with a restaurant in Bojnice. The restaurant and a bar is accessible from the first floor, with seperate entrances. Additionally, there are twenty-six aparments on the second and third floor, where two of the apartments are barrier-free. Technical rooms, and offices rooms are designed into the last floor.

This master thesis deals with the proposal of a nursing building. The building is a three-storey and without a cellar. House is designed for accommodation with permanent care for seniors. The building is designed to accommodate up to 46 people. The whole of object is barrier – free. The component is kitchen with dinin room and laundry room for easily using. The main entrance is situated to the northeast. and the building is also accessible from the northwest and the southeast. There are paved guest parking areas around the buildings. The building have a flat roof. The buildings are as designed ferroconcrete skeleton with filling perimeter wall HELUZ. The work contains drawings and technical descriptions and it is composed as implementing project.

This work focuses on evaluating the condition of barrier-free routes in the town of Blansko. Another aim of this work is to propose changes of these routes thanks to which they would comply with Decree No. 398/2009 Coll., on general technical requirements ensuring barrier-free use of buildings, and for people with reduced mobility or orientation these routes would be user friendly. Additionaly, it acquaints the reader with technical requirements that ensure barrier-free use of road constructions and public spaces. In the theoretical part, the work acquaints the reader with target group of users for whom well-designed barrier-free spaces are important, introduces the elements and their use and, last but not the least, approaches the way of orientation and movement of target group of users. The practical part evaluates the accessibility of selected routes that connect public amenities. Subsequently, it proposes modifications that aim to facilitate the movement of people with limited mobility and orientation in the street space.