A Study on Evaluation of Residential Environments and Residential Alterations for Physically Disabled Women

여성지체장애인 가정의 주택 개조 실태 및 거주자의 물리적 주거환경 평가에 관한 연구

In order to develop a manual of residential alterations for the physically disabled, this case study was accomplished to analyze and evaluate residential environments and residential alterations for physically disabled women. Twenty-nine physically disabled women in Seoul and Kyunggi areas were the subjects of this study. With the evaluation checklist on physical environments of their housing, data on general characteristics of wall, floor, and all features and equipments and spaces of bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living mom, entrance and balcony were gathered. Also, data on residential alterations were gathered through personal interviews. The data were collected from July 18th to July 25th in 2000. Frequency, percentage, and mean were used to analyze the data. In kitchen, small space, hee space under the sink and heights of the lower cabinets were not properly provided. In bathroom, door width, direction of opening door, adjustable height of shower, level difference, clear space for wheelchair user, and storage place were not appropriate to the disabled. Kitchen and bathroom showed high frequencies of alteration. But most of the subjects were not satisfied with the alterations of their housing. They also wanted to alter these two spaces in the future. In order to after their housing effectively appropriate information of the residential alterations was needed. If a guide or manual book for residential alterations was provided, the physically disabled people will more easily after their housing for safe and independent life.