Dear Judith,
Noted your broadcast request to invite responses to the above
scenario and as one who suffers from arthritis would quickly
become aware of unsuitable ' working planes' but would
suggest that if a flat was adapted to suit the particular needs
of an individual that their immediate needs would take priority
but ideally facilites could be duplicated if costly to achieve.
Maybe flexible piping and modular furniture that is height
adjustable might be possible given 21st C technology but
in practice difficult to achieve. However in laboratories have
in the past produced split-level benching but I don't really
like it because if a chemical was spilled (acid) would run
onto lower level unless kerbs introduced which seperate
socialy two people sharing the same workplace etc.
Of concern to me is the issue of emergency evacuation in
a fire situation in tall and difficult to access buidings where
to exclude say wheelchair users on H & S grounds may
be neither legaly nor politicaly acceptable, but to resort
to ' refuges' puts others and rescuers at additional risk.
This may be another dilemma where mobile people
are put at risk in an environment meant to cater for
those who do not enjoy the same degree of mobility
and raises all kinds of moral, and legal liability issues.
Hope this is of interest. Glynn Williams Univ' of Sheffield.
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