Investigating the effectiveness of urban planning and architecture rules and regulations for people with disabilities in providing accessibility for the blind (Case study: selected government offices in Yazd province)

Mehri Abargui, Abbas; Ghasemi Sichani, Maryam; Marzieh Tabaeian, Seyedeh; Atashpour, Seyed Hamid

doi:10.22034/ijumes.2024.2031181.1222

Investigating the effectiveness of urban planning and architecture rules and regulations for people with disabilities in providing accessibility for the blind (Case study: selected government offices in Yazd province)

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

Abbas Mehri Abargui ¹

Maryam Ghasemi Sichani ²

Seyedeh Marzieh Tabaeian ²

Seyed Hamid Atashpour ²

¹ Ph.D. Candidate Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

10.22034/ijumes.2024.2031181.1222

Abstract

The disability of the blind is due to the lack of sense of sight, and this type of sensory disability has made their conditions different from other disabled people who usually suffer from physical complications.. Now this question arises: To what extent have these rules, regulations and architectural design guidelines been effective in providing the accessibility of government offices for the blind? In this research, the effectiveness of architectural design rules and regulations in making the environment accessible to the blind has been investigated with the descriptive-analytical research method and applied goal. Selected government offices in Yazd city were studied as samples. After observing the orientation of 8 blind people and interviewing 12 other people, a simple random sampling was done.The results revealed that the approach of architectural rules and regulations for the disabled is to meet their needs and provide accessibility by relying on physical issues, and the behavioral and psychological characteristics of the blind have been given less attention. Also, imposing costs on administrative projects to comply with the rules and regulations of urban planning and architecture for the disabled, especially in the field of the blind, is not effective, and in most offices, using trained guides, service desks, and e-government can be more effective in making the blind accessible to government services. provide construction This research was compiled based on the studies and observations made in Yazd city, and the explanation and extension of the findings and suggestions to other regions needs more detailed studies.

Keywords

Blind people

architectural design criteria

accessibility

office buildings

Yazd city

Bahrampour Givi, S., Allah Dadi, M., & Amrai, B. (2016). Investigating effective factors in blind routing design. The Effect of Art, 21, 7–15.
Bajlan, S. (2008). Investigation of the access status of people with disabilities to the facilities and public spaces of Tehran universities. Rehabilitation Management, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Calder, A., Sole, G., & Mulligan, H. (2018). Accessibility of fitness facilities for people with disabilities: A systematic review. Disability and Health Journal, 11(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2018.04.002
Creem-Regehr, S., Barhorst-Cates, E. M., Tarampi, R., Rand, M. K., & Legge, G. (2021). How can basic research on spatial cognition enhance the visual accessibility of architecture for people with low vision? Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, 6, Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-020-00265-y
Elahwardi Zavareh, M. (2013). Adaptation for the physically challenged from the beginning to today: Challenges and solutions. Tehran: [Publisher information missing].
Executive Regulations of Article 3 of the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Disabled. (2018). Approved on September 10, 2018.
Ghaem, G. (2008). City space and the disabled. Building and Housing Research Center, Tehran.
Haden, J. (2022, January 14). Open plan offices aren’t just the ‘dumbest management fad of all time.’ com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
Hanniff, R., & Kheder, R. (2007). Women with disabilities in the urban environment. Women and Urban Environments, 1–4. Inter-American Development Bank.
Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2016). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(Translated by M. Pournejaf).
Kamanroudi Kejouri, M. (2009). Structural pathology of Tehran’s urban development management with emphasis on adapting urban spaces for the disabled. Urban Management Quarterly, 25, Spring and Summer, 99–114.
Long, K. (2004). User effective buildings. Denver: Aardex Corporation.
National Welfare Organization. (2019). Statistical yearbook 2018. Publications of the country’s welfare organization and commissioned by the information technology center, administrative transformation and development of welfare services.
Nuzri, F., Rafizad, K., & Ghasemzad, M. (2007). Methods of adaptation of office buildings for people with physical mobility limitations. Construction and Housing Research Center, Tehran.
Qadiri, B., & Tabai, S. M. (2016). Analysis of the effectiveness of architectural spaces on improving the performance of blind and partially sighted children: A case study of the rehabilitation center for the blind and partially blind in Mexico City. The 7th International Conference on Sustainable Development and Urban Development.
Rajabi Soran, A., & Moradi, K. (2016). Comparison of spatial memory and spatial orientation among blind, partially sighted, and healthy people. Exceptional Children’s Quarterly, 16(3), 49–64.
Rules and Regulations of Urban Planning and Architecture for People with Disabilities. (2019). Regulation No. 246, Edition 2019.
Saberi, G. N., & Fahimizadeh, H. (2018). The role of gravity and non-visual senses on mental and spatial visualization of blind people in landscape design. Architectural Quarterly, 2(10).
Sarkis, S. (2021, January 17). Post-pandemic: Fight for an end to the open-plan office. com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
Shuiklo, J., Iran Dost, K., Nursteh, A. A., & Daneshmandi, H. (2019). Comparison of the effectiveness of the sensory systems involved in postural control of congenitally deaf and blind people. Exceptional Children’s Quarterly, 19(1), 39–48.
Williams, M., Dubin, B., Amaefule, C., Nguyen, L., Abdolrahmani, A., Galbraith, C., Hurst, A., & Kane, S. (2016). Better supporting blind pedestrians and blind navigation technologies through accessible architecture. In Springer International Publishing Switzerland(pp. 237–246). First Online: February 10, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-023-00522-4