More and more businesses, offices and public buildings across Australia offer accessible toilet facilities, but a new study suggests most have inaccessible washbasins.
The Building Code of Australia has very specific guidelines as to the size, height and type of toilet that must be installed, and the size of the room and door required to accommodate the disabled, but there are no such requirements for washbasins.
Most places simply install Australian Standard washbasins, but according to a recent study, as many as half of the people who use these facilities can't access them.
"These kinds of public spaces should promote the user's safety, autonomy and dignity, however with the current standards, some of the wheelchair users' knees would touch the washbasin or the pipework underneath it, preventing their effective use," says Konstantina Vasilakopoulou, acting director of UNSW's Home Modifications Clearinghouse (HMInfo) and leader of the Livability Lab.
"The research demonstrates the need to re-evaluate Australian Standards."
HMInfo conducts and translates research for industry and consumers to promote a more inclusive built environment, while the Livability Lab is focused on biomechanical studies to inform design for improved liveability and useability of the built environment.
The lab uses motion capture and video technologies to record participants' movements to make their assessments.
Researchers at the Lab interviewed 20 accessible toilet users about their thoughts and experiences before asking them to undertake tasks at a custom-built "test rig".
They simulated using a washbasin, looking at how easy it was to use the soap dispenser and taps.
"Mirrors, soap dispensers, light switches, automatic hand-dryers are often placed too high for people in a seated position," Dr Vasilakopoulou said of the findings.
The study found that 19 out of 20 participants still thought the toilets should have more space for a wheelchair user to enter, close the door and manoeuvre.
It also found the inclusion of change tables, the use of steps and issues with the doors increased their inaccessibility as well as the possibility of injury during transfer from wheelchair to toilet.
"This demonstrates that, despite our best efforts, even accessible spaces can be designed with an able mindset," Dr Vasilakopoulou said.
"It reinforces the need to co-design these environments with people with lived experience to ensure they are fit for purpose."
Australian Associated Press
Kampuni nyingi nchini Australia zinatoa vyoo vinavyoweza kufikiwa kwa urahisi, lakini utafiti mpya unaonyesha kwamba wengi wao hawana vyoo vinavyoweza kufikiwa. Sheria ya ujenzi ya Australia ina miongozo maalum sana kuhusu ukubwa, urefu na aina ya choo ambayo lazima imewekwa, na ukubwa wa chumba na mlango unaohitajika ili kukaribisha walemavu, lakini hakuna mahitaji kama hayo kwa washbasins. Kwa mfano, kuna watu wengi ambao wana washbasins za kiwango cha Australia, lakini kwa mujibu wa utafiti wa hivi karibuni, karibu nusu ya watu wanaotumia vifaa hivi hawawezi kupata. "Vituo hivi vya umma vinapaswa kukuza usalama, uhuru na heshima ya mtumiaji, lakini kwa viwango vya sasa, magoti ya watumiaji wa kiti cha magurudumu yangegusa beseni au mabomba yaliyo chini yake, na kuzuia matumizi yao ya ufanisi, ""alisema Konstantina Vasilakopoulou, mkurugenzi wa UNSW's Home Modifications Clearinghouse (HMINFO) na kiongozi wa Maabara ya Uaminifu." "Utafiti huo unaonyesha uhitaji wa kuchunguza upya Viwango vya Australia". HMInfo hufanya utafiti na kutafsiri kwa ajili ya sekta na watumiaji ili kukuza mazingira ya kujengwa zaidi, wakati Lab ya Uwezo wa Kuishi inazingatia masomo ya biomechanical ili kuelezea kubuni kwa ajili ya kuboresha kuishi na matumizi ya mazingira ya kujengwa. Maabara hutumia teknolojia za kukamata mwendo na video kurekodi mwendo wa washiriki ili kufanya tathmini zao. Watafiti wa maabara hiyo walihoji watumiaji 20 wa choo cha watu wasio na kinga kuhusu mawazo na uzoefu wao kabla ya kuwaomba kufanya kazi kwenye "kiwanda cha majaribio" kilichojengwa kwa ajili yao. Walitumia mifereji ya kuosha maji ili kuona ni rahisi kutumia sabuni na mabomba. "Vioo, mashine za kutoa sabuni, vifungo vya taa, mashine za kukausha mikono mara nyingi huwekwa juu sana kwa watu wanaoketi", Daktari Vasilakopoulou alisema kuhusu matokeo hayo. Uchunguzi huo uligundua kuwa washiriki 19 kati ya 20 bado walifikiri kuwa vyoo vinapaswa kuwa na nafasi zaidi kwa mtumiaji wa kiti cha magurudumu kuingia, kufunga mlango na kuendesha. Pia iligundua kuingizwa kwa meza za kubadilisha, matumizi ya hatua na masuala na milango yaliongeza kutoweza kufikiwa kwao, na uwezekano wa kujeruhiwa wakati wa uhamisho kutoka kiti cha magurudumu hadi choo. "Hii inaonyesha kwamba, licha ya juhudi zetu bora, hata nafasi zinazopatikana zinaweza kubuniwa na mawazo yenye uwezo", alisema Dk Vasilakopoulou. "Inaimarisha haja ya kuunda mazingira haya pamoja na watu wenye uzoefu wa kuishi ili kuhakikisha yanafaa kwa kusudi". Habari za Australia Associated Press