Handicapped and disability friendly built areas, by Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa

Handicapped and disability friendly built areas

This subject excited me and I took time off to compare two great cities: Vienna and Los Angeles. These two gave me opportunity to develop a photographic checklist. Please enjoy while you learn. If possible send me pictures to include from your city. Follow me please and write your comments. That way I shall get feedback from you.

Disability is not inability

Source: Tom Mukasa

Reading signs

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Accessible lobbies

the wide berths and shelter are important
the wide berths and shelter are important
Source: Access is important

Locating a handicapped and wheel-chair accessible zone in a restaurant

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The floor is smooth and aisles are widefeatures of a friendly zoneThe table legs are wide to allow wheel chair or room for two or four persons.Table marked well and not split.The corner is gives privacy but is also accessible.Wheel chair and handicapped friendly zones in eateries.Ample light and view
The floor is smooth and aisles are wide
The floor is smooth and aisles are wide
Source: Handicapped and Wheel chair accessible friendly zones

Association and meetings

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It is healthy to interact in a welcoming environment where wheel chair bound persons are respected and feel welcome
It is healthy to interact in a welcoming environment where wheel chair bound persons are respected and feel welcome
It is healthy to interact in a welcoming environment where wheel chair bound persons are respected and feel welcome
Source: Social interaction

Neutral conveniences

Planning that has handicapped in mind.
Planning that has handicapped in mind.
Source: intelligent cities and urban areas

Accessible Neutral conveniences and washrooms

Plans that have all people in mind
Plans that have all people in mind
Source: Accessible washrooms

Wide street sides

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maneuvering a wheel chair is possible
maneuvering a wheel chair is possible
maneuvering a wheel chair is possible
Source: handicapped friendly urban areas

Large crossings

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Literate cities
Literate cities
Literate cities
Source: Marking the streets

Disability friendly side boarding platforms

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Plans with all categories of people in mind
Plans with all categories of people in mind
Plans with all categories of people in mind
Source: Wide and low platforms

Separate lanes

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planning that considers pedestrians and handicapped people
planning that considers pedestrians and handicapped people
planning that considers pedestrians and handicapped people
Source: separate lanes

Separate lanes

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Accessibility to services by all people
Accessibility to services by all people
Accessibility to services by all people
Source: Opportunities to negotiate for happy life

Handicapped compliant urbanization


Handicapped Accessible Spaces
Urbanization to be well received and enjoyed by handicapped persons needs to have certain characteristics in place. Mobility adds value to our life and livelihood. Through it one is able to present before various audiences, attend meetings, go out, move away from uncomfortable areas, negotiate access, engage in commerce and pursuing happiness.

The conditions that make handicapped life rewarding:
1.The Attitude and personal readiness to venture out. The primary motivation to enjoy life lies within the handicapped person. This is what makes her or him not look at the disability as a negative issue but rather work towards gaining skills to lead a productive life. This way the handicapped can overcome isolation, forge ahead and gain skills. This is what happened to Helen Keller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller, http://www.biography.com/people/helen-keller-9361967 , http://www.biography.com/people/helen-keller-9361967/videos/helen-keller-first-meeting-the-miracle-worker-3765315832).

2. The legal regime that uphold the liberty, life, rights, happiness, dignity and respect of handicapped persons. Civil rights laws have done so much to put into print the way handicapped in society is handled. The principle of equal opportunities (http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm) is upheld.

3. The enforcement of laws (http://www.ehow.com/about_5471362_handicapped-rights.html, http://www.ehow.com/about_5559359_laws-handicapped.html ) addressing issues of handicapped persons has helped raise consciousness towards handicapped issues. It is a constant reminder and this puts the conscientization levels of communities at both an alert level and mindfulness.

4. The infrastructure involves: houses, roads, offices, getting to and fro down-town. It also involves maneuverability and technological skills (http://www.freedomliftsystems.com/WheelchairAccessibleVerticalPlatformLifts.asp,http://www.workplacelaw.net/human-resources/news/48545/support-to-help-disabled-people-find-work

The characteristics of a handicapped friendly space:
1. Laws addressing handicapped persons.
2. An informed society that regards handicapped persons.
3. Penalties in place in form of warnings, community service, imprisonment and fines in case of assault, harassment and abuses.
4. Wheel chair accessible spaces ( elevators, offices, homes, roads and built areas).
5. Disability parking permits, notices.
6. Accessible services (social services, diners, educational facilities, recreation and work places).
7. Skills to maneuver a wheel chairs or read the Braille.
8. Manipulation of technological support tools such as traffic lights and elevator switches.
9. Separate lanes that show where lanes divide.
10. Wide street paved sides.
11. Street sides with barriers.
12. Street sides that have ample light and lighting.
13. Wide beveled and flat paved boarding platforms.
14. Wheel chair accessible apartments and living homes with short platforms and wide turning spaces for wheel chairs.
15. Recreation with life guards as stand by persons to look into safety of persons.

The four key conditions below need to be fulfilled for handicapped persons to enjoy a fuller life:
1.The Attitude and Personal readiness to venture out.
2. The legal regime that uphold the liberty, life, rights, happiness, dignity and respect of handicapped persons.
3. The enforcement of laws addressing issues of handicapped persons is a support mechanism for enduring upholding of dignity and respect towards handicapped persons. Reading and understanding signs and notices in cities.
4. The infrastructure through which the handicapped access, demand, negotiate and also provide services. This is the environment and context in which the handicapped enjoy life.

Reserved for persons with disability

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Wheel chair friendly elevators

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Accessible service counters

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Accessible counters

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Enforcing sharing space

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Traffic lamp switches

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Separate lanes

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Street barriers

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Boarding platforms

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Wide street sides

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Wheel chair accessible homes

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Source: Tom Mukasa

Life guards to watch over safety of people

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Wide Berths, beveled edges and smooth surfaces

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Bicycle LanesVienna Cross WalksChained off parksWide berths PavillionsConstruction with handicap issues in mindGuide Dogs
Bicycle Lanes
Bicycle Lanes
Source: Tom Mukasa

Features of a wheel chair and handicapped friendly restaurant

Feature
Utility
Concerned people
Outcomes
Beveled access
No encumbrances
All
Accessibility
Dry floor
No threat of accidents
All
Interactions
Smooth floor
wheel accessible
All
Enjoyment of life
Wide aisle
wheel chair accessible
All
Accessibility, interactions and happiness
Low wide table
reachable
All
Accessibility
Low chairs
reachable
All
Interactions
Low noise
non interrupting
All
Accessibility
Ample light
visibility
All
Acessibility
The features and utility of a wheel chair accessible environment

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