hi Glynn
like your idea about flexible pipework, adjustable furniture etc,
I guess this is what in many countries other than the UK would be called
"life time homes2 but tht doesn't seem to be a concept that is catching on
over here. Not sure why that is, it has been popular across europe as well
as in some asian countries, perhaps our nomadic history.
on the matter of adding edgings to worktops, table edgings etc, at the
school I attended all the work tops in the student kitchens had slightly
sloped edges which always struck me as a good idea.
Presumably it was present here because some one in an office somewhere
decided that visually impaired people were more likely to spill things but
I'm surprised it isn't more common, it could make lots of peoples lives
easier preventing spillages on to the floor thus not having to bend down to
clean etc, and its hard to see any disadvantages.
Adrian Higginbotham.
SURFACE (Salford University, Research Focus on Accessible Environments).
tel: (44_-161-2953949,
fax (44)-161-2955011,
textphone (44)-161-2953599.
web: http://www.scpm.salford.ac.uk/surface/
----- Original Message -----
From: G.D.Williams <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 12:31 PM
Subject: Re: access not accessible
> 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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