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Challenges, Considerations and Engineering
for Disability in the Built Environment
On Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Glenn Hedman presented Sidewalks to Skyscrapers: Challenges for Engineering
and Disability in the Built Environment. Hedman works in the Department of Disability and Human Development
at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a Rehabilitation Engineer with 24 years of experience in
delivering Assistive Technology services to children and adults with disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan
area. He leads the UIC Assistive Technology Unit, which delivers services to over 400 individuals with
disabilities annually. The focus of the lecture was to point out the challenges of the built environment
for people with disabilities and to discuss current engineering innovation in this area.
Hedman referenced the HAAT Model
as an effective approach for how to improve the mobility of individuals with disability. He
focused on three specific topics related to the
built environment to which this model could be
applied: home modifications, pathways and
high-rise evacuations.
Current engineering innovation for home modification includes mechanical door openers
and sun-censoring blinds to weight sensing floors and beds. There is also the improvement
of ramp installations and mechanical lifts that allow more freedom of movement. These
innovations assist in allowing individuals with disabilities to get out into the community
more and participate in activities.
Hedman is also involved in research regarding vibration reduction for pathways and sidewalks.
Through a GCI Seed Fund Award, he has been able to begin research on fractals in cement
sidewalks. This research aims to help understand how to reduce friction in sidewalks, which
can cause extended harm and fatigue to individuals in wheelchairs.
The third topic of discussion addressed issues and concerns regarding high-rise evacuations
for people with disabilities. Hedman discussed the challenges for people with disabilities
in this situation including respiratory issues and poor stairway designs and standards. As
high-rises continue to be built higher and higher with more people, manual evacuation becomes
less viable. Hedman mentioned a few considerations for improving the ability of disabled
people to evacuate, such as changing the ADA code to increase the width of stairs, disallowing
crossover lobbies within buildings, and utilizing elevators before they become unsafe.
This lecture was part of the GCI Seminar Series, which invites experts, practitioners, and
academics to speak on current issues and innovative research.
A video of this lecture will be available on the CAN TV
website: http://www.cantv.org/
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