1. INTD 51 sustainable environments
special populations

2. the moral obligation to do what is right
ethics
the moral obligation to do what is right
as designers we are accountable to make
life as free from design problems as possible
for those whose needs differ from the norm

3. design for special populations:
people with distinctive but similar design needs
constitute special populations
limited motion
limited hearing
limited vision
the elderly

4. design for motion impairments:
difficulty in walking may require the use of
crutches, a cane, a walker, or a wheelchair

5. design for motion impairments:
design considerations for the motion impaired
center around physical barriers:
curbs, steps, flooring materials

6. design for motion impairments:
design considerations for the motion impaired
center around physical barriers:
narrow or heavy doors

7. design for motion impairments:
design considerations for the motion impaired
center around physical barriers:
standard bathroom designs

8. design for motion impairments:
design considerations for the motion impaired
center around physical barriers:
standard kitchen designs

9. design for motion impairments: steps & ramps
minimum slope for ramps is best: rise of 1 ft. for
every 12 ft. of length

10. design for motion impairments: steps & ramps
steps should not have protruding nosing

11. design for motion impairments: steps & ramps
all steps and ramps should be well lit

12. design for motion impairments: steps & ramps
top of a handrail should be inches above
ramp or steps

13. design for motion impairments: steps & ramps
handrails should be oval or round and should have a gripping surface of 1-1½ inches

14. design for motion impairments: passage & turning
36 in. minimum clearance for single wheelchair
60 in. minimum clearance for two chairs

15. design for motion impairments: passage & turning
60 in. is the clear space required to make 180-degree turn

16. design for motion impairments: passage & turning
lever type door handles are easiest

17. design for motion impairments: passage & turning
floors should have a flat, non-skid surface
if carpet is used, should be securely attached
pile depth should not be more than ½ inch

18. design for motion impairments: kitchens
all areas should be accessible to a frontal as well
as a parallel approach

19. design for motion impairments: kitchens
varying countertop heights are recommended

20. design for motion impairments: kitchens
low counter near sink for food prep
maximum depth of 24 inches

21. design for motion impairments: kitchens
upper cabinets adjustable to several heights
handles on upper cabinets max of 48-in from floor
handles on lower cabinets min of 27-in from floor

22. design for motion impairments: kitchens
leave space under counter, especially at sink
hot-water pipes should be insulated

23. design for motion impairments: kitchens
sink controls should be side mounted or no more
than 18-in. from front edge

24. design for motion impairments: kitchens
toe-kick should be 12-in. high & 8-in. deep

25. design for motion impairments: kitchens
pull-out trays allow better access

26. design for motion impairments: kitchens
wall-mounted ovens and microwaves allow
better access
cooktops should have staggered burners
cooktop controls should be front mounted

27. design for motion impairments:
kitchens

28. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
pocket doors keep space clear

29. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
no cabinet under sink

30. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
toilets should be wall-
mounted, 19-in. off floor
toilet is most easily
approached from the side
or with a diagonal
approach

31. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
grab bars must be anchored
in wood to support at least
250 lbs
24-36 in. horizontal grab
bar behind toilet
30-in. horizontal bar
mounted beside the toilet
some users will be able to
negotiate a tub

32. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
some users will need to be able to wheel into a
shower

33. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
textured, non-slip grab bars make access easier

34. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
seat in the shower is also helpful
shower controls should be lever-type, single-mixing

35. design for motion impairments: bathrooms
sink faucets should be lever-type & side mounted
medicine cabinets should be mounted lower
vanity mirrors should be mounted low enough to
be used by someone seated
non-slip flooring & good ventilation is imperative

36. design for motion impairments: bedrooms
mattress height should be equal to chair height
must be a 60- by 60-in.
clear space, usually
between bedroom door
and bed to accommodate
a wheelchair
36-in. at foot & far side
of bed facilitate making
bed & cleaning

37. design for motion impairments: bedrooms
footboard & headboard will often help in getting in & out of bed
slatted headboard may
be helpful in turning
over or moving in bed

38. design for motion impairments: closets
bi-fold or sliding doors are best

39. design for motion impairments: closets
rods should be mounted in. high
shelves higher than 50-in. are not accessible from
a seated position
slide-out shelves are most accessible

40. design for hearing impairment:
over 8 million people in the U.S. have extreme hearing loss—design can help make the quality of their lives better
many of the problems associated with interiors and hearing loss center around:
noise
sound reverberation
adequate light for manual communication

41. design for hearing impairment:
carpet & fabric wall coverings reduce noise reverberation & improve acoustics

42. design for hearing impairment:
good lighting is imperative
for manual communication
and lip reading
good natural light helps
visually and also creates
the psychological feeling
of openness and well-
being

43. design for hearing impairment:
furniture arranged in a
semi-circle or u-shape
facilitates signing and lip
reading by providing
clear sight lines from
speaker to listener

44. design for hearing impairment:
a round dining table is better than a rectangular table because it provides clear sight lines

45. design for hearing impairment:
visual signals such as flashing lights can provide important visual cues—attached to things such as doorbell, telephone, fire alarm/smoke detector

46. design for hearing impairment:
special phone systems for the hearing impaired include a screen and a keyboard that will require
a specially planned space
because of the addition of extra electronic devices, adequate outlets should be planned

47. design for visual impairment:
people with impaired vision rely heavily on the senses of hearing and touch
tactile indicators and acoustics are critical for day-to-day activities in familiar spaces and for navigating in unfamiliar public environments

48. design for visual impairment:
the blind need tactile warning for danger:
door handles textured to
indicate a dangerous
area
landings and curbs can
be textured to indicate
steps or grade change

49. design for visual impairment:
hanging or protruding objects are dangerous because they cannot be detected with a cane
handrails should extend 1 foot beyond the end of a stairway

50. design for visual impairment:
where there is more than one story, a handrail
should extend continuously from floor to floor,
rather than stopping at the landing

51. design for visual impairment:
audible signals are
helpful at crosswalks,
elevators, smoke
detectors and fire
alarms

52. design for visual impairment:
signage is important—small groups of numbers
and letters
persons born blind
learn Braille—
signage should
include both letters/
numbers and Braille
tactile signs and
signage should be
universal throughout
the building

53. design for visual impairment:
gas cooktops better because gas makes a sound
as it burns
controls should be mounted where the blind will
not have to reach over the flame or coils
a lip on the counter may be helpful in preventing
objects from being pushed off the edge

54. design for visual impairment:
rounded corners and padded edges on furniture
hook next to electrical
plugs can help to hang a
plug where it is can be
easily found

55. design for the elderly:
people are living longer today than ever before
concerns of the elderly include:
limited mobility
loss of hearing
loss of visual acuity
all previous considerations may apply

56. design for the elderly:
visual contrast is important in judging space and distance—countertop should be light to contrast with dark floor

57. design for the elderly:
wayfinding is especially important in spaces designed for the elderly—
slight recess in wall
color coding
distinctive art work
or furniture
can all serve as
indicators/reminders

58. design for the elderly:
with age, the cornea of the eye yellows causing a distortion of color perception
decreased control over bodily
functions should be considered
in textile selection

59. other special populations:
the elderly, those with impaired motion, hearing & vision represent just a fraction of those with special needs
children
homeless
abused
chemically dependent
religious groups
ethnic & cultural groups
convicted criminals
mentally ill
terminally ill