Tiiu Poldma

Rehabilitation in the real-life environment of a shopping mall

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how shopping malls could be used during rehabilitation and to identify the facilitators and barriers to their use. Method: Two focus groups, conducted with 15 rehabilitation professionals from various disciplines and working with people with disabilities of all ages were structured around two topics: (i) The usage of malls for rehabilitation and (ii) Factors that facilitate or limit rehabilitation professionals’ use of the mall as an environment for clinical assessment and/or intervention. Results: The thematic analysis revealed that shopping malls were used to achieve several rehabilitation goals targeting physical and cognitive skills, psychological health and socialization. This real-life environment is motivating and helps foster independence and normalization. Factors affecting mall use during rehabilitation included personal factors (e.g. clients’ personality and level of readiness) and environmental factors (e.g. clinical context, accessibility of the mall and social attitudes of store owners). Conclusion: Shopping malls may be a relevant rehabilitation assessment and treatment environment that could contribute to optimizing community integration of people with disabilities. Implications for rehabilitation To ensure successful community reintegration, clients could be trained at some point during their rehabilitation, to perform activities in real-life settings, such as a shopping mall. Shopping malls appear to enable the attainment of rehabilitation goals targeting a variety of skills. This real-life environment appears to be motivating and helps foster independence and normalization. Factors felt to affect mall use during rehabilitation include personal factors (e.g. clients’ personality and level of readiness) and environmental factors (e.g. clinical context, accessibility of the mall and social attitudes of store owners). The shopping mall may be an untapped resource as it appears to be a relevant rehabilitation assessment and treatment environment that could contribute to optimizing community integration of people with disabilities.

Lived Experiences and Technology in the Design of Urban Nature Parks for Accessibility.

This exploratory research project explores the mobility challenges of outdoor navigation and way-finding, through the lens of the person with a disability. Obstacles in social participation and human interaction with technology within the urban environment are salient issues driving this research study about mobility and accessibility when navigating urban parks. People with disabilities, specifically those with mobility limitations, such as people in motorized wheelchairs, have particular needs that must be addressed to maximize social participation within in the urban environment and involvement in leisure activities. This study examines the physical environment and social activities that occur in a typical leisure filled day at the park, what obstacles hamper navigation, and what issues emerge from the perspective of the person with the disability. The study data collection proceeds from a constructivist perspective using a participatory approach (Living Lab), wherein researchers and participants collaborated together to create the activity and also to assess its success post activity. Data collection tools included walkabouts, recording conversation in real time, and discussions both before and after the research activity. The study is presented with examples, and the emergent issues help reveal opportunities for potential ways to both respond to mobility challenges and integrate way-finding, as a means for future development of mobility and navigational tools for better accessibility and enjoyment of social activities within the urban park environment.

Creating an inclusive mall environment with the PRECEDE-PROCEED model: a living lab case study

Abstract Purpose: Although public environments provide opportunities for participation and social inclusion, they are not always inclusive spaces and may not accommodate the wide diversity of people. The Rehabilitation Living Lab in the Mall is a unique, interdisciplinary, and multi-sectoral research project with an aim to transform a shopping complex in Montreal, Canada, into an inclusive environment optimizing the participation and social inclusion of all people. Methods: The PRECEDE-PROCEDE Model (PPM), a community-oriented and participatory planning model, was applied as a framework. The PPM is comprised of nine steps divided between planning, implementation, and evaluation. Results: The PPM is well suited as a framework for the development of an inclusive mall. Its ecological approach considers the environment, as well as the social and individual factors relating to mall users’ needs and expectations. Transforming a mall to be more inclusive is a complex process involving many stakeholders. The PPM allows the synthesis of several sources of information, as well as the identification and prioritization of key issues to address. The PPM also helps to frame and drive the implementation and evaluate the components of the project. Conclusion: This knowledge can help others interested in using the PPM to create similar enabling and inclusive environments world-wide. Implication for rehabilitation While public environments provide opportunities for participation and social inclusion, they are not always inclusive spaces and may not accommodate the wide diversity of people. The PRECEDE PROCEDE Model (PPM) is well suited as a framework for the development, implementation, and evaluation of an inclusive mall. Environmental barriers can negatively impact the rehabilitation process by impeding the restoration and augmentation of function. Removing barriers to social participation and independent living by improving inclusivity in the mall and other environments positively impacts the lives of people with disabilities

Exploring peoples’ needs in a psychiatric ward: social community, design and the interior environment in a healthcare setting

This article examines ways to improve the functioning of an in-patient psychiatric ward. Included in the study is a review of psychology and design, an overview of the physical setting and existing services on the ward, as well as feedback from patients and staff regarding potential solutions on how to redesign the interior spaces so as to promote staff-patient community practices and to adhere to their needs. The findings suggest that the interior environments in psychiatric wards affect the functioning and well-being of those who reside or work in the setting and that input from patients and staff can add valuable information on how the spaces might be reconfigured.

The interior spatial environment: dynamic 0g environments and human places

In outer space, human experiences interject with technology in ways not experienced on Earth. We will examine the human aspects of living both on Earth and in the interior 0g environment, how technology interacts with astronauts, and how the design of the interior environments in outer space considers the interaction of technology and humanity from an astronaut’s perspective. These issues are explored with Marc Garneau, the first Canadian astronaut in outer space, and Travis Baldwin, 0g environment designer, who has worked with astronauts in the USA. Both discuss the complexity of living in space and how the ways that we live on Earth in terms of interior spatial environment characteristics might be interesting to consider. Within interior environments on Earth, function is always affected and mediated by social and dynamic human relationships and people’s experience and perceptions. When these experiences are transferred into the 0g environment, small, confined, and highly technological environments augment and intensify human relations. And yet these are rarely considered in the quest for secure, functional environments in space transport or on stations. These issues are discussed from both theoretical and practical perspectives in conversation with Garneau and Baldwin. In the interview with Marc Garneau, the author validates certain theoretical assumptions about the complex and dynamic interactions that occur in space, understanding the ways that astronauts cope in space and become creative in figuring out how to “mold” the environment to become their own, and what design factors are important to consider. Finally, examples of potential design ideas for integrating and humanizing the interior 0g space environment are explored and ideas about how to integrate human social elements are proposed.