PROJECT FOCUS
accessibility
research + case studies
design drawings
building codes
accessibility
research + case studies
design drawings
building codes
RENDER: Ground Floor Showroom
PROPEL - meaning:
“To drive, or cause to move, forward or onward”
“To impel or urge onward”
“To drive, or cause to move, forward or onward”
“To impel or urge onward”
PROPEL aims to revitalize the mobility-aid industry through providing a safe, dignifying, and independent space. Accommodating to the clients’ needs, PROPEL provides customizable services in respects to mobility-aid users.
PROPEL is a service-based retail storefront for mobility-aid clients, offering (but not limited to) walkers, canes, wheelchairs, crutches, and scooters. Services also include: customization of mobility-aid, financial plans, service and maintenance of mobility aid. custom-designed mobility-aid devices are personalized to suit clients’ styles and aesthetics through various materials and colours.
PROPEL does not offer services to: guide dogs, personal support workers (PSW), in-home nurses, and residence modifications (ex. walk-in bath/showers, lift/elevators, ramp/ground-level access, etc.)
PROPEL does not offer services to: guide dogs, personal support workers (PSW), in-home nurses, and residence modifications (ex. walk-in bath/showers, lift/elevators, ramp/ground-level access, etc.)
RENDER: Ground Floor Showroom
TARGET MARKET
PROPEL's target market are mobility-aid users of all ages; the client base focuses on those with mobility disability, and agility disability. The population of those within this client base are more often seniors, and women, as women experience these disabilities more often than men (Salah, Chung, 2014, pg. 7).
In respect to mobility-aid users, the term “Disabilities[,] is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.” (World Health Organization, n.d.)
In respect to mobility-aid users, the term “Disabilities[,] is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations.” (World Health Organization, n.d.)
PROBLEM SPACE
Unfortunately, the healthcare industry is currently too sterile, outdated, dull, monotonous, and to some extent disorderly. Mobility-aid devices are banal, grey, and also lack a sense of personality, as some users may identify with their mobility aids.
Access to mobility stores are often far, and 6% of users/non-users who are in need of a mobility-aid device do not know where or how to obtain one (Giesbrecht, Smith, Mortenson, et al., 2017, pg. 11). Larger, specialized mobility-aid stores in Ontario are further located from the GTA, and in contrast, more accessible stores are usually under larger home healthcare retailers, such as Shoppers Drug Mart. Such stores often lack in options and flexibility for the client.
The stigma surrounding mobility-aid users may dissuade one who needs a mobility-aid device from getting the help they need. More importantly, there is also a lack of accessibility and environmental assistance in many retail and healthcare stores. For those who have access to a device, many environments prove that accessibility does not always equal to accommodation. For example, the lack of adult changing tables in accessible washrooms carry heavy health consequences for caregivers and are uncomfortable and unsanitary for those severely disabled as they need to be changed on the floor (Christensen, 2016).
Access to mobility stores are often far, and 6% of users/non-users who are in need of a mobility-aid device do not know where or how to obtain one (Giesbrecht, Smith, Mortenson, et al., 2017, pg. 11). Larger, specialized mobility-aid stores in Ontario are further located from the GTA, and in contrast, more accessible stores are usually under larger home healthcare retailers, such as Shoppers Drug Mart. Such stores often lack in options and flexibility for the client.
The stigma surrounding mobility-aid users may dissuade one who needs a mobility-aid device from getting the help they need. More importantly, there is also a lack of accessibility and environmental assistance in many retail and healthcare stores. For those who have access to a device, many environments prove that accessibility does not always equal to accommodation. For example, the lack of adult changing tables in accessible washrooms carry heavy health consequences for caregivers and are uncomfortable and unsanitary for those severely disabled as they need to be changed on the floor (Christensen, 2016).
SOLUTIONS
To fight stigma and help those who lack general information, “Greater physician involvement, positive peer models and affordable, safe, visually appealing devices would promote greater acceptance of mobility aids” (Resnik, Allen, Isenstadt, et al., 2009, pg. 1). Following guidelines provided by the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), business owners and designers should also consider location of retail stores and any environmental assistance or accommodation that may be needed. It is important for both healthcare providers and retailers to educate the client about mobility-aid devices rather than just prescribing or suggesting the device.
For more affordable mobility-aids devices, 3D printed devices would allow for more flexibility, customization, and specifications and aesthetics to be incorporated to be fit for client. wait times would also be cut down, and the product would be more cost-effective, easy to maintain, and produce.
For more affordable mobility-aids devices, 3D printed devices would allow for more flexibility, customization, and specifications and aesthetics to be incorporated to be fit for client. wait times would also be cut down, and the product would be more cost-effective, easy to maintain, and produce.
RENDER: Second Floor Showroom
REFERENCES
Archdaily. (2014, November 5). Obumex Outside / Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects In Archdaily. Retrieved January 28, 2018, from https://www.archdaily.com/563463/obumex-outside-govaert-and-vanhoutte-architects
Archdaily. (2015a, January 11). Patisserie À La Folie / Atelier Moderno + Anne Sophie Goneau. In Archdaily. Retrieved January 28, 2018, from https://www.archdaily.com/585663/patisserie-a-la-folie-atelier-moderno-anne-sophie-goneau
Archdaily. (2015b, January 26). SK Yee Healthy Life Centre / Ronald Lu & Partners. In Archdaily. Retrieved January 28, 2018, from https://www.archdaily.com/590542/sk-yee-healthy-life-centre-ronald-lu-and-partners
Christensen, C. (2016, December 2). A mom of a kid with a disability explains a restroom problem you’ve maybe never heard of. In Upworthy. Retrieved January 27, 2018, from http://www.upworthy.com/a-mom-of-a-kid-with-a-disability-explains-a-restroom-problem-youve-maybe-never-heard-of?c=ufb5
Giesbrecht, E. M., Smith, E. M., Mortenson, W. B., & Miller, W. C. (2017). Needs for mobility devices, home modifications and personal assistance among Canadians with disabilities. In Statistics Canada: Health Reports (8th ed., Vol. 28, pp. 9-15). N.p.: Minister of Industry. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2017008/article/54852-eng.pdf
O’Connor, Z. (2011). Colour Psychology and Colour Therapy: Caveat Emptor. In COLOR FORUM (3rd ed., Vol. 36, pp. 229-234). Retrieved from https://journals-scholarsportal-info.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/pdf/03612317/v36i0003/229_cpactce.xml
Propel. (n.d.) Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved January 29, 2018 from Dictionary.com website http://www.dictionary.com/browse/propel
Resnik, L., Allen, S., Isenstadt, D., Wasserman, M., & Iezzoni, L. (2009, April 1). Perspectives on Use of Mobility Aids in a Diverse Population of Seniors: Implications for Intervention. National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed Central, 2(2), 1-13. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2008.12.002
Salah, H., & Chung, H. D. (2014). Towards an Accessible Future: Ontario Innovators in Accessibility and Universal Design. In MaRS Market Insights (pp. 1-37). N.p.: MaRS Discovery District. Retrieved from https://www.marsdd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Towards-an-Accessible-Future-Ontario-Innovators-in-Accessibility-and-Universal-Design1.pdf
World Health Organization. (2018, January). Disability and Health Fact Sheet. In World Health Organization. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs352/en/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Health Topics: Disabilities. In World Health Organization. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.who.int/topics/disabilities/en/