(DIS)ABLED MOBILITY: AN ADAPTIVE EDUCATION AND LEARNING HUB

Abstract

Architecture that prompts mobility causing the impact of disability to disappear from conscious attention is the key aim of the project. This approach binds together two concepts: mobilizing through accessibility and adaptive functionality, into a single solution "architecture of ability". The prime focus here is man and his abilities. The spatial typology and user exist in a symbiotic relationship, where the spaces are dictated by the user while the user in turn is empowered through the spaces that facilitate mobility in him. Our built environment has been shaped in a way that it facilitates a bled people and does not cater to the needs of the disabled. It hinders the movement of these individuals, rendering the built spaces predominantly inaccessible to anyone who does not have complete motor functionality. Accessibility should be considered as a fundamental tool for shaping environments not just in "designing for disabled" but also because it has the power to enhance bodily experience and provide comfort for everyone. Disabled users are perseveringly left out or are considered as an afterthought in design rather than being incorporated in the architectural solutions from the very beginning. It is rather onerous to situate oneself in the shoes of a disabled and comprehend the "invisible problems" they frequently go through. Therefore, disabled people are the critical users of the built fabric. The target group here are the mobility impaired students who have extenuated motor skills (important in cognitive development and muscular movement). Adaptive physical education is a specialized form of education particularly addressed for differently abled individuals. It facilitates their independent functioning, enhancing motor skills and enabling them to develop their abilities through various sports activities. Through adaptive physical education and vocational training, differently abled individuals can be effectively integrated back into the society that has alienated them. It introduces a set of skills that individuals can benefit from, elevating their abilities through diverse forms of creative activities.