John Kinyua

 HOME FOR DISABLED NAME INSTITUTION Contents Abstract2 Introduction2 Accessibility3 Location3 Approach and Arrival3 Entrance3 Site Planning4 Designing Of the Functional Driveway and Parking Area4 Parking4 Lighting5 Landing5 Stairs5 Railing System5 Other Amenities6 Build Connection6 Remove Barriers to Connect Indoor Activities6 Trailing6 Design for Low Vision7 Persons with Impaired Vision7 Incorporate Systems7 How to Adapt the House7 Increase Lighting8 Eliminate Hazards8 Create Colour Contrast8 Organizing the Bathroom8 Elevator9 The Living Space9 Social9 Environmental9 Living Room9 Waste and Refuse10 Recommendation10 Assistive Technology10 Standalone Devices10 Telecare11 Problems Related To the Topic11 References12 Abstract The essence of this research is to provide a superb framework for the designing of living spaces that can practically accommodate the needs of people with various disabilities in a stylish, dignified and functional manner. This was because access codes that focus on dimensions and clearance that were built proved incapable of providing guidance in understanding the burning issue of multiple disabilities. Nonetheless, homes act as our castles, the place where one feels free to be in. Unfortunately, when disability strikes, homes become some prison presenting every sort of barrier, frustration and peril at every turn. It is critical for the people living with disability to adapt and acquire new skills and also for the people living with them to provide support as well as assistance to the disabled in the family (Imrie & Hall, 2003). However, many people are reluctant to invest in upgrades in the houses that provide a living advantage and adaptability to the disabled persons. Introduction Disability is a result of persons with impairments interacting with the attitudinal and environmental barriers that act as a hindrance for their full and effective participation in the society on an equal basis with the others. It is very advisable to erect structures in the form of house that will ensure that the disabled people in the community can live comfortably in their own homes. This is because the disabled in the community has for a long time been ignored and neglected to lead to their inability to live comfortably among the other members of the community. Their homes can be designed by four major principles which include; location, transport, Understandable, safe regarding usability and manageable and affordable and flexible regarding the cost and adaptability over time. Accessibility All people at one point are in need of accessible homes or themselves, their families or even their friends. At least 3 out of 100 babies are born with defects arising from genetic disorders or even problems during birth. This results in mental or even physical disabilities. These children will then requite special houses that will help them to overcome the disabilities in the new environment that they are born in. Accessible homes are not so much different from the other homes. The only difference is that they have a sunny open feeling due to the existence of fewer walls between common areas. They have wider doorways and taller windows. A comfortable flow is created by floors between living areas making it easy to clean the rooms (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). The kitchen is efficient with compact storage and sleek working areas. Bathrooms are more spacious than those in the traditional homes. The air windows are operable thus providing good air quality. The building is then fitted with simple acoustic features that block noise and enhance communication thus creating a good sound quality. Provision of even and glare-free illumination provided by electrical features. There is a selection of finish materials for general use and attractiveness. The house is designed to reduce falls that creating an element of safety. The house is durable, well designed and skillfully constructed thus reducing maintenance. Accessible homes are future homes that everyone wants to live in Location Approach and Arrival Entrance Large porches do not define their effectiveness. The landing should be simply covered which defines the entrance that protects from the weather as one enters the home. Its basic planning module is the footprint of a wheelchair, at 30 in. By 48 in (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). Such a site is best when it is set away from meanders and with clearly separated boundaries that do not have meanders. This provides a space where the disabled person can pick up mails, take out the trash and join family and friends in outdoor activities. Site Planning Should commence before the home design is set in concrete. Circulation for pedestrians to and around the house and wheel mobility devices for automobiles should be taken into account. Sun angles and natural topography should be considered to control snow building and rain runoff. There should be a network of pathways that link outdoor activity centres. Where the land slope is steep, ramps and gentle steeps should be built. The light should be added for visibility (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). Maintenance should be reduced by via provision of proper drainage, durable paving and sturdy native plants Designing Of the Functional Driveway and Parking Area Parking Some provisions for disabled people are provided for the parking of the vehicles. They include; Surface parking for two car spaces is provided with a maximum travel distance of 100 ft. From the building entrance for the physically disabled people, the width of parking for the parking bay shall be minimum 11 feet, notification that space is made for wheelchair users shall be displayed, guiding floor materials, devices which guide visually impaired people or other devices which serve the same purpose shall be provided. A typical automobile store is 8ft by 20ft, and side loading vans that require a stall width of 11ft. Manoeuvring spaces should be designed to avoid long backups and extensive Y-turns. Distinguish driveway edges to prevent the vehicle from driving off the paving. The vehicle should be measured accordingly to estimate the size of the parking area. A space for accessible passenger loading should also be provided. Walkways should be at least 3ft. Wide with a turning area of at least 5ft for people with wheeled mobility (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). To favour those that are visually impaired, the texture should be distinct, and the place should be free of obstacles. Special attention should be paid to walkway edges to prevent obstruction or sliding of the wheelchair or even navigational canes. Lighting During the day, shadows created by the natural sunlight may create shadows that can never be distinguished from holes by the visually impaired people or people with people with brain injuries in the society thus making them step off the pathway. Therefore, natural shadings of plants and buildings should be considered when pathways for travel are being designed. Light fixtures for even illumination should be chosen. Also, outdoor light with motion sensors should be chosen for hand free path of travel Landing Accessible entrance starts with a landing which enables wheeled mobility not to roll back or even the people from stepping off as the door is opening. The landing needs to be large enough for the people to reach the door hardware and also to step away when the door is being opened. The minimum landing size is 5ft. By 5ft. this enables the wheelchair to change the directions Stairs Stairs width should be at least 36 inches when the trends have a width of at least 11 inches. Deep and risers are from between 4 to 7 in high (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). For safety, be sure tread and riser dimensions are uniforms. A platform lift at the porch landing offers an alternate way to enter the home with arms full of groceries. Railing System The set code for the handrails is 34 in. To 38 in. For adults and up to 28 in. For children (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). They are limited to one size and shape for the gripping surface to ensure comfortability when using it Other Amenities A place for removing mud from the mobile devices should be considered. An audible doorbell should be chosen for alerting the person in the interior of the house. It should be located at an accessible height for a person in a wheelchair and space for the wheelchair. There should be a shell to place bags and a resting bench as one waits for the door to be opened. Build Connection It should be easy to move from one space to the other, one room to the other and one floor to the other. It is good to incorporate porch doors since they serve dual functions and are generous and welcoming. This is because the door is wide enough and safe to use. Transom glass and side lights should be used since they bring in natural light to the entrance and enables the homeowners to see the arriving visitors. Remove Barriers to Connect Indoor Activities Most interior standard doors are 30 in, and the doorways need to be at least 32 in. Doors should be at least 32 in., a point where they are said to be clear for a wheelchair. Many houses are said to have a 34 in. Hallway. Clear hallways width for accessible homes should, however, be 36 in., devices. Many accessible homes have 60 in. Wide hallways. Such hallways provide enough room for people using wheelchairs to pass each other. Doors that enable wheeled mobility should be located thus widening their angle when needed becomes necessary. Gaps in wall surfaces and railing should be avoided. If not a 9-inch high baseboard moulding should be installed thus preventing wall surfaces from damage by the wheelchair footrests (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). Trailing People without sight find their way using the trailing process. Easy and clean walls should thus be called for. There should be decorative mouldings and flooring changes that mark an accessible indoor path of travel. At times, wood panelling and chair rails are used as trailing devices when height can be coordinated within the user reach range. Coordinated trailing features with outlets as well as plumbing installations make control easier to find touch using touch. Design for Low Vision Persons with Impaired Vision People within this category are either completely blind or with impaired vision. Such people thus make use of the sense of touch or hearing as a form of compensation for the lack of vision. Other times, they may use canes that help them to walk around. Unfortunately, at times, they may find themselves bumping on protruding objects (Imrie & Hall, 2003). It is therefore to install items that favour the movement of such people around the house. The houses should be having landmarks and cognitive mapping thus providing insight for the creation of homes that improve visual accessibility. Landmarks are the features built to trigger decisions such as a change in direction. A home can be designed in a manner that it contains landmarks that help the low vision people or the blind to navigate comfortably around the house. They make me things like the ceiling fan to the family room, the difference in floor texture in the bathroom among others. Incorporate Systems A hallway is a place for various alarm systems which range from fire to smoke detection. There should be security devices such as alarms, doorbells as well as security systems for people with low vision. These systems should be audible signals such as bells and buzzers. There should also be security systems for the people with hearing problems such as flashing lights. How to Adapt the House Making a home to be comfortable than the other surroundings should be done under a number principles to be environmentally safe and well organized. These principles are; ensure more light, elimination of dangerous materials, enhance colour distinctions, establishment and labeling of the stuffs and brightness lessening. Intensification of Illumination Environmentally safe lighting should be used such as the three-way bulbs that provide no glare lighting. Lamps should be put where one does his close work. Extra lighting should be put on the frequently used corridors and rooms. Lights that simulate daylight are essential to the people that have a problem with the eyesight. Special lights should be put in places where the probability of accident occurrence is high. These lights should be able to be lit from the door, the hallway and the bedroom. Eliminate Hazards Items that a person can trip over should be eliminated for the sake of safety. Spills should be mopped up immediately. Thermostats should be marked with brightly coloured fluorescent tapes. Nonskid and no glare wax should be used to polish the floor. Create Colour Contrast Light coloured objects should be created against a dark background. Doorknobs that contrast in colour with the doors should also be installed for easy location. It is also necessary to avoid installation of items that are visually confusing. Additionally, items should be organized and labelled to avoid confusion and for easy identification. Items to be marked include the canned food in the kitchen, the security systems among others. The glare that originates from the sunlight and light from the lamps should be reduced. This ensures that the low vision people do not have a problem with spotting items (Imrie & Hall, 2003). Organizing the Bathroom The bathroom is a problem to many people not only to those that have a problem with the vision but also to the others. This is due to their slippery nature. The possibilities of accidents in a bathroom can be reduced through ensuring that the rug in the bathroom area is nonskid, ensure that towels and washcloths contrast sharply with the tap, and the towels, soaps and shampoos that prevent diseases should be used, grab bars should be installed to prevent slipping in the bathrooms and additional lights should also be installed. Also, specify occupy sensors should be considered so that there should be lights that turn on when a person enters the hallways or even the bathroom Elevator Elevators and lifts are good alternatives for stairs. The added value to the already designed building making life around the house easy and adorable for everyone. It is also a very easy way for the people in wheelchairs to move around the house (Imrie & Hall, 2003). The choice of the elevator should thus be made well to serve the person with a disability in the house. The Living Space Social Some of the people that have either physical or mentally handicapped spend a lot of their time at home. It is thus critical to ensure that the living space is made as pleasant as they may want. Sometimes, such people may have a problem when interacting with the others thus it is necessary to provide them with a personal space where they have the feeling that their personal space is not under invasion. Environmental Poor quality environments tend to heighten the physiological distress of the people. Things such as the breakdown of the appliances poor hygiene and disorganization contribute to diminished mental health. It is necessary to ensure the availability of ventilation for the smokers. Living Room There should be logical and convenient furniture layout within the living room for neatness and easy mobility. High backed single seats are an added advantage. The living room should be supplied with good natural and artificial light. It is also necessary to ensure that there is good ventilation within the room. There should also be blind and net curtains to provide privacy. Automated blind and assistive should also be considered. There should be an adequate number of suitably located sockets within the room. The impact of the colour should be considered, and a focal point should also be created (Guillet, Bouchard & Bouzouane, 2013). Waste and Refuse It is very critical to provide waste bins in every room within the house. These waste bags should be marked and easily identifiable. There should also be fireproof options that can enhance safety within the house. Recommendation Assistive Technology Standalone Devices Such devices include the automatic ventilation that is very critical if a person is smoking indoors. Thermostatic controllers can also be considered to control the heat within the house. Another essential technology is the automatic window dressing which closes during nightfall when a person fails to respond to the night drawing in. Electronic calendars and clocks are also critical due to time if this presents itself as a problem. Item locator devices can also be used to ensure that they assist every day to those that have a problem when locating some items. Such items may include keys, wallets and glasses. Handheld devices help in providing the audio-visual cues that help in tracking the items and device that are easily misplaced. They also may be the use of large button easy to use devices which range from single button radio, simplified TV remotes and large button cell phones (Imrie & Hall, 2003). Telecare An Externally monitored room thermometer that provides a warning to either an extreme rise or reduction in temperatures within the household. A monitored carbon dioxide detector can help in monitoring the level of carbon dioxide in the house thus preventing the danger of not responding to the home alarm. Automatic medication reminders that act as a reminder when a pill is taken from a pill dispenser. Such reminder could initiate alarm calls if a person forgot to take his or her medication. Window seats and alcoves should be designed along the travel path. Activity centres can be linked to ensure clear sightlines thus ensuring the connection between people with low vision and those with a hearing problem. There should be lighting which makes it easier to see expressions and gestures. Visual communication can be improved by planning circular furniture layout made of chairs rather than sofas. Wing-back chairs can also be used to amplify the sound much like cupping the ears does. Problems Related To the Topic 1. Who needs to have a home that is specially designed? 2. What are some of the safety measures that can be employed in a house that accommodates people who use wheelchairs? 3. What is the minimum size of a door that can accommodate a wheelchair? 4. What changes can be made in a house that resides a person with impaired eyesight? 5. What are the specifications for a landing that is meant for people using wheelchairs? 6. Which forms of technology can be used to assist the people that are categorized as disabled? 7. What are the factors that contribute to accidents in a house References Guillet, S., Bouchard, B., & Bouzouane, A. (2013). Correct by construction security approach to design fault tolerant smart homes for disabled people. Procedia Computer Science, 21, 257-264. Imrie, R., & Hall, P. (2003). Inclusive design: designing and developing accessible environments. Taylor & Francis.