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Tired Of Property Developers Cutting Corners On Accessibility, Architect Illustrates How It Impacts People
Azari Mat Yasir has been teaching architecture at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for 18 years now. Throughout this time, one particular problem kept bugging him and Azari just couldn't ignore it any longer. Property developers have been cutting corners on accessibility, making everyday life for people with special needs way harder than they could be. Moreover, the authorities in the country have been turning a blind eye to what's happening. So, the lecturer decided to take matters into his own hands, creating a series of illustrations depicting these struggles that shouldn't even exist in the first place.
More info: azarimy.com | Facebook
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#1
Carol Emory 5 years ago
This is the one that makes me angry. I have a friend whose husband is wheelchair bound. Her van has a side loading ramp to get him in and out. Many times we were sitting in parking lots with thawing and melting groceries trying to locate the owner of a car that thought the striped place at handicapped parking was an additional parking space. If I ever see you parked here...have no doubt I will call the police and have your car ticketed or towed. And if you have a motorcycle, be prepared to search for it because I will relocate it to the most inconvenient spot I can find.
"As architects, we are trained to fulfill the needs of the end user," Azari told Bored Panda. "However, accessibility needs are almost never a priority in Malaysia, apart from special needs buildings like hospitals. Most architectural programs offered at local universities don't even emphasize on special needs, or more known as Universal Design, my university included."
#2
Michał Jastrzębski 5 years ago
Thats one reason. Another is, you can block the view of screen and keypad from bystanders more easily with your own body - so security.
In an attempt to increase awareness amongst his students, Azari started sketching some of the issues. "It was after I shared my drawings on Facebook that they gained traction. Now I'm also advocating for universal design in architectural schools in Malaysia, mainly to get it implemented at least by a lecture or two if not become a full subject of its own."
#3
Bumblebee 5 years ago
Oh, dangerous spots. I remember those spots from way back when I just got my chronic diseases. Back then my diseases weren't as bad as they are now.. Now I am in a wheelchair. 2 years of crutches, followed by (to date, with no progress in sight) 11 years in a wheelchair. Oh, the memories and obstacles in my memory and still to this date. It isn't always easy!
"On this side of the world, our life expectancy used to be low, barely reaching 60 years," Azari explained. "So most people would pass before they reached an age where disability becomes much more possible. As a result, Malaysian buildings built in the 70s and 80s never really considered universal design. But nowadays, our life expectancy has increased to over 70 years, yet the mindset has not changed. Buildings still follow regulations which were set in the 70s."
"Of course, to change something that is not easy. But many groups are now moving in tandem to create awareness by engaging the politicians, property developers and other invested parties. And I'm merely contributing in academia, creating awareness amongst young architects so they would be ready to tackle universal design issues in the future as well."
#5
Michał Jastrzębski 5 years ago
yeah, WTF is with housing laws that allow <5 stories high buildings to not have elevators? And its not just disabled...anyone that had kids (or more than one toddler at a time, chaos forbid...) will be hard pressed to move the baby carriage up and down, srsly.
#6
Bumblebee 5 years ago
If only every blind / visually impaired person was able to have a guide dog.. but it can be very expensive!! And there is much/strict training required. And then you have those people (haven't seen it yet on the list, maybe it will be further down) who will pet the guide dog and thus distract the dog, while it is working! Even though their harness (I guess in all cases) clearly states: Don't pet me, I am working. Some people just can't resist to pet a working dog. If it happens too often this can get very dangerous!
#7
Michał Jastrzębski 5 years ago
it gets better...my apartment building has an elevator with a nice, lovely buttons panel...that is a touch screen. No physical interface for anyone who has even remotelly bad eyes, because its dim like all f***s. Looks nice, but...just why?
#8
L McN 5 years ago
I was once wheelchair bound, thank god not permanently. This did happen, but not only at bus stops. The advantage for me was after my arm healed (but not before) I was able to spin around and carefully climb or drop curbs on my own. Those who have no use of their arms or use electric wheelchairs cannot do this...
#10
Mrta Brzoza 5 years ago
O don't get that why the door in m American toilets open to the inside and not outside. They always open to the outside in Poland and I never got hit by a toilet door while passing outside. People do not open them with a karate kick. And with the door opening to the outside you have more room inside the toilet.
#13
L McN 5 years ago
I HATED going to places with this problem. You always get the angry look when the receptionist or attendant has to actually stand up and make and effort. Then the help you get is often half-assed, not even meeting the bare minimum. This isn't everywhere or everyone, but it is common enough that I dreaded it.
#17
Michał Jastrzębski 5 years ago
yeeah, fixed furniture. Tell that to shorter than usual people that cant reach the table ;)
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What do you think ?
Vicky Zar 5 years ago
Things like this should be mentioned more often. People who have no special needs and no friends who do need to learn more about the life with disabilities. I do not have special needs and do not know anyone personally with such needs. Therefore I do not know many of the struggles those people face in every day life. I simply do not think about it. Not because I do not care. To be honest, I don't know why. It just does not enter my head. But if there were more articles like this, I think more people would start to think about this, be kinder and hopefully help in what ever way they can (stores might make their counters lower, architects may think more about ramps.... etc pp). Most people cannot emphasize with things they do not know.
Bumblebee 5 years ago (edited)
It is okay that you did not think about this before. I did not think about it either, before I got sick. Now I come across obstacles like this many times when I go outside. But I love your attitude that you will probably think about this more often, thanks to this article. It is a great article which shows people to the struggles/obstacles that disabled people come across often. Hopefully this article will be spread across the internet, to reach a wider public. So that many contractors and architects come across this article and can implement this in whatever they work on. The world needs to get more accessible for all disabilities! I really like this article, since I recognize so many struggles/obstacles. I hope one day the world will be accessible to all people! But that is still a LONG way to go!
Load More Replies...
Max Hallsett 5 years ago
Right! If using a screen reader, you can't read the captions on the pictures! This needs better alt tags or a image description.
Load More Replies...
Melanie Peapell 5 years ago
Panera Bread is terrible with their high counters. I'm not in a wheelchair, just short (5'1") and I have issues reaching my food.
Effseven Six 5 years ago
I grew up in a town where we have a school for the deaf and blind and I totally get this. Our city has been pretty stellar in meeting thier needs but I dont see that often outside of where I'm from. I wish I did.
Hugo Raible 5 years ago
And also, wheelchair accessibility means stroller accessibility. Nice, serving the needs of disabled people and parents with the same means.
Sarah Luna 5 years ago
Thank for the shout out to MS ("yes, it's all in my head"). But I'm also very handicapped thanks to a brain aneurysm. Craving accessibility is my new normal.
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
I live in an old small town in England, and it's only when someone has crutches, or a wheelchair, or a disability scooter, that you realise just how inaccessible it is. but the buildings are all a few hundred years old, when no one even considered disability, steps up to doors everywhere. and things like ramps are not possible, they'd stretch out into the road if they were a reasonable incline.
Parmeisan 5 years ago
Another one is software design. Plan for screen readers. Allow text to be resized. Download "Spectrum" to see how your website looks to the colour blind. (Don't make colour be the ONLY way to see important information). Similar for non-computer visual design - I have a card game I make in my spare time, and put a lot of thought into how to get important information across. And how small can I make this text before some people won't be able to play?
Catt Foy 2 months ago
I think that designers totally neglect the fact that some people with mobility issues are NOT in wheelchairs. So putting the handicapped parking near a ramp, but is still a long walk from the ramp to the building! Painful. Also, all big retail outlets need to provide ride-on shopping carts, and PUT THEM NEAR THE DOOR. One local grocery store (big store!) keeps the ride on carts next to the customer service desk IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORE. Not everyone with mobility issues is in a wheelchair and not everyone in a wheelchair has a motorized chair, another big issue.
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
This is a very good post, there were several that I was not aware of, thanks !!!
Richard Kasey 5 years ago
Chairs with arm rests to assist elderly in sitting down and getting up would be nice.
R.s. Potter 5 years ago
That violates the residential housing code in Canada.
Load More Replies...
Vicky Zar 5 years ago
Things like this should be mentioned more often. People who have no special needs and no friends who do need to learn more about the life with disabilities. I do not have special needs and do not know anyone personally with such needs. Therefore I do not know many of the struggles those people face in every day life. I simply do not think about it. Not because I do not care. To be honest, I don't know why. It just does not enter my head. But if there were more articles like this, I think more people would start to think about this, be kinder and hopefully help in what ever way they can (stores might make their counters lower, architects may think more about ramps.... etc pp). Most people cannot emphasize with things they do not know.
Bumblebee 5 years ago (edited)
It is okay that you did not think about this before. I did not think about it either, before I got sick. Now I come across obstacles like this many times when I go outside. But I love your attitude that you will probably think about this more often, thanks to this article. It is a great article which shows people to the struggles/obstacles that disabled people come across often. Hopefully this article will be spread across the internet, to reach a wider public. So that many contractors and architects come across this article and can implement this in whatever they work on. The world needs to get more accessible for all disabilities! I really like this article, since I recognize so many struggles/obstacles. I hope one day the world will be accessible to all people! But that is still a LONG way to go!
Load More Replies... Max Hallsett 5 years ago
Right! If using a screen reader, you can't read the captions on the pictures! This needs better alt tags or a image description.
Load More Replies... Melanie Peapell 5 years ago
Panera Bread is terrible with their high counters. I'm not in a wheelchair, just short (5'1") and I have issues reaching my food.
Effseven Six 5 years ago
I grew up in a town where we have a school for the deaf and blind and I totally get this. Our city has been pretty stellar in meeting thier needs but I dont see that often outside of where I'm from. I wish I did.
Hugo Raible 5 years ago
And also, wheelchair accessibility means stroller accessibility. Nice, serving the needs of disabled people and parents with the same means.
Sarah Luna 5 years ago
Thank for the shout out to MS ("yes, it's all in my head"). But I'm also very handicapped thanks to a brain aneurysm. Craving accessibility is my new normal.
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
I live in an old small town in England, and it's only when someone has crutches, or a wheelchair, or a disability scooter, that you realise just how inaccessible it is. but the buildings are all a few hundred years old, when no one even considered disability, steps up to doors everywhere. and things like ramps are not possible, they'd stretch out into the road if they were a reasonable incline.
Parmeisan 5 years ago
Another one is software design. Plan for screen readers. Allow text to be resized. Download "Spectrum" to see how your website looks to the colour blind. (Don't make colour be the ONLY way to see important information). Similar for non-computer visual design - I have a card game I make in my spare time, and put a lot of thought into how to get important information across. And how small can I make this text before some people won't be able to play?
Catt Foy 2 months ago
I think that designers totally neglect the fact that some people with mobility issues are NOT in wheelchairs. So putting the handicapped parking near a ramp, but is still a long walk from the ramp to the building! Painful. Also, all big retail outlets need to provide ride-on shopping carts, and PUT THEM NEAR THE DOOR. One local grocery store (big store!) keeps the ride on carts next to the customer service desk IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORE. Not everyone with mobility issues is in a wheelchair and not everyone in a wheelchair has a motorized chair, another big issue.
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
This is a very good post, there were several that I was not aware of, thanks !!!
Richard Kasey 5 years ago
Chairs with arm rests to assist elderly in sitting down and getting up would be nice.
R.s. Potter 5 years ago
That violates the residential housing code in Canada.
Load More Replies... 
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