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The handicapped child is described, as a child with “the motor, sensory, emotional or intellectual impairment of the handicapped person, which holds him back in competition with advisory children. The physically handicapped child must work within his capabilities both mental and physical, which infers a restricted range of activity when compared with an ordinary child.
There are basic conditions of handicap to be considered. Children may be mentally normal or abnormal, wheel chair bound or ambulant. In turn they may be dependent on or independent of supervision. Each of these conditions produces their own functional requirements in a building complex. In short physically handicapped children are those who on account of physical and mental impairment are handicapped in their use of conventionally designing buildings, because of the lack of suitable facilities. The physical environment is of paramount importance to assist them with their physical disability and to reduce their sense of frustration. The environment should be peaceful, orderly and predictable. Physically handicapped and maladjusted children require the support of an environment where the physical and emotional components are completely integrated and assist in promoting relationships with others. This environment is the physical environment which contributes to the psychological needs and well-being of the children. Their consideration is basically a planning issue, determining the relationships of functional areas for ease of use and satisfying the complex facets of human nature. The emphasis is on the psychological needs, as well as the physical. It is necessary to consider all design aspects from the view point of the wheel chair child who has to proper himself, sometimes unaided through all areas.
The idea is to design a physical space with its elements which serves a purpose for each and every person using it, and at the same time reflects and enhances the most desirable aesthetic experience expressing their purpose.
While designing for the wheel chair bound one has to remember that in a wheel chair a person’s height is decreased by 1/3rd and his width is doubled. His reach is limited by his inability to get his body into close proximity with objects because of the way the wheelchair is constructed. He needs more rooms to carry out normal everyday activities. He cannot climb steps. He can go forward and backward at will, but cannot move abruptly to either side. To travel in a straight line he needs a path 3’wide, and almost 5’ of straight travel before he can negotiate a turn. 27 sq.ft of clear area is needed to permit him to turn about.
Well-designed spaces can keep children safe as well as enhance their organizational and academic skills. Good design can strengthen families by reducing conflict over personal and shared spaces.
The first consideration when designing spaces for children should be safety. Children need safe places to explore and learn. In a young child's room,
Remove or secure furniture that could overturn easily if climbed, pushed or pulled.
Avoid placing furniture near windows to keep children from climbing onto a windowsill or falling out a window.
Make sure window cords have a safety breakaway feature and are tied up and out of children's reach.
Keep electrical cords from lamps and radios out of children's reach. Cover electrical outlets not in use with plastic plugs designed for this purpose.
Avoid furniture with sharp edges. Get down on your hands and knees to see potential safety problems from a child's point of view.
Giving young children a safe space to explore minimizes the number of times you need to redirect their behavior.
With regard to storage, if children are expected to put things away, everything must have a place where it belongs. Labeling those places is often a helpful way for children to remember where things go. If children are too young to read, picture labels work well. Tape a picture of a shirt to the front of the drawer where shirts are kept; put a picture of socks on the front of the sock drawer. Some home improvement stores carry attractive drawer knobs representing different clothing items.
Not everything children do needs to be in their room. Maybe their reading or study area is in the den and their art area at the kitchen table.
A room's design should be able to grow with a child, so go easy on design elements like trains or princesses. Use a removable wallpaper border, picture, bookend or lampshade to express a theme. These items are relatively inexpensive and easily changed when your child outgrows them.
Flexibility will keep the need to redesign to a minimum.
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