Effect of inclusivity of access facility design on space utilisation for persons with disabilities in Makerere University residential halls

Abstract

This paper targets the effects of the inclusive design of access facilities on the space utilisation by persons with disability (PWDs) in Makerere University halls of residence. Specifically, it focuses on physically incapable PWDs with mobility challenges and/or visual impairments, exploring how they manoeuvre through and around the halls. The study will also assess facility performance and evaluate the sufficiency of facility size and manoeuvrability for efficient space utilisation. The paper utilises a descriptive research design with a mixed-method approach, integrated qualitatively and quantitatively. PWD resident students in selected halls were the key units of analysis, and several key informant respondents identified from Makerere University staff were chosen through a mixture of purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data collection was done using questionnaires for the quantitative data and structured interviews for the qualitative data. Two FGDs were held with the PWD respondents, and additional information was provided through observation and photography. Analysis of results was done with the aid of statistical tests and thematic categorisation.

The results of this paper indicate that the influence of the inclusivity of facilities on space utilisation is exhibited through four thematic areas. These include gender-specific challenges, mobility in the accommodation facilities, selective positioning of facilities, ground floor accessibility limits and manoeuvrability in the common areas. The findings, overall, underscore the vital role of inclusively designed university accommodation facilities in enabling PWDs to fully utilise residential spaces, not only at Makerere University but even for other public campuses. While there have been some efforts to incorporate access facilities, the persistent design flaws and maintenance gaps have evidently hindered effective space utilisation and compromised their safety.