Abstract:
The implementation of wheelchair accessible guidelines in New Zealand (family orientated) for suburban pre-designed homes (that are conceptually neither site nor client specific) is a step towards endorsing social inclusion for wheelchair bound people. The potential benefits of providing suburban homes in New Zealand that meet wheelchair accessibility standards are: positive mental health, intellectual stimulation, and improved standards of communication. Barrier-free homes, where a wheelchair occupant is free to access the entire built environment, can generate positive reinforcement of equality, rather than discrimination. A wheelchair-accessible home is not limited to a clinical atmosphere; incorporating wheelchair accessibility can also result in an interesting and desirable design proposition for people who use wheelchairs and people who are ambulant. A wheelchairaccessible design does not equate with a significantly higher cost or an increase of area. Rather, a good design that applies the universal design principles can create a home that is accessible to the disabled community and has an adaptable quality.
