DESIGN AND VALIDATION OF DIAGNOSIS TOOL OF INCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN PLAYGROUNDS
Year: 2015
Editor: Christian Weber, Stephan Husung, Gaetano Cascini, Marco Cantamessa, Dorian Marjanovic, Monica Bordegoni
Author: Mejia Piedrahita, Tatiana
Series: ICED
Institution: Universidad EAFIT, Colombia
Section: Design for Life
Page(s): 453-464
ISBN: 978-1-904670-64-3
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
The last years in Medellin has been developed actions to create normative that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the different public spaces. Nevertheless even recreation is recognized as a fundamental right, it is needed to stablish guidelines for the design of inclusive playgrounds. In this investigation were analysed 5 factors that are important for the design of inclusive playgrounds: surrounding environment, context, the user, activities and objects. When these factors were analysed, it was possible to identify the areas of a playground and its components that need to be evaluated, to design a diagnosis tool of the inclusion of children with reduced lower limb mobility in playgrounds. Then the diagnosis tool was evaluated in a series of validation cycles with different stakeholders to make an usable tool that takes into account the technical normative in the design of a playground. The diagnosis tool evaluates 3 areas (surrounding environment accessibility, play area accessibility and play area objects) and its components, to allow professionals to evaluate playgrounds in any stage of the design process to improve its accessibility and inclusion.
Keywords: Inclusive Design, Design Methods, Evaluation, Children With Disabilities, Playgrounds