scholarly journals Accessibility and Conservation in Contemporary Cities: A(n) (Im)possible Coupling

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Albertina Pretto

Cities are built by and for able-bodied people and are often composed of a range of elements that make them partially (or not) accessible to disabled people. Architectural barriers within and around buildings can limit disabled people’s access to structures and services, precluding their full participation in a social life. It is not possible to talk about making further social progress until disabled people are no longer victims of marginalisation caused by our urban architecture. In order to identify some specific problems and possible solutions, a qualitative research study was carried out in a city in northern Italy, involving people with sensory and physical impairments. Findings indicate that cities in general, and the oldest ones in particular, can present an important problem: some historic centres and buildings are not (or cannot be) restored to become more accessible. This lack of accessibility will increase the exclusion of disabled people by imposing limitations and restrictions, from mobilising around urban centres, to use of pavements, entry into shops or workplaces, through to accessing treatment and health services. Moreover, this research demonstrates that, in many cases, relatively inexpensive and simple measures and arrangements might be enough to help tackle and solve many of these problems. This paper argues that a first, fundamental step in looking to improve access should be to involve disabled people in participatory planning. These users will be the best experts of their own needs and some of the best informed about the attributes and particularities of any alterations or adaptations needed to help them negotiate, manage and plan the areas in which they live.

Author(s):  
Lukas Pavelek

The paper presents several outcomes from a qualitative research study on the topic of senior volunteering. The author presents selected findings and conclusions from qualitative data, which was collected from coordinators working with volunteers in various non-profit organizations across Slovak republic and from senior volunteers themselves. Grounded theory according to Strauss and Corbin was the main research design. Semi-standardized interviews were realized and complemented with various other textual data sources. The findings support the thesis that volunteering in a higher age can significantly improve the individual life of seniors, although many barriers and obstacles were identified too. The paper focuses on effects of senior volunteering, motivation, barriers and other interesting facts. 


2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Pearson ◽  
Maureen Rigney ◽  
Anitra Engebretson ◽  
Johanna Villarroel ◽  
Jenette Spezeski ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Alexander P. Parobek ◽  
Patrick M. Chaffin ◽  
Marcy H. Towns

Reaction coordinate diagrams (RCDs) are chemical representations widely employed to visualize the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters associated with reactions. Previous research has demonstrated a host of misconceptions students adopt when interpreting the perceived information encoded in RCDs. This qualitative research study explores how general chemistry students interpret points and trends on a RCD and how these interpretations impact their inferences regarding the rate of a chemical reaction. Sixteen students participated in semi-structured interviews in which participants were asked to interpret the points and trends along provided RCDs and to compare relative reaction rates between RCDs. Findings derived from this study demonstrate the diversity of graphical reasoning adopted by students, the impact of students’ interpretations of the x-axis of a RCD on the graphical reasoning employed, and the influence of these ideas on inferences made about reaction rate. Informed by analytical frameworks grounded in the resources framework and the actor-oriented model of transfer, implications for instruction are provided with suggestions for how RCDs may be presented to assist students in recognizing the critical information encoded in these diagrams.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 320
Author(s):  
Darío Español-Solana ◽  
Jesús Gerardo Franco-Calvo

Historical reenactment is becoming a top-tier teaching tool in the countries of Southern Europe. In Spain specifically, this discipline is experiencing a boom as a heritage education method, particularly in informal settings. This article is the outcome of a qualitative research study of the results obtained from one hundred and fifteen educators from historical reenactment groups. The study analyses the methods used by the exponents of this discipline to teach war in the Middle Ages, specifically in three Spanish castles dating from the 11th to the 12th centuries. It has made it possible to analyse how the educational discourses are organised in relation to Medieval war within military spaces from this period, and how historical reenactment is a coadjutant in the construction of teaching/learning spaces from a heritage education perspective.


Author(s):  
Jennifer Mankoff ◽  
Jacob O. Wobbrock

In an era of rapidly evolving technology and increasing interconnection, full participation in society depends on the successful use of technology. Thus, to ensure equity and participation for people with disabilities, technology must be accessible - we must create and adapt interactive systems to improve access to technology and to the world at large. The University of Washington Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) is dedicated to propelling accessible technology research and education from incremental improvements to paradigm-shifting breakthroughs that enable greater inclusion and participation for people of all abilities.


2009 ◽  
Vol 149A (11) ◽  
pp. 2378-2386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary M. Jenkins ◽  
Erika Reed-Gross ◽  
Sonja A. Rasmussen ◽  
Wanda D. Barfield ◽  
Christine E. Prue ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 560-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesam Darawsheh

Background The value of qualitative research is increasingly acknowledged in health studies, as well as the demand for employing rigorous strategies. Although the literature recognises that reflexivity is a valuable and rigorous strategy, few studies unravel the practical employment of reflexivity as a strategy for ensuring rigour and quality in qualitative research. Aim To present a practical example of how reflexivity can be employed as a strategy for ensuring rigour by reviewing 13 narratives from the author's reflexive diary on qualitative research. Methods Content analysis and narrative analysis were used to approach and analyse data. Findings Analysis of the posited qualitative research study found five main outcomes of the influence of reflexivity as a strategy to establish criteria of rigour. Conclusions Further research is needed to show how reflexivity can be employed as a strategy in qualitative research to: i) establish criteria of rigour; ii) monitor the researcher's subjectivity in generating credible findings.


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