needs assesment

Veronica Acosta

INTRODUCTION

50 million Americans, or 1 in 5 people,

are living with at least one disability,

and most Americans will experience a disability

some time during the course of their lives.

INTRODUCTIONEleanor Peters, a lady with disabilities, has a clear message for the designers of the clinic she visits often:

“Everyone becomes disabled sooner or later. The older they get, the more disabled they’ll become, whether it’s wearing glasses or not hearing well or arthritis or whatever it is. They could fall off the sidewalk and break their hip.

People might as well get on the bandwagon and be on our side, so when they become disabled or they need things to help them out,

those things will be there.”

ABSTRACT

To assess the need forthe Clemson University Freedom by Design

services in the:

Clemson,

Seneca,

and Easley areas.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Work with established agencies and their clientsto help solve the disabled population’s

struggles more efficiently.

OVERVIEWFBD uses the talents of architecture students to redesign and make

changes in the homes of people with disabilities to

reduce their everyday challenges.

To establish a solid foundation the program

needs to have records that state the specific

necessities of the disabled population

in our community.

TARGET AUDIENCE the workers:

ReWiGo, Clemson Community Care,

and the Department of Social Services

and the clients:physically disabled individuals associated with these agencies.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS1. the workers,

2. the clients,

3. the founders,

4. the donors,

5. the student volunteers,

6. and the people related to the clients.

STRATEGY/DATA COLLECTIONQuantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Studying statistical records provided by the

agencies will supply general information that

paints the bigger picture.

Face-to-face interviews will also be

conducted because every case is different; therefore, a face and a story can provide

insight into each number.

OVERALL RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How do these agencies define the target population’s

problems and what are their greatest challenges in serving them?

2. What are the most common and the most urgent needs of

the disabled in these three communities?

COMMUNITY BENEFITSBy reducing the struggles of the disabled population we are aming

to help them be more empowered,

independent, active,

and contributing consumers

and members of the workforce

and their communities.

OVERALL GOALTo gather records that will help prioritize

the needs in the community by advocating

for the disabled individuals who many times don’t have a voice.

It will also help raise awareness and funding towards the

mobility issues that need to be addressed in the community.

Across the United States, there are large numbers of people who are trapped in their own homes. They cannot, with any ease, get into their own showers, ascend steps or reach into a cabinet to get a bowl. There are people who cannot escape their homes in case of emergency. Small changes to their homes can significantly change their lives.

CONCLUSIONThe research project will be conducted February 2011 to April 2011.

Architecture is everywhere and everyone interacts with it.

Through the efforts of Freedom by Design

the next generation of architects

will be trained to design for everyone,

not just the majority.

To treat the disabled population like a priority

and not an afterthought.