The ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)--a Swiss army knife? Accessibility and disability in a Scandinavian disability magazine (SDM)--a quantitative content analysis.

BACKGROUND: The study describes the extent to which the concept of accessibility and accessibility issues has been reported in a national Scandinavian disability magazine. In this study particular attention is paid to how the compatibility between the various domains of the international classification - International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) - has been covered in the magazine over a decade. Furthermore, other types of descriptions that the magazine has made of accessibility for people with physical disabilities are considered. METHODS: The study is based on a quantitative content analysis of a total of 326 articles from the Swedish disability magazine (SDM); 450 text pages published during the years 2000-2009. The magazine's coverage has been comprehensive. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the studied texts were news items about various accessibility issues. Every third article can be characterised as a news article or feature article. The most frequently reported of the ICF domains consist of two perspectives: environmental accessibility and civil rights. Public opinion articles in the form of letters to editors and editorials focused on accessibility have a low frequency. Likewise, research reports are few. The study has included a review of illustrations and photographs. The illustrations are generally of high quality, reinforcing the disability message of the article.

How does the edge height of curb ramps obstruct bicycles?

The aim of this study is to recommend revisions, based on empirical data, to the current curb ramp standards for keeping bicyclists safe. Four types of curb ramps were tested: (1) concrete with a 50 mm edge height, (2) concrete reinforced by a metal plate with a 50 mm edge height, (3) plastic with a 20 mm edge height, and (4) recycled rubber with a 10 mm edge height. Twenty subjects aged 20-60 years ascended the curbs on a bicycle under various conditions. The angles of approach were 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees and 90 degrees. Experiments were executed under both wet and dry conditions. We found that when approaching from an angle of 45 degrees or more, all subjects could ascend all ramps under both conditions. From a 15 degrees approach under wet conditions, no subjects ascended the concrete ramps. Some could not ascend at a 15 degrees approach on the concrete ramps in dry conditions, and some could not ascend from a 30 degrees approach on the reinforced concrete ramp in wet conditions. Bicyclists riding on roadways cannot easily ascend a curb ramp with a 50 mm edge, even in dry conditions. We thus recommend that curb ramp edge heights be lower than 50 mm. Keywords: friction coefficient; approach angle

Disability part 1: the disability discrimination act (1995)--implications for dentists.

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) (DDA) aims to end the discrimination which many disabled people face in their day-to-day lives. (1) But how many dentists are aware of their responsibilities under this Act? Dentists are already bound by Parts I and II of the DDA, but Part III, which is due to come into effect in 2004, and which is concerned with physical alterations to premises, has potentially profound implications for many in dental practice. Health Authorities in Merseyside, in the North West of England have been exploring ways in which access to dental care for disabled people can be improved. In this paper, the first of a series of three, we outline the DDA and how it affects dentists in general practice.

Estudio de las Barreras Arquitectónicas para las Personas con discapacidad dentro del Centro Histórico Cultural de la ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Sierra / Study of the Architectural barriers to the people with Disability within the Historical Center Cultural of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Contenido: 3. Marco Teorico, 3. 1 Definición, 3. 2 Situación actual, 3. 3 un asunto de inclusión, 3. 4 Mas alla de la media, 3. 5 Ampliación del ámbito, 3. 6Integración Natural de las necesidades, 3. 7 Diseño universsal, 3. 8 Cualquier persona, 3. 9 Independencia, 3. 10Normalidad, 3. 11 Vistabilidad y adaptabilidad, 3. 12 Requisitos en el entorno construido, 3. 13 Salud y Seguridad, , 3. 14 Qué representan los criterios, 3. 15 Accesibilidad, 3. 16 Obstáculo en nuestro entorno diario, 3. 17 Marco institucional. 4. Hipotesis. 5 Diseño metodologico. 6 Resultados. 7 Conclusiones