Barrier attributes within our environment can include--
Absence of ramps for wheelchairs
Lack of depressed curbs (periodic breaks in curbs that act as ramps)
Narrow doorways that cannot accommodate various assistive devices, such
as wheelchairs and walkers
Lack of access to mass transit routes or other public services.
In one major U.S. city, researchers found that three out of five people with
disabilities and elderly persons do not have sidewalks between their residences and the
nearest bus stop. An even greater percentage of households lack curb cuts (71%)
and bus shelters (76%) close to bus stops. Researchers also determined that
close to 50% of the elderly and people with disabilities live within two blocks of a bus stop,
but that the lack of sidewalks, curb cuts, and bus shelters actually made use of
the transportation system impossible, creating a situation where fewer than 10%
of such persons use public transportation. Such environmental barriers can affect the access that people with a disability have to basic health care, social services, and other necessary
activities.
Public health has helped address these problems in many communities by
promoting the use of universal design in community planning and
architectural decisions. The concept of universal design maintains that
all products, environments, and communications should be designed to
consider the needs of the widest possible array of users.
Universal design, as defined by the National Endowment for the Arts, goes
beyond the mere provision of special features for various segments of the
population. Instead, universal design emphasizes a creative approach that is more inclusive
--
one that asks at the outset of the design process how a product, graphic
communication, building, or landscape can be made both aesthetically pleasing
and functional for the greatest number of users. Designs resulting from this
approach are more likely to serve a wider array of people: individuals who have
temporary disabilities, people who have permanent disabilities, and everyone
whose abilities change with age.
For more information about accessibility & the environment, refer
to the
following resources:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities -
Disability and Health
(http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh/)
The goal of the Disability and Health team at NCBDDD is to promote the
health and well-being of the estimated 54 million people with disabilities
living in the United States. Includes information on
accessibility in
products and environments (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dh/accessibilityguides.htm)
Additional information on accessibility and related topics can be
found in the Additional Resources section.
References
Barreto R, editor. The art of universal design: designing for the 21st century II preconference
2000 June 14. Available from URL:
http://www.adaptenv.org/index.php?option=Resource&articleid=149
Gilderbloom J, Markham J. Housing Quality Among the
Elderly: A Decade of Changes. International Journal of Aging and Human
Development. Vol. 46 No. 1. 1998. Available from URL:
http://www.louisville.edu/org/sun/housing/cd_v2/Bookarticles/
Ch1.htm
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Disclaimer: Links to non-federal organizations found at this site are provided
solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an
endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the
federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not
responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages
found at these links.
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