• Title/Summary/Keyword: The needs of people with disabilities

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Barrier Free Accessibility to Trains for All

  • Rentzsch, Manfred;Seliger, Denis;Meissner, Thomas;Wessner, Claudia
    • International Journal of Railway
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    • v.1 no.4
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    • pp.143-148
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    • 2008
  • This paper is the output of a collaborative European project concerning the barrier free accessibility for disabled persons to regional and long distance trains in Europe. Disabled people represent around 13% of the population in Europe. This is approximately 63 million people. The range of disabilities includes people with reduced mobility including wheel chair users, viewing and hearing impaired people and other forms of impairment. Improving accessibility aims at contributing to the provision of public transport services to all citizens in an equitable way. The purpose of the project was to analyse and to evaluate the existing solutions at selected European railways for all required modules at the entrance (doors, information and safety solutions), to derive a design concept, to develop a mock-up in meeting the needs of rail travellers with the above mentioned impairments and to test it with user groups. The project also aims at deriving components for the determination of standards. The EUPAX Design Mock-up test was performed to verify the advantages of the layout of the train segment including the different modules such as access area (including the access door, gaps between platform and train as well as boarding aid devices), entrance vestibule, information systems inside and outside the train, emergency facilities, toilet with all conveniences and the additional test arrangements regarding push buttons, steps and emergency equipment. For this purpose a questionnaire was developed for the assessment of the EUPAX segment and the additional test arrangements. With the help of this questionnaire it was possible to execute a quantitative and qualitative evaluation. During three test phases 67 experts and handicapped persons from 6 countries have evaluated the Industrial Design mock-up based on this questionnaire. The test group covered persons from North (Denmark) to the South (Italy) and from the West (Spain) to the Middle of Europe (Germany). This is especially important for the generalization (harmonisation) of the results for all European countries. According to COST 335 the information for people with reduced mobility should be clear, concise, accurate and timely. So that all information can be received from persons, they must be transferred on at least two of the three possible ways (acoustical, visual, tactile), a so called "2-sense-principle". Based on the results ergonomic specifications/ solutions for the ergonomic design of the access area, the acoustic, visual and tactile information and the emergency devices including the emergency communication system were developed, related to the benefiting passenger groups.

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Local Self-organization Ordinance Analysis for the Abolition of Disability Rating System (장애등급제 폐지를 위한 지방자체단체 조례분석 -장애인복지법상 장애등급을 적용하고 있는 조례를 중심으로-)

  • Kim, Kyong-Ran;Yoon, Sun-Yae
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.18 no.8
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    • pp.627-637
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study is to develop a plan to improve the status of local autonomous body ordinances applying disability grades according to welfare law for people with disabilities. The results are that First, 215 of the total municipalities applied the disability grade, and 1,071 cases were applied to the disability welfare law. Among them, 60.04% (643 cases) of the ordinance that can be divided into severe (1-3 grade) and mild (4-6 grade) were found, and 39.96% (428 cases). A new service eligibility standard that reflects factors such as the needs of persons with disabilities, social environment, etc. needs to be developed. Second, since the exemption reduction service accounts for more than 40% of all projects, it is necessary to set the standards considering the other standards within the scope of not decreasing the total service amount when revising the ordinance. Based on these results, We will provide important basic data for establishing new service provision criteria to replace the disability level at the local government level.

A Single Case Study of an Adolescent with a Mild Intellectual Disability in Preparation for Independence after Discharge from a Childcare Institution (아동양육시설 퇴소를 앞둔 경증지적장애 청소년의 자립준비를 위한 단일 사례연구)

  • Yu, Jin-Hee;Kim, Min-Kyeong
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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    • v.11 no.5
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    • pp.229-239
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study was to help young people with mild intellectual disabilities with counseling and self-supporting life experiences. The topic of the counseling contents could be categorized as follows: "institutional life was clumsy and hard, but it was also full of memories," "my adolescent was aching, growing, and lonesome," "an irresistibie being," "independence process is filled with anxiety, excitement." In his process of going independent, the subject showed a strong will for the preparation for independence where he gets through the unfavorable situation surrounding the arduous and lonely independent process. This result proves the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention based on the coping skills that meet the needs of the social situation for the adolescents who are discharged from institutions in their independence preparation and job search.

The Accessibility of Taif University Blackboard for Visually Impaired Students

  • Alnfiai, Mrim;Alhakami, Wajdi
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.21 no.6
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    • pp.258-268
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    • 2021
  • Online learning systems are becoming an effective educational medium for many universities. The accessibility of online learning system in universities means that every student, including the visually impaired, is able use all the site's services. This research focuses on investigating the accessibility of online learning systems for visually impaired users. The paper purpose is to understand the perception of visually impaired undergraduate students towards Blackboard's accessibility and to make recommendations for a new Blackboard design with accessible features that support their needs. Impact of a new Blackboard design with accessible features on visually impaired students, using Taif University students as a case study is evaluated in this paper, as it is similar to most learning systems used by Saudi universities. A study on Taif University's utilization of Blackboard was conducted using mixed method approaches (an automatic tool and a user study). In the first phase, Taif's use of Blackboard was evaluated by the web accessibility tool called AChecker. In the second phase, we conducted a user study to verify previously discovered accessibility challenges to fully assess them according to the accessibility and usability guidelines. In this study, the accessibility of Taif University's Blackboard was evaluated by thirteen visually impaired undergraduate students. The results of the study show that Blackboard has accessibility issues, which are confusing navigation, incompatibility with assistive technologies, untitled pages or parts, unclear identification for visual elements, and inaccessible PDF files. This paper also introduces a set of recommendations that aim to improve the accessibility of Blackboard and other educational websites developed for this population. It also highlights the serious need for universities to enhance web accessibility for online learning systems for students with disabilities.

A Study on the Collection Strategies of Library Materials for the National Library for the Disabled (국립장애인도서관 장애인자료 수집전략 연구)

  • Sin-Young Kim;Ok nam Park
    • Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.123-150
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    • 2023
  • The National Library for the Disabled was upgraded to a primary affiliated organization of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 4, 2020, in accordance with Article 24 (1) of the Library Act (Law No. 16685). The National Library for the Disabled is currently preparing to build an independent library building. Now that the National Library for the Disabled has secured its independent legal status, it must become a specialized national library by comprehensively collecting not only alternative materials for the disabled, but also domestic and foreign materials useful to researchers related to the disabled. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to conduct basic research for comprehensive and strategic collection of library materials for people with disabilities, which is an essential part of the statutory work of the National Library for the Disabled. To this end, the concept and category of library materials for the disabled that are expected to be useful for satisfying the intellectual needs of the disabled and for education and research related to the disabled were established targeting knowledge information resources produced and distributed domestically and internationally. Next, based on the current collection development policy of the National Library for the Disabled, an implementation strategy and mid to long term roadmap for comprehensively collecting library materials were presented.

A Study on the Hangul Input Methodology for Eye-gaze Interface (시선 입력 장치에 의한 한글 입력 시스템 설계에 관한 연구)

  • Seo Han-Sok;Kim Chee-Yong
    • Journal of Digital Contents Society
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.239-244
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    • 2004
  • New developments in IT already impact wide segments of a young and mobile population. It is evident that applications of information technology can be of equal benefit to the aged and the disabled. `Eye-Gaze'(EGI) technology was designed for people with paralysis in the upper body. There is a compeling need for a dedicated Korean Language interface for this system. The purpose of this study is to research 'Barrier Free' software using a control group of the mobility impaired to assess the Eye-Gaze Interface in the context of more conventional input methods. TheEGI of this study uses Quick Glance System of Eye Tech Digital Systems. The study will be evaluated on criteria based upon the needs of those with specific disabilities and mobility problems associated with aging. We also intend to explore applications of the Eye-Gaze Interface for English and Japanese devises, based upon our study using the Hangul phonology.

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A Study on Small-scale Multi-functional Welfare Facilities for Elderly, Japan - Focusing on the Takurosyo Renovated Existing Houses- (일본의 소규모 다기능 노인복지시설에 관한 연구 - 기존 주택을 재활용한 택로소를 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Seung-Eun;Kim, Sung-Ryong;Lee, Eul-Gyu
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.95-102
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    • 2013
  • Recently (2010), South Korea's aging rate is 11%. and expected to be 32.3% in 2040, and Japan's aging rate in 2010 is 23%, and in 2040 is expected to be 34.5%. As aging progresses, it is increasing with the elderly person with dementia. However, elderly welfare facilities are insufficient. To take care stability of elderly people with mental and physical disabilities, we need to prepare a lot of welfare facilities for the elderly. Whenever physical conditions and service needs change of the disability elderly, Elderly are forced to move to the other facility. They move from familiar places, beloved local base to unfamiliar places. They are under a lot of stress in order to adapt to new environment. This research is to check out the possibility of the systems and the effectiveness of various services and the flexibility of management in Japan. Takurosyo is responsible for a variety function of elderly medical welfare facilities. Within a short time, our country, has entered into a super-aged society, elderly health and welfare facilities are needed. However, because it requires enormous financial, it is difficult to build a new building in reality, However, if remodeling existing buildings, We can build many low-cost small-scale multi-functional welfare facilities such as the takurosyo. Such that facility would be available to us.

The effect of policy on Korean personal assistance service for persons with disabilities of labor market participation (장애인활동지원서비스제도의 노동시장 참여에 대한 정책효과)

  • Kim, Song Sook;Kim, Yoo-Min;Na, Ga-Yeon;Baek, Seung-Hee;Lee, Kun-Chul
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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    • v.12 no.4
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    • pp.267-274
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    • 2021
  • This study used data from the 6rd and 12th year of the Korean Welfare Panel to evaluate the effects of the Personal Assistance Service(PAS) system on the labor market of PAS users' participation. For the purpose of this study, 64 program groups using the Korean PAS and 344 control groups not using the Korean PAS were selected using Caliper matching among the propensity score matching. A chi-square test was used for the difference in characteristics between groups, and a simple difference-in-differences (DID) model and a double-difference multiple regression analysis of DID were performed to estimate the effect of thepolicy before and after the Korean PAS. As a result of the study, it was found that statistically, PAS had no significant effect on the labor market. This is due to the low number of system users, resulting in low post-hoc power, incomplete matching and limited availability of PAS Assistants for Disabled People. Therefore, In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Personal Assistance Service(PAS) system, specialized services and systems that meet the needs of the disabled and household members should be implemented.

Accessibility and Improvements for Flash E-learning Contents (플래시 이러닝 콘텐츠의 접근성 문제점 및 개선방안)

  • Hwang, Yun-Ja;Ahn, Mi-Lee
    • The KIPS Transactions:PartA
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    • v.18A no.4
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    • pp.129-134
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    • 2011
  • E-learning in Korea supports different educational needs of diverse learners. E-learning became one of the major source of educational services for schools, higher education, lifelong learning, and for special education. Many e-learning contents offered by cyber universities use HTML, CSS, and Flash, and these are known to have limitations on accessibilities. People with disabilities or aged have problems accessing such contents. The purpose of this study is to evaluate accessibility of Flash e-learning contents offered by 9 cyber universities. AccChecker is used to assess accessibility of the contents. The result shows many errors and warning with Text Equivalents, Keyboard Navigation, Properties, Depth of Tree, and Structures that restrict access. In order to improve the quality and expansion of quality e-learning contents, we need aggressive measures to obtain accessibility of contents, and these should be designed at the planning phase rather than adjusted during the development stage. Furthermore, it is vital to train instructional designers, developers and the CEOs to realize the importance of accessibility and learn appropriate skills to increase accessibilities of e-learning contents.

A Study on the Revitalization of Disaster Vulnerable Population's Social Activity in the Safety Fields (안전약자의 재난안전분야 자원봉사활동 참여활성화 방안 연구)

  • Yoo, Byungtae;Kim, Hyunjung;Kim, Sangyong;Oh, Keumho
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.135-140
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    • 2015
  • Individuals who are vulnerable during disaster - including elderly, people with disabilities, children, pregnant women and etc - have a strong desire to protect themselves when disaster strikes since they are less capable to deal with the impact of disaster. Their experience and effort to keep them safe can be used as a resource to reduce the impacts of disaster not only for them but also for the community as a whole. Therefore, voluntary disaster management program will contribute to our society as a tool to respond effectively to disaster not only to meet the vulnerable's special needs but also to enhance community safety and public interest. This paper suggests a model that able "disaster vulnerable population" to take a leadership role in identifying risk and vulnerability factors, recommending disaster management strategy, and through that, contributing to enhance society's disaster plan. Therefore, this study aimed to surveyed individuals including "disaster vulnerable population" in order to assess the vulnerable's participation in disaster related volunteer work and surveyed associated institutions(volunteer centers, community centers) in order to research currently existing relevant programmes and the participation of "disaster vulnerable population" in such programmes. Also conducted focus group interview to explore voluntary program which will possibly integrate "disaster vulnerable population" into disaster management activities. As a result, three types of voluntary disaster management programs - education, public-relations, and activity - were suggested.