The Assessment of Quality of Life among Persons with Physical Disability in Urban Environments

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Urbanism, Pardis Branch, Islamic Azad University, Pardis, Iran

2 Departments of Urbanism and Architecture, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Departments of Urbanism and Architecture,Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

As a social creature, human seeks to connect with his surrounding space. This connection is feasible through presence in the environment, surrounding accessibility, and vital activities performance. Nowadays, the number of people with disability has been increasing due to wars, various accidents, inheriting diseases, or lack of sanitation services. These people are facing different challenges in order to be in urban spaces and to use needy services. These challenges can be divided into two main categories of mental barriers and physical barriers which cause reduction in quality of life of people with disability and their isolation especially in developing countries. In order to determine effective factors on quality of life of maimed people, Delphi technique and experts opinions are being used (62 questionnaires by the help of experts in two phases).  Results show that there are 21 objective and subjective factors in four main realms of social, physical, economic and decision-making structure which impact maimed people`s quality of life. On the other hand, based on the proposed frame work of this study, the capability of ranking cities based on the quality of life of people with disability would be possible. Decision making structure of the city, however, can provide strategies, goals and programs according to the results of this evaluation and afterwards, view the feedback of decisions made in the society. The outcome of the research would appear in the sustainability and vibrancy of urban systems to be used by any social groups (disables, elderlies, and children).

Keywords


  • Daneshpoor, Zohre Abdi (2006). making urban environments suitable for people with disabilities: A Guide for making the urban environment suitable for people with physical and motor movement disabilities, University of Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran
  • Daneshpoor, Zohre Abdi (2008). Introduction to the theories of planning with special emphasis on urban planning, the first edition, publishing and printing center of Shahid Beheshti University.
  • Azizi, Hamid (2012). dealing with urban environments unsuitable for disabled people using planning based on improving quality of life (case study of: Area 15 in Tehran), Urban and Regional Planning Master’s thesis, School of Architecture and Urban, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran.
  • Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2007). adopted by Parliament, publications of Welfare Organization, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, pp. 1-72
  • Nasiri, Masood (2006). investigating the role of nutrition in health of spinal cord injured - the mobilization of Inventors and Innovators.
  • Azizi, H. momeni,M. taghinia, M (2011). Quality of Life Indices Assessment for Disabled and Elderly People: Case Study of Tehran, International Conference on Urban Planning & Regional Development in the Information Society: Real CORP 2011, Essen Germany.755-766.
  • Coser 1Lewis .A (2003). Masters of Sociological Thought: Ideas in Historical and Social Context, Caddo Gap Press.
  • Cowan, R.(2005). The Dictionary of Urbanism, streetwise press
  • Das,D., (2008). Urban quality of life: A case study of Guwahati,Social Indicator Research, no.88, pp. 297-310
  • Epstein, Cynthia Fuchs. (1988). Deceptive distinctions: sex, gender, and the social order. New Haven: Yale University Press.
  • Hagerty, M., Cummins, R., Ferriss, A., Land, K., michalos, A., Peterson, M., Sharp, A., Sirgy, J. and Vogel, J. (2001). Quality of life Indexes for national policy: review and agenda for research, Social Indicators Research, 55, 1-96.
  • Hikmat, Ali et al, Quality of Life in Cities: Setting up Criteria for Amman- Jordan, Social Indictor Researc, vol. 93, pp.407–432
  • Hollander, E., Kwon, J. H., Stein, D. J., Broatch, J., Rowland, C. T., & Himelein, C. A. (1996). Obsessive- pulsive and spectrum disorders: overview and quality of life issues. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 57(Suppl. 8), 3–6.
  • Hsu Ch, Sandford BA(2008). The Delphi technique: making sense of consensus. [cite 2008 Oct 19]. Available from: http://pareonline.net/pdf/v12n10.pdf
  • Keeney S, Hasson F, McKenna HP(2001). A critical review of the Delphi technique as a research methodology for nursing. Int J Nurs Stud 2001 Apr; 38(2): 195-200.
  • Lee, Y.j., (2008). subjective quality of life measurement in Taipei, Bulidin and Environment, no.43, pp. 1205-1215.
  • Lessnoff, M (1999). Political Philosophers of the Twentieth Century, Blackwell Press.
  • McCrea, R., Shyy, T., Stimson, R.,(2006). What is the strength of the Link Between objective and subjective Indicators of Urban Quality of life? Applied Research in Quality of life vol.1, no.1, pp.79-96
  • Quality of Life Research Unit (2005). Nots On Quality Of Life, University Of Toronto. Available from: http://www.gdrc.org/uem/qol-define.html
  • Rawls John (2000). A Theory of Justice, Oxford University Press.
  • Repley, Mark (2003). Quality of Life Reaearch: A critical introduction, London, Sage.
  • Report of World Health Organization  about disability, (2011):22
  • Ric van Poll, (1997). The Perceived Quality of  the Urban Residential Environment A Multi-Attribute Evaluation, Druk: Westrom Drukkerij, Roermond
  • Rogerson, R., (1999). Quality of life and city competitiveness, Urban studies, vol.36, no.5, pp. 969-985.
  • Smith D. M.,(1994). Geography and social justice. Bastl Blackwell press, Oxford.