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General: the main considerations in designing housing for the visually impaired are how to provide maximum livability and safety for persons with impairments that vary is nature and degree, as people having little or no vision, who may or may not use a guide dog,
Walks: i.e. predetermined prepared surface placed on existing ground level and not deviating from the level of the exiting ground immediately adjacent.
Walks should be at least 120 cm wide with a gradient of less than 5% with a non-slippery surface.
Entrances should be indicated with visual signs.
Doors & door ways: should have a clear opening of not less than 80 cms when open and should be operable by a single effort (double doors are not advisable) doors should have kick plates to with stand the abuse they might receive from canes etc. Sharp edges & abrupt change in level should be avoided at door sills as much as possible. Thresholds should be flushed with the floor.
Stairs: steps should not have abrupt or square nosing. Handrails should be 80 cm high from the riser. Dual handrails may also be provided. Hand rail should extend at least one step beyond the top & bottom steps and they should be rounded off to minimize hazards due to sharp projecting corners.
Those using wheel chair or crutches and those who physical condition requires the conservation of energy though they use no orthopedic devices. The housing should have sufficient space to assure suitable living and also permit placement of furniture and essential equipment for circulation by everyone.
Living room: in general house entrance should be by way of the living room. A living cum dining is preferable to a kitchen cum dining. A wheel chair requires at least 2 ½ ft seating space at the dining table food service from the kitchen to the living / dining area should be direct without timing corners
Floor should be non-slippery and there should not be a difference between level of the floor of the corridor & rooms unless proper ramps are provided
Toilets should be 90 cm wide and at least 140-150 cm deep. The door should swing out side. A hand grab bar should be located 80 cm high on both sides parallel to the floor. Water closet seat should b 50 cm high from the floor
Movement in space All projectors in the circulation space are a danger and must be removed. Hooks for clothes etc., should be refitted out with the line of travel if space is limited above head height. The greatest hazard to free movement is partially open door. Closed doors present little difficulty, but doors left apart is a real danger. All cupboards should be repeated with rising butt hinges and the head & foot trimmed to ensure that the door always returns to fill the opening.
Lighting the occupant should be able to locate and operate lighting switches himself. Power outlets should be relocated at door handle height wherever possible to minimize stooping. Side hung doors to both low and high level cupboards should be removed/ avoided. The kitchen for the visually impaired requires more consideration and attention than any other room. It may require more room than for a kitchen for the non-impaired.
The counter tops should not be higher than 2’10” above the floor. Base cabinets should have or recessed toe spaces 6” deep and 8½” high to allow the wheel chair person to get close to the counter and to permit maneuverability. Under the counter storage should always be pull out type or drawer type. The kitchen sink should be 4” deep and the drain should be at the rare end of the sink to provide maximum clearance for knees and wheel chair arms. The under side of the sink should be insulated.
The work counters should have knee space underneath with adjustable shelves. Adequate storage at reachable heights should be provided. A lapboard / pullout board is also useful for the mixing and cutting operations. There should be adjustable at every 2” height. Wall storage cabinets when mounted 12” above the counter provide the maximum convenient storage, accessible from a sitting position. Cabinets should never be installed above counter top stoves as such a placement creates fire hazards. Storage cabinets resting our floor are also advantageous.
Stove controls should be mounted at the front only, easy to read large control dials with safety catches to prevent accidental turning on or off should be provided. To assist them sound alarm and a telephone for emergency use are essential.
Lifts Back-lighted buttons with raised figures should be used to assist those with poor vision and the blind. A sounding device indicating floors is also needed. Since stairways are of no use to some, consideration should be given to emergency power to operate at least one elevator.
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