Abstract
The way handicapped people in wheelchairs live in public apartment houses has been discussed in a previous report.
I here report the actual status of the structure of and equipment in public apartment houses for the handicapped and requests for various improvements.
With the exception of going up and down stairs, more than 70% of the people polled stated that they could do house work with the aid of special equipment. Special arrangements in the bathroom, lavatory, kitchen and the approach walkway to the building had already been made for handicapped residents, but some items designed especially for the handicapped were found to be inconvenient for other family members not using wheelchairs.
The following specially-designed equipment was inconvenient for handicapped people; the crack under the entrance door, the shape of the toilets, improperly arranged kitchen tables etc. Moreover, handicapped couples both using wheelchairs complained about insufficient space in dining-kitchens, western-style rooms and entrance halls. In addition, not having the closet in the western-style room was an inconvenience.
The height of the handrails attached for the handicapped using wheelchairs was not convenient for other types of handicapped people. The height of the kitchen table designed for people in wheelchairs was inconvenient for non-handicapped family members.
Fire alarms, fire extinguishers, showers in the bathroom, frames for drying futon were found to be indispensable for the handicapped.
Hanging shelves, gas tables, ignition switches for bath heaters and other equipment were of incovenient height for use by the handicapped in wheelchairs.
Given the above, the changes that should be made can be summarized as follows:
(1) A toilet system is needed that allows the style of toilet to be changed according to the physical requirements of the user.
(2) Adequate space is necessary for cases in which two or more members of the household use wheelchairs. This is particularly necessary in western style rooms, the dining-kitchen, and the entrance hall. This would not be necessary for Japanese style rooms.
(3) The adoption of handrails of two different heights for use by both handicapped using and not using wheelchairs.
(4) For the family in which the kitchen is used by non-handicapped people, a kitchen table of normal or adjustable height should be supplied.
