Wheelchair‐accessible group homes for people with disabilities: Management methods and architectural planning of group homes for people using wheelchairs

Abstract

Abstract In Japan, it appears that people with physical disabilities occupy group homes for people with disabilities at a lower rate than people with intellectual and other disabilities. Information on the architectural planning of group homes for people with physical disabilities is very scarce. In this study, we focused on wheelchair‐accessible group homes (WAGHs) for people with disabilities by conducting a questionnaire survey and an interview survey. The findings are as follows. (1) Residents in WAGHs are more likely to suffer from more severe disabilities than those in ordinary group homes for people with disabilities. (2) Compared to ordinary group homes for people with disabilities, WAGHs require a larger floor space, especially for the bathrooms and toilets. (3) New buildings are often used for WAGHs; however, acquiring land and buildings for them is a major problem.

Keywords

• classification of degree of disability
• group homes
• nationwide survey
• physical disability
• wheelchair