The Relationship Between the Design of the Built Environment and the Ability to Egress of Individuals with Disabilities
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Keywords
emergency, built environment, egress
Abstract
Recent catastrophic events have brought into focus the importance of planning for the evacuation needs of all persons, regardless of their diverse physical and mental abilities. While these efforts are primarily concerned with the activities before and after a crisis, there is also a renewed interest in evaluating how effectively the built environment accommodates the needs of all individuals during a crisis. This discussion focuses on the current body of knowledge concerning the relationship between the design of the built environment, the collective egress behavior of complex decentralized groups of individuals, and the ability of individuals with disabilities to effectively egress from the built environment during emergency events.
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Keith M. Christensen, Landscape Architect, Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University
Keith M. Christensen, MLA, is a Landscape Architect with the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. Christensen’s research emphasizes the planning and design of socially inclusive environments, including current research activities focused on the built environment and the egress behaviors of individuals with disabilities.
Shawnee D. Collins, Department of Special Education, Utah State University
Shawnee D. Collins, is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Special Education at Utah State University.
Judith M. Holt, Director, Interdisciplinary Training Division, Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University
Judith M. Holt, Ph.D., is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Training Division of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. Dr. Holt’s research and exemplary service emphasizes the social system issues of disability, and includes numerous multi-site interdisciplinary research, education, and technical assistance programs.
Curtis N. Phillips, Department of Special Education, Utah State University
Curtis N. Phillips is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Special Education at Utah State University.