Stadium ergonomics for the specially-abled

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Being specially-abled is not a limitation but rather a part of normal human life, which people experience permanently or temporarily for a short period.

These special features present in the person might not be always supportive to make use of the settings in public places and even at residence which is considered at normal dimensions for a larger percentage of the population. One must not be too surprised when we say the architecture plays a major role in this aspect. After all, architecture is also about providing a comfortable design for people to use. Architects have been pitching in strategies to bring in designs for the collective usage of people belonging to different categories.

In this blog, we shall look deeper into the measures taken and design strategies brought into a stadium design permitting comfortable usage for the specially-abled.

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In this era of digitalization, where everything can just be brought to the luxury of a home theatre experience, people still prefer to go for a live match or a live music comfort. The stadium experience and real eyes moments are liberating. Accessibility at a huge space like stadiums are indeed mandatory for the convenient movement and viewing for the specially-abled, but this accessibility in itself is a challenge and the A&D industry has succeeded in bringing out the same.

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The primary goal of an accessible stadium is to provide facilities specifically that all the visitors share the same experience.

Some common and major measures taken while designing to make it accessible are:

- Nonslippery floorings

- Lowered counter sections

- Wheelchair facility

- Wheelchair escort

- Audio Induction Loop

- Assisted listening devices

- Audio beacons at different locations

- Ramps, escalators, and elevators

- Wheelchair seating areas

- Spaces for service animals

- Guide paths

- Signboards with universal pictograms

- Special announcement system

- Accessible restroom

- Assisted parking areas

- Visual alarms

The above said are the most common yet important strategies taken while building a stadium.

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It is hard but essential to make sure that specially-abled people are feeling comfortable and feeling at ease in public spaces like this. To ensure this, it also necessary to make attendants available to them and make things extra smooth on their demand.

"People ignore design that ignores people".

- Frank Chimero

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