Investigating the Situation of Adaptation of Urban Spaces for the Access of the Disabled (Case Study; Government Offices of Izeh City)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Zahra Soltani ¹
• Majid Goodarzi ²
• Laleh Lamoochi ³

¹ Assistant Professor of Geography and Rural Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

² Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

³ Master's Student of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

10.30495/jupm.2022.28251.3907

Abstract

The principle of providing equal access and opportunities for members of society is one of the pillars of citizenship rights and a prerequisite for providing other services. The principle of equal rights for the disabled and healthy people implies that all members of society are equally important. Meeting this need should form the basis of community planning. The present study aims to examine the status of the adaptation of office spaces in Izeh city for proper access for the disabled. The present applied-theoretical study employed a descriptive-analytical research method field study and library research techniques for data collection. Also, data analysis was done to review the adaptation of urban spaces (government offices, Izeh city) in 24 departments. The results show that in Izeh, in terms of adapting office space for the disabled, the Welfare Department ranks first, and the Water and Sewerage Department ranks last. The Governor's Office as a department that prepares an annual report on the performance of departments to adapt for the disabled They are ranked 11th. Generally speaking, designing the government office environment does not correspond to the standards according to the t-test, showing an average of 2.86 at a significance level of 0.000. There is a significant relationship between the participation of the disabled and the observance of adaptation standards with a correlation coefficient of 0.592. the t-test results showed that the average of departments related to the affairs of the disabled has a more appropriate level, and the welfare departments, the Martyr and Veterans Affairs Foundation, the Relief Committee, and Social Security are 3.72, 3.48, and 3.056, and 2.96 respectively. Also, in terms of adapting office space for the disabled, the Welfare Department ranked first, and the Water and Sewerage Department ranked last.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
According to urban planning, a healthy city is where all citizens can benefit from its spaces. These urban spaces should provide more services to the vulnerable so that this group does not disappear from the scene of society and is not forgotten. The part of the society practically deprived of urban spaces due to its physical disability seeks the cause, not in the “disability of the city” but in its “disability” and avoids approaching this urban space. Today, the social participation of people with disabilities in society is a challenging issue due to the neglect of their needs in developing public urban spaces, services, and modern technology.
Methodology
The present applied-theoretical study employed descriptive-analytical and survey research methods. The data were collected through documentary, library, survey techniques, and interviews with veterans, the disabled, and experts.
The statistical population consisted of veterans and the disabled under the auspices of the Welfare and Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation of Izeh city as 3100 people according to official statistics and thirty experts at the research subject. The sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula for veterans and the disabled as 360 people. Due to the limited population of experts, all were selected as a sample.
One sample t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and TOPSIS were used to analyze the data and test the research hypotheses. Data measurement and analysis tools in this study were SPSS.26 and TOPSIS.
Results and discussion
The results show that in Izeh, in terms of adapting office space for the disabled, the Welfare Department ranks first, and the Water and Sewerage Department ranks last. The Governor's Office as a department that prepares an annual report on the performance of departments to adapt for the disabled they are ranked 11th. Generally speaking, designing the government office environment does not correspond to the standards according to the t-test, showing an average of 2.86 at a significance level of 0.000. There is a significant relationship between the participation of the disabled and the observance of adaptation standards with a correlation coefficient of 0.592. The t-test results showed that the average of departments related to the affairs of the disabled has a more appropriate level, and the welfare departments, the Martyr and Veterans Affairs Foundation, the Relief Committee, and Social Security are 3.72, 3.48, and 3.056, and 2.96 respectively. Also, in terms of adapting office space for the disabled, the Welfare Department ranked first, and the Water and Sewerage Department ranked last.
Conclusion
As the findings show, the Welfare Department and the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation, with more contact with veterans and the disabled than other departments, are first and second in compliance. A noteworthy point in this ranking is the governorate office, which is ranked 11th. This is important if the office prepares an annual report on the adaptation of other government departments for access for veterans and the disabled. Generally, according to the results of various statistical tests, it can be concluded that the design of the environment of the governorate offices in Izeh does not comply with the standards of adaptation of spaces for veterans and the disabled. Veterans and the disabled also suffer from a lack of consideration for their needs in urban spaces and government offices

Keywords

• adaptation
• urban spaces
• government offices
• Veterans and the disabled
• Izeh city

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