Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions
Abstract: Winter is expensive. For countries situated in the northern hemisphere, closer to the north pole, such as Canada, Russia and Scandinavia, winter requires the acquisition of special clothing, car tires, and sports equipment, snow removal or plowing from the streets, and is associated with t...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | Catalan |
Published: |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
2014
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.raco.cat/index.php/JACCES/article/view/315951 |
id |
ftraco:oai:raco.cat:article/315951 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftraco:oai:raco.cat:article/315951 2023-05-15T17:40:01+02:00 Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions Morales, Ernesto Gamache, Stephanie Edwards, Geoffrey 2014 text/html http://www.raco.cat/index.php/JACCES/article/view/315951 cat cat Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya http://www.raco.cat/index.php/JACCES/article/view/315951/406041 Journal of accessibility and design for all; 2014: Vol.: 4 Núm.: 1 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2014 ftraco 2016-12-14T00:21:28Z Abstract: Winter is expensive. For countries situated in the northern hemisphere, closer to the north pole, such as Canada, Russia and Scandinavia, winter requires the acquisition of special clothing, car tires, and sports equipment, snow removal or plowing from the streets, and is associated with the presence of ice patches, along with accidents and illnesses associated with cold weather. Fall-related injuries due to winter conditions have been estimated to cost the Canadian health care system $ 2.8 billion a year. However, the greatest cost snow entails every year is the social isolation of seniors as well as wheelchair and walker users. This results from the lack of accessibility, as it is difficult to circulate on snow-covered streets even for the able-bodied. Social isolation has been associated with other negative consequences such as depression and even suicide. This exploratory pilot study aimed at finding possible and feasible design solutions for improving the accessibility of sidewalks during winter conditions. For this project we used a Co-Design methodology. Stakeholders (City of Quebec representatives, designers, urban planners, occupational therapists, and adults with motor, visual and aural disabilities) were invited to participate in the design process. In order to meet the objectives, two main steps were carried out: 1. Conception of the design solutions (through Co-design sessions in a Focus-group format with seniors, designers and researchers); and 2. Validation of the design solutions (consultation with experts and stakeholders). The results are a wide variety of possible and feasible solutions, including the reorganisation of the snow-removal procedure and the development of heated curb cuts. This project was funded by the City of Quebec in partnership with the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS). Ultimately, the project sought to explore possible solutions to be implemented, if feasible, in the future by the municipal government. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Pole RACO: Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert Canada North Pole |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
RACO: Revistes Catalanes amb Accés Obert |
op_collection_id |
ftraco |
language |
Catalan |
description |
Abstract: Winter is expensive. For countries situated in the northern hemisphere, closer to the north pole, such as Canada, Russia and Scandinavia, winter requires the acquisition of special clothing, car tires, and sports equipment, snow removal or plowing from the streets, and is associated with the presence of ice patches, along with accidents and illnesses associated with cold weather. Fall-related injuries due to winter conditions have been estimated to cost the Canadian health care system $ 2.8 billion a year. However, the greatest cost snow entails every year is the social isolation of seniors as well as wheelchair and walker users. This results from the lack of accessibility, as it is difficult to circulate on snow-covered streets even for the able-bodied. Social isolation has been associated with other negative consequences such as depression and even suicide. This exploratory pilot study aimed at finding possible and feasible design solutions for improving the accessibility of sidewalks during winter conditions. For this project we used a Co-Design methodology. Stakeholders (City of Quebec representatives, designers, urban planners, occupational therapists, and adults with motor, visual and aural disabilities) were invited to participate in the design process. In order to meet the objectives, two main steps were carried out: 1. Conception of the design solutions (through Co-design sessions in a Focus-group format with seniors, designers and researchers); and 2. Validation of the design solutions (consultation with experts and stakeholders). The results are a wide variety of possible and feasible solutions, including the reorganisation of the snow-removal procedure and the development of heated curb cuts. This project was funded by the City of Quebec in partnership with the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS). Ultimately, the project sought to explore possible solutions to be implemented, if feasible, in the future by the municipal government. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Morales, Ernesto Gamache, Stephanie Edwards, Geoffrey |
spellingShingle |
Morales, Ernesto Gamache, Stephanie Edwards, Geoffrey Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
author_facet |
Morales, Ernesto Gamache, Stephanie Edwards, Geoffrey |
author_sort |
Morales, Ernesto |
title |
Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
title_short |
Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
title_full |
Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
title_fullStr |
Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
title_sort |
winter: public enemy #1 for accessibility exploring new solutions |
publisher |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://www.raco.cat/index.php/JACCES/article/view/315951 |
geographic |
Canada North Pole |
geographic_facet |
Canada North Pole |
genre |
North Pole |
genre_facet |
North Pole |
op_source |
Journal of accessibility and design for all; 2014: Vol.: 4 Núm.: 1 |
op_relation |
http://www.raco.cat/index.php/JACCES/article/view/315951/406041 |
_version_ |
1766140780152356864 |