Search

• Caregivers believe that inclusive playgrounds promote physical and social accessibility for their children with disabilities. • Inclusive playgrounds are characterized by safety and variety of play equipment. • Inclusive playgrounds encourage social interactions and friendships among children with and without disabilities. This descriptive qualitative research aimed to explore the caregivers' perceptions of children's social and physical accessibility in inclusive playgrounds. The researchers conducted 11 in-depth interviews with caregivers regarding their perceptions of the accessibility and use of an inclusive playground by children with disabilities and how they perceive interactions between children with and without disabilities while using the playground. From the interviews, two major themes emerged. The first major category was physical accessibility, with three minor themes emerging: a) safety and physical accessibility; b) sensory and cognitive safety; and c) variety and options; and the second major category was social accessibility, with two minor themes: a) social interactions; and b) building friendships and practicing social skills. Overall, the participants in this study described the inclusive playgrounds as safe places that include varied play equipment, which encouraged children with and without disabilities to play together, interact verbally, and build immediate friendships. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive playgrounds as a starting place for enhanced community relationships. The researchers suggest conducting further research that focuses on children's perceptions and including a broader range of children with varying disabilities using inclusive playgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 This study analyzed fiscal year 2021 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) 1915(c) waivers from across the United States, serving people with any type of intellectual and developmental disabilities, to identify how environmental modification services were used. The findings identify major opportunities for the role of OT. Primary Author and Speaker: Laura Vanpuymbrouck Contributing Authors: Carli Friedman [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 This poster will describe factors influencing community-dwelling older adults' perception and implementation of bathroom modification and provides practical implications for OTs working with older adults who may benefit from home modifications. Primary Author and Speaker: Bishan Yang Contributing Authors: Danbi Lee [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 A survey of recommendations to support participation for LGBT+ autistic adults indicates the need to hire and promote LGBT+ autistic people, create sensory-friendly spaces, streamline accommodations, and require training for mental health providers. Primary Author and Speaker: Elizabeth Schmidt Additional Authors and Speakers: Jess Marie Cecília Bauza De Garcia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new topological acoustic interlayer is proposed, which is formed by combining multi-order resonators in the form of the triangular lattice in the normal direction of the acoustic interlayer. Through the strong resonance of the resonator, the distribution of modes in the acoustic interlayer is directly induced to form a combination of modes with different topological states to support the subwavelength multi-channel lossless directional acoustic transmission in barrier-free space. Since there are no scatterers, not only can the required frequency band be directly achieved through the resonance frequency of the resonator alone, but also the background medium space in which the acoustic wave transmitting is a uniform medium, so the transmission is secret and the structure is ventilated. More importantly, there is more space in the normal direction of the barrier-free interlayer for design sub-wavelength multi-channel transmission. Furthermore, the random obstacles in interlayer do not affect the transmission under the pseudo spin modes. Finally, experimental verification is carried out. This research paves the way for the engineering application of multi-band acoustic antennas, covert communication, ventilated devices and other multi-functional devices, and will bring new enlightenment to the fields of elastic wave, light wave and electromagnetic wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore gender differences in older adults' perceptions about preventing falls. Background: Falls are a major problem for older adults and health care systems and a challenge to the aging population. Consideration of older adults' perceptions of fall prevention is needed to increase their engagement in evidence-based prevention strategies. Method: A qualitative analysis of secondary data was performed. Results: Three major themes emerged: We've Seen It, Women Are Caregivers, and Men Are Analyzing Risks and Modifying Behaviors. The men and women in this study shared information about falls and fall prevention in alignment with traditional role expectations. The women learned about falling through their roles as caregivers and prevented falls by controlling extrinsic risk factors indoors such as holding onto handrails on stairs or making home modifications. The men demonstrated an analytical approach to reducing risk such as employing improved safety measures during outdoors activities as a responsibility to maintain independence. Implications: The different perceptions of men and women influence what they do to engage in fall prevention. Health care professionals need to consider gender differences and take an individualized approach that includes allowing older adults to share their experiences, acknowledging their successful fall prevention behaviors, and validating and addressing their concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need to improve the accessibility of fitness facilities for individuals with visual impairments, particularly in the United Kingdom (UK). Also cited are the role played by facilities like gyms and leisure centers in improving physical health, and the launching of the "Inclusive Fitness Initiative" in the UK to offer opportunities to people with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of physical activity.

To address the needs of postsecondary students with LD, changes have been made to promote accessibility and inclusion for this population through the engagement of universal design in university settings. Therefore, the purpose of the current review is to reveal the challenges of students with LD in their learning and investigate the roles of UDL in addressing these challenges. Mostly, students with learning disabilities face multiple challenges including lacks of skills and knowledge, learning isolation and accessibility issues, negative views and discrimination and stigma. Recent studies have revealed the effectiveness of universal design for learning to overcome such challenges encountering students with learning disabilities in postsecondary education. The current study had a further discussion of these challenges along with to efficiency of universal design for learning to meet these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Standards for building elements recommend a minimum luminance contrast of 30%. The basis of this value and the metric originally used is not known. OBJECTIVE: To begin to provide an evidence base for the specification of minimum contrast in building elements. METHODS: Subjects with and without a vision impairment were characterized by visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields and color vision. On an iPad they rated the visibility, as a function of contrast, of simulated door frames, door handles, light switches and stair nosings as "not visible at all", "poorly visible", "easily visible" and "extremely easily visible". RESULTS: The contrasts for each level of visibility were highly correlated with visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. A principal component analysis also verified the importance of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual fields in rating visibility of simulations of building elements. The required contrast for door handles, light switches and stair nosings to attain the same ratings of visibility were very similar but less contrast was required for door frames. CONCLUSIONS: 30% Michelson contrast for building elements renders building elements only poorly visible for those with severe vision impairments. 65% luminance contrast is necessary for all elements to be "easily visible". Some increase (not a decrease) on the present 30% requirement and encouragement to exceed this requirement would seem appropriate. The use of simulated objects facilitates a systematic examination of the effect of contrast, but the applicability of the results to real-life remains to be demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nővér is the property of Chamber of Hungarian Health Care Professionals and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Individuals with mobility disabilities still experience challenges in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act protect persons with disabilities by mandating that their employers provide reasonable accommodations. Generally, workplace accommodations are beneficial to the employees and the workplace and are cost-efficient. However, there remains a lack of access to accommodations among people with mobility disabilities. This study examined types of accommodations, and barriers and facilitators for requesting workplace accommodations among 144 employees with mobility disabilities through a content analysis approach. The frequently requested accommodations include flexible schedule, assistive technology, and physical alteration to office space. The reported facilitators in requesting accommodations entail employer/supervisor support and compliance of employers with accommodation provision, disability acceptance and supportive workplace environment, and employees being knowledgeable and proactive in requesting accommodations. The top three barriers in requesting accommodations include physical and systematic barriers in the workplace, employee fear of disclosing disability or requesting accommodations due to stigma, and employee fear of cost and financial resource to cover accommodations. Therefore, rehabilitation professionals should empower employees and promote education and awareness of the accommodation needs of people with mobility disabilities in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society has progressed in universal design guidelines and assistive devices for individuals with disabilities yet challenges due to affordability and attractiveness concerns remain to incorporate them into existing residences. Repurposing (i.e., replacing or adapting problematic fixtures or spaces, with others not originally intended for that purpose) may be the action to address the concerns of consumers. The purpose of this study was to elicit information on problems and solutions regarding home modifications and identify ways that consumers and professionals implement repurposing, that residents deemed accessible, affordable, and attractive. This convergent parallel design study consisted of focus groups who rated images of repurposed spaces. The focus groups included consumers with functional mobility and visual limitations (n = 8); and professionals who devised or recommended home modifications (n = 8). Participants reviewed three images of home modification solutions and completed a Likert-scale rating based on accessibility and attractiveness. Focus group data indicated that high contrast, heights of fixtures, doors, and flooring – all pose threats to accessibility in the home. Consumers placed more value on attractiveness than professionals. Participants were aware and receptive to repurposing as a home modification technique but focused their discussion on adaptations. Overall, adoption and implementation of home modifications promote accessibility, but professionals need to consider individualized needs and preferences, before suggesting modifications. Repurposing existing spaces, features, and fixtures can serve as a method of home modification. Consumer home modification recommendations are perceived to be more effective when collaboratively and individually developed with professionals. Data gathered through focus groups can be valuable for informing practice and research in home modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: As older adults prefer to live in their homes, it is of paramount importance to examine the adaptation of the environment to the older adults' capabilities. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate psychometric properties of a scale to measure physical environment problems and barriers in older adults' homes using an ergonomic approach in Iran. METHODS: This mixed-method investigation was conducted in two stages in Yazd, Iran. The primary 71-item version of the questionnaire was developed according to qualitative findings and a thorough review of the literature. Then the psychometric characteristics, including face, content, construct validity, were assessed. Content validity was also assessed using CVI and CVR. Finally, its reliability and construct validity were confirmed by composite reliability (CR), Fornell-Larker matrix, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Smart PLS software version 3. RESULTS: The face validity of the developed scale was acceptable, and the mean scores of CVI and CVR were 0.78 and 0.84, respectively. The preliminary draft of the scale was categorized into seven dimensions. Factor validity and reliability were confirmed by acceptable factor loadings, and desirable realms of composite reliability (>0.7) average variance extracted (>0.5). The cross-loading method and the Fornell-Larker matrix were used to evaluate the divergent validity of the scale, and the results confirmed its acceptable fit. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that reliability reached acceptable values, and different aspects of validity were almost confirmed. Accordingly, the questionnaire was to measure physical environment problems and barriers in older adults' homes; however, it requires further validation for future use in other contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Design for All or Universal Design is a relatively new domain in Ergonomics. With globally ageing populations, it has however recently gained significant interest. OBJECTIVE: This position paper summarizes the outcomes of a workshop held at the virtual 21st Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association. The paper expands the horizon of traditional Ergonomics into a domain where people are differently abled and establishes a platform for the essential needs of future ergonomic standards which are required to inform inclusive design guidelines, or Design for All, extending the range of users. METHODS: The paper includes contributions from Asian, Australian, European and US workshop participants who are accessibility design experts in their respective geographic regions. The paper summarizes issues related to anthropometry in the Design for All, based on recent work in the US (Access board) and actual developments in various national and international accessibility standardization bodies, such as the Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand, the European Standardization Organization (EN 17210:2021; EN 17161:2019) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 21542:2021 and BS ISO 7176-5:2008). CONCLUSIONS: The paper concludes that despite the identification of a significant gap in knowledge of the anthropometry of people with disabilities as far back as 1990, work towards bridging the gap and enabling ergonomic standardization has not progressed since then globally. The lack of standardization in anthropometric data on people with a physical disability continues to complicate provision of data for mobility and accessibility design and hampers accessibility standardization efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This coproduced study drew on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to inform a Human Rights-based design. Using photographic images and reflective diaries, twelve participant co-researchers investigated the quality of public toilets when travelling in Scotland for people with dementia and other physical and cognitive impairments. Data were analysed using constant comparison and critically reflexive, group enquiry to produce contextualised evidence of toilet utility from the user perspective. Essential themes revealed major challenges associated with toilet accessibility, usability and design, emphasising the distressing sensory experience of the user when confronted with an inadequate or inaccessible toilet. Substantial overlap in needs was demonstrated but a few unique requirements aligned with specific disabilities were recorded for attention. Our findings highlight two key issues: 1) existing Standards are often unmet; 2) current Standards require review and endorsement by people who represent the full range of access needs. This article reports on a co-production study that researched the critical Human Rights issue of accessible toilet provision for disabled people and carers when travelling. As integral team researchers, disabled people (including people with dementia) and carers played a catalytic role in directing the research outcomes demonstrating the meaningful involvement of seldom heard groups in research. Findings accentuate the high emotional costs of inadequate toilet provision. We identified substantial overlap in the experience and needs of people with different impairments seeking to find and use toilets when travelling but detected a few unique requirements aligned with specific disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of inclusive education is to address students' special educational needs so that they are able to fully participate in the education community. The universities have been increasingly attempting to cater for the diversity of students by undertaking innovative projects through the adaptation of new technologies, which is key to their development. However, the evolution of inclusive education is uneven and largely depends on each university, as the resources, methods, and practices vary across institutions. The purpose of this paper is to propose an indicator to evaluate the state of inclusive education at each university. This indicator could ascertain the extent of curriculum adaptation and the degree of accessibility at universities, as well as the resources and projects they are developing to achieve inclusion. It will allow for a ranking of institutions according to the progress made in the field of inclusive education and, more specifically, for the comparison across universities regarding the quality of the specific measures taken to help students with special educational needs. This inclusive education indicator is a dynamic tool that may be updated immediately and provides the university community with the means to guide students with specific needs and their families in pre-university and university stages, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radial compressors, Blowers, which are often used in modern devices for medical ventilation, are known to have non-linear dynamics regarding the generated pressure. To make them accessible for the large field of linear control theory their model needs to be linearized. This paper uses a gray box model of a blower driven by a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor to design a controller based on feedback linearization. The controller is designed to achieve approximate linear closed loop behavior of the system. The controller is then evaluated concerning reference tracking and disturbance rejection in simulation and on a demonstrator system. The evaluation showed that an approximate linear closed loop behavior was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to reveal the lived experiences of teachers with visual impairments (VI) in the inclusion of students with VI. In this phenomenological study, data were collected from 8 teachers with VI through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by content analysis using a qualitative software program named MAXQDA20. The six themes identified from the content analysis were underlying issues in inclusion, personal guidance of teachers on students with VI, critical evaluation of inclusion, from diagnosis to the IEP implementation, the appropriate model of education for students with VI, and teachers' sense of inclusion. The findings revealed that teachers with VI contributed to the inclusion of students with VI. Furthermore, they emphasized system-related issues preventing inclusive practices and made critical evaluations concerning practices in inclusive settings. Based on the findings, inclusive classrooms and resource rooms should be equipped with educational tools (i.e., the braille alphabet, assistive technologies, tactile graphs and maps), teaching staff and their training should be enhanced, and school buildings should be designed as physically accessible and supervised by special education teachers who have expertise in VI or experience in working with students with VI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Shared on-demand mobility services emerge at a fast pace, changing the landscape of public transport. However, shared mobility services are largely designed without considering the access needs of people with disabilities, putting these passengers at risk of exclusion. Recognising that accessibility is best addressed at the design stage and through direct participation of persons with disabilities, the objective of this study was to explore disabled users' views on the following emerging shared mobility services: (a) ride pooling, (b) microtransit, (c) motorbike taxis, (d) robotaxis, (f) e-scooter sharing, and (g) bike sharing. Methodolgy: Using an online mobility survey, we sampled disabled users' (1) views on accessibility, (2) use intention, and (3) suggestions for improving accessibility. The results reflect the responses of 553 individuals with different types of disabilities from 21 European countries. Results: Projected accessibility and use intention were greatest for microtransit, robotaxis, and ride pooling across different disabilities. In contrast, motorbike taxis, e-scooter sharing, and bike sharing were viewed as least accessible and least attractive to use, especially by persons with physical, visual, and multiple disabilities. Despite differences in projected accessibility, none of the shared mobility services would fulfil the access needs of disabled persons in their current form. Suggestions for increasing the accessibility of these services included (a) an ondemand door-to-door service, (b) an accessible booking app, (c) real-time travel information, and (d) the necessity of accommodating wheelchairs. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for improving both vehicles and service designs to cater for the access needs of persons with disabilities and provide policymakers with recommendations for the design of accessible mobility solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of the lack of inclusive public space in the fringes of Bangkok, Thailand, is related to multiple factors in urban development. The study-area of the Pathum Thani province offers a summary of the critical consequences of the urban development in the past decades. The partial transformation of some environmental tracks onto an urbanized system allows the creation of a nonhomogeneous privatized continuous built surface. The conditions of these urban areas suffer from vehicular traffic, car dependency, absence of differentiated mobility, limited walkability, and lack of public spaces. The research aims to bring these areas to a higher level of inclusion, accessibility and overall quality by rethinking the existent public spaces, creating the grounds for the design of inclusive and accessible park. To reach this objective, the study explores the topics of public space, park, accessibility and inclusivity for disabilities to establish some principles for future design approach for Thaklong–Klongluang, a study-area located in the Pathum Thani Province. Characteristics, features, weaknesses and existing parks of the study area are demonstrated in the subsequent section. The results' discussion relates all the aforementioned topics, defining the guidelines for the creation of inclusive and accessible parks in the six existent sites of the study area. Because of its premises, besides being based in a specific location, the article aims to be a valid reference for the areas which present similar features and critical points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many applications controlled by the brain signals to bridge the gap in the digital divide between the disabled and the non-disabled people. The deployment of novel assistive technologies using brain-computer interface (BCI) will go a long way toward achieving this lofty goal, especially after the successes demonstrated by these technologies in the daily life of people with severe disabilities. This paper contributes in this direction by proposing an integrated framework to control the operating system functionalities using Electroencephalography signals. Different signal processing algorithms were applied to remove artifacts, extract features, and classify trials. The proposed approach includes different classification algorithms dedicated to detecting the P300 responses efficiently. The predicted commands passed through a socket to the API system, permitting the control of the operating system functionalities. The proposed system outperformed those obtained by the winners of the BCI competition and reached an accuracy average of 94.5% according to the offline approach. The framework was evaluated according to the online process and achieved an excellent accuracy attaining 97% for some users but not less than 90% for others. The suggested framework enhances the information accessibility for people with severe disabilities and helps them perform their daily tasks efficiently. It permits the interaction between the user and personal computers through the brain signals without any muscular efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study is to examine an exemplary building in the light of the necessary standards for the library building, which is located in the campus areas and is an everyday use point for all students, to be spatially accessible for physically disabled individuals. Method: In the study, compliance of the circulation venues of the Pamukkale University Fuat Sezgin Library building according to the IFLA report and TSE Turkish Standards 9111 "The Requirements of Accessibility in Buildings for People with Disabilities and Mobility Constraints" determined for disabled individuals was documented by on-site studies and explained with examples. In addition, in the "Access to libraries for persons with disabilities" IFLA report, items covering physically disabled people within the title of "Physical Access" were selected from the standards established for the accessibility of disabled people in libraries. Since the building entrance was examined in the research, the "Access to materials and services" title in the IFLA report was not addressed. Findings: Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Library Building has an outdoor ramp slope of 8% and a ramp width of 240 cm. The automatic door width at the main entrance of the building is 160 cm. The disabled crossing gate in the card passing system in the library building is 90 cm. The door widths of the elevators in the building are 90 cm, and the stair widths are 200 cm. The main corridor widths of the library building are 220 cm, and the intermediate corridors are at least 220 cm. The width of the automatic doors in the building is 130 cm and the existing card reading systems on the door edges are 110 cm high. In addition, the ramp slope in the interior was measured as 7% and the ramp width was 145 cm. Implications: Libraries, one of the most essential structures in campus areas, must be designed considering disabled individuals. Evaluated according to the IFLA report and TSE Turkish Standards 9111, Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Library Building entrance space was taken into consideration and the designs made to facilitate the access of the disabled individuals were examined. As a result of this examination, inferences have been made about the spaces and building elements used to design the library buildings in accordance with the disabled people. Originality: In the study that deals with the spatial accessibility of individuals with physical disabilities, Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Library Building is an original study, since it makes inferences about the space and building elements used to make library buildings accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document provides the publication guidelines for the journal Actualidad Jurídica Ambiental (AJA). The journal is published monthly and accepts doctrinal articles and comments on environmental law topics. The articles must be original and will be evaluated by two reviewers before publication. The texts must be submitted in Word format and follow a specific format in terms of structure and style. The journal accepts articles in various languages and complies with accessibility requirements for people with disabilities. [Extracted from the article]

While information organizations and cultural heritage institutions have been considering best practices and ethical questions around digital creation and stewardship for decades, over the last few years, the required technologies for creating three-dimensional (3D) objects and virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality experiences have grown more affordable and accessible to nontechnical practitioners. COVID-19 further accelerated the adoption of these modalities among researchers, educators, and artists. In response, libraries, archives, and museums have strengthened their support of 3D/VR content development and are actively seeking effective methods of preservation and long-term access. This article explores some popular methods of 3D/VR capture and creation supported by such institutions, as well as the current state of digital preservation practices in libraries and other cultural heritage organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, applying the concepts of Universal Design to higher education has garnered increasing attention from scholars. In an educational environment, Universal Design principles seek to make education as usable and accessible as possible across a wide range of students. Library instruction is one venue that would benefit from applying Universal Design, but many academic librarians teach under a one-shot instruction mode, which limits their ability to incorporate many of the strategies described in the existing literature. The purpose of this article is to identify Universal Design strategies that suit one-shot instruction, thus lowering the barrier for librarians who wish to learn about and incorporate Universal Design in their instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parents of children with profound intellectual and multiple disability (PIMD), who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), implemented AAC interventions at home already prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (Deliberato & Manzini, 2012). With respect to the implementation process for these options, they reported various challenges (McNaughton et al., 2008). Aims: The study investigates the goals that parents of children with PIMD set and pursue for their children under pandemic conditions and the ways in which practitioners support the parents in the pursuit of these goals. Methods: In a Reflexive Grounded Theory approach, five interviews with parents of children with complex disabilities were conducted by (video) telephone. Results: In AAC implementation at home, the parents' main goal is to enable their children to pursue their own intentions. To support parents in the implementation of AAC at home, professionals use digital communication tools and prepared forms of AAC. Conclusions: To implement AAC, conditions of the use and transfer of AAC, but also the support of the parents should be reflected in designing AAC interventions at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista CPC is the property of Revista CPC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Globally, Universal Design (UD) is promoted as an evidence-informed approach for planning and designing accessible and inclusive public playgrounds, which are valuable sites for outdoor play in child-friendly cities. However, it remains unclear the extent to which UD has been implemented in public playgrounds. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which UD is implemented, from the perspectives of playground professionals in the Republic of Ireland. A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was used to gather data. Data analysis revealed that playground professionals recognise the importance of UD for planning, designing, and providing public playgrounds for inclusion, and implement UD in various ways. Still, a lack of knowledge and good practice guides for embedding UD, constitute significant barriers. Numerous opportunities, initiatives and training prospects were identified to better support the implementation of UD. Moreover, further research with 'professional experts' and 'user-experts' is required to strengthen socio-spatial inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to advance the debate on transport accessibility. While cognitive barriers to accessibility receive some attention in public transport research and policy, studies focus on discrete services and little research has addressed access solutions focused on the scale of the transport network. To address this gap, this paper presents the results from a one-day focus group with 16 public transport and disability advocacy practitioners in Victoria, Australia. The study reveals three concurrent ongoing developments in Victorian public transport that pose both opportunities and barriers to improving accessibility for people with intellectual disabilities across the extended metropolitan network. They are: diversification of transport services and providers; increased reliance on innovation in communication technology; and the need for inclusive forms of citizen participation mechanisms. The paper builds on the theory of mobility justice to argue that achieving greater transport accessibility requires network-wide, collaborative policies on accessibility. The paper demonstrates that a focus on cognitive access barriers in public transport enriches mobility justice as it highlights the distributed responsibility across a public transport network for the limited mobility of a marginalised group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Since the publication of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, several countries have adopted laws, policies, and action plans to improve the universal accessibility of environments to improve inclusion and social participation of all citizens. Different organizations are involved in the application of these measures. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify strategies that are contextually appropriate and provide guidelines for organizations to promote successful implementation of universal accessibility. Methods: We will conduct a scoping review identifying implementation strategies of universal accessibility measures in local organizations using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. We will search in Medline, CINHAL, Urban Studies Abstracts, ABI Inform, and Social Sciences Full Text from 2006 until today, following the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Two reviewers will independently select studies for inclusion and will extract the data. A descriptive and thematic analysis of the characteristics of the identified implementation strategies will be performed. Results: Implementation strategies will be summarized in tables. They will then be linked to various constructs and domains listed in the Theoretical Domain Framework to identify barriers and facilitators of organizations' uptake of evidence-based strategies of implementation. Conclusions: We will tabulate the characteristics of the included studies and the outcomes of implementation strategies in them. The results of this scoping review are expected to help the research community in various fields, local organizations, and stakeholders to identify better ways to improve implementation strategies of universal accessibility practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with ideas of sustainable development outlined in the UN resolution "Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," the key objectives to be achieved by 2030 include: ensuring universal access to green spaces and public spaces that are safe for all and inclusive, while at the same time strengthening efforts to protect cultural and natural heritage. The article presents, using selected examples of historic parks, gardens and landscapes, how these goals are being realized. Sites examined here include the Garden of Versailles, Stonehenge and the cultural landscape surrounding this monument, managed by English Heritage, and the Historic England policy of making historic parks, gardens and landscapes accessible. Analysis of strategies for making historic green spaces and cultural landscapes accessible to people with special needs, developed by the above institutions, concludes with proposals of general principles for an inclusive policy for this category of monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums are repositories of culture, knowledge and values that everyone should be able to access. To this end, specic attention should be paid to disability when designing or operating such facilities. Despite increased awareness of the issue, many designers still lack full understanding of both the complexity of people's needs and the question of inclusion. By exploring the changing concept of diversity and how design can make the built environment enabling or disabling, this chapter aims to develop a cognitive framework to address the issue and help museum spaces flourish. This contribution focuses on the European context: its historical cities and cultural heritage. It is argued here that accessibility must be balanced with conservation, adding an extra layer of complexity. Finally, the museum as an institution is examined from the perspective of inclusivity, highlighting vital issues and providing suggestions regarding tools for overcoming problems that hinder efforts to foster universal access to culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]