Examining the impact of spatial accessibility to rehabilitation facilities on the degree of disability: A heterogeneity perspective.

The positive effect of healthcare facilities on residents' health has been extensively studied. However, few studies have focused on the role of rehabilitation services as unique healthcare services for persons with disabilities. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the spatial accessibility of rehabilitation facilities and the degree of disability. To this end, an approach of measuring the spatial accessibility of rehabilitation facilities to persons with disabilities was proposed. This approach integrates multiple key elements including the characteristics of facilities (i.e., the capacity, frequency of use and service radius), characteristics of the mobility of persons with disabilities (i.e., the mode of travel, escort support, transportation fee and barrier-free environment requirements) and travel time obtained from a routing application programme interface. The accessibility of rehabilitation facilities was calculated at the neighbourhood level within the Central Urban Area of Tianjin Municipality. The ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that higher accessibility to rehabilitation facilities generally corresponded to lower severity of disability. However, the impact varied depending on the type of disability. Increased accessibility was associated with greater severity of intellectual disability, whereas it was linked to reduced severity of visual, hearing, limb, mental and speech disabilities. It is suggested to incorporate disability diversity and the accessibility of rehabilitation facilities into spatial planning and governance.

Survey and analysis of the application situation of urban barrier-free facilities (Tactile ground surface indicator) / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Urban barrier-free facilities are imperfect in China, but visually impaired people need barrier-free facilities urgently. OBJECTIVE: To understand the public’s cognition and problems about urban barrier-free facilities, and put forward improvement suggestions by researching the application status of barrier-free facilities in Shijiazhuang (taking tactile ground surface indicator as an example). METHODS: One hundred and eighteen citizens and 51 ordinary sanitation workers at Shijiazhuang were randomly selected, and underwent cognitive survey by questionnaire. Meanwhile, 60 visually impaired persons were tactile ground surface indicator using survey by questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Most citizens, sanitation workers and visually impaired person have a certain understanding of tactile ground surface indicator, but the awareness rate is still low. Totally 7% citizens and 18% sanitation workers did not know the tactile ground surface indicator, and the travel rate of visually impaired people was extremely low, only 38% visually impaired person were able to travel frequently. More than 50% people thought that the tactile ground surface indicator had not actually effect. Only 19% citizens were more satisfied with the supervision, maintenance and maintenance of the tactile ground surface indicator. 56% visually impaired people believed that it had no practical effect, and 42% visually impaired people said that their travel range was less than 1 km. It means that the public cognition rate and the tactile ground surface indicator utilization rate are low. We also put forward improvement suggestions from three aspects: Strengthening publicity education and training, rehabilitation training for the visually impaired persons, strengthen construction and maintenance, so as to protect the rights and interests for disabled people, promote them return to society and improve their quality of life.

Analysis on Current Situation of Urban Barrier-free Facilities and Suggestions for Improvement:Taking Tactile Ground Surface Indicator in Shijiazhuang as An Example / 中国康复理论与实践

In this paper, taking Shijiazhuang city, Hebei province as an example, a random sampling of 30 streets in three districts were investigated the use of tactile ground surface indicator. The survey showed that 69% of the existing tactile ground surface indicator were used normally, while 8%were laid unreasonable, 11%were occupied and 12%were damaged. Suggestions were set from three aspects:sci-entific and reasonable laying, strengthening supervision and maintenance, and strengthening publicity and education, so as to improve the current situation of tactile ground surface indicator, improve the utilization rate, promote the participation of visually impaired persons in so-cial life and improve their quality of life.