Disablist living

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Authors
Irving, Kristian
Advisor
Elser, Adriana
Issue Date
2024-05
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B. Arch.)
Department
College of Architecture and Planning
Other Identifiers
CardCat URL
Abstract

In the United States, one in four individuals are diagnosed with a disability. However, it is guaranteed that in a person's lifetime they will develop some form of a disability either due to aging, genetics, or an unforeseen accident. Despite this, our nation lacks adequate housing, subjecting the millions of individuals with disabilities to a plethora of physical, emotional, and social barriers that negatively impact their quality of life. Disablist Living seeks to focus on this inequity and investigate the relationship between disability, form, and experience through a series of three individual homes; each focused on a specific type of disability: mobility, hearing, and visual impairments. By dismantling barriers that have encroached on those with impairments, individuals without an impairment may feel uncomfortable within the homes; allowing them to better understand their peer’s experience of having to navigate an environment not designed for them. By studying the typical single-family home and methods of design that aid in overcoming imposing barriers, each house has its own identity that enables occupants with a disability to have an independent and comfortable home environment through design methods that align with their specific needs.