Evaluating Compliance with Universal Design Strategies in Educational Buildings at the College of Basic Education, Kuwait: A Case Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Interior Design Department, College of Basic Education, The Public Authority of Applied Education and Training

2 Public Authority for Applied Education and Training PAAET Basic Education College Department of Interior Design

Abstract

Education is at the crux of Kuwaiti culture and is thus a priority of the government, represented by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry. However, despite this policy, there is a lack of attention to some important elements of universal design, creating an environment of inequity for those with disabilities. This impedes the educational attainment of students with special needs.
This research investigates barriers to achieving universal design compliance of the academic buildings of the College of Basic Education. The goal is to offer insight into improving accessibility for users, regardless of their mobility status. The application of universal design element will be evaluated in the College; we examine both the Administration and Interior Design Department building, in particular the main entrance, the doors of classrooms, hallways, stairs, and restrooms. The framework utilized in this study follows Sholanke et al (Sholanke, A. B.,2020) in their study at Covenant University in Nigeria, on the compliance of accessibility with universal design strategies. A primary method employed in this study was observation, from which the researchers make recommendations for improvements in design. It is suggested that decision-makers in the Ministry of Education, take note of the following detrimental findings: The use of interlocking bricks as materials for the external flooring. automatic doors not utilized consistently, the absence of adequate ramps with heights and flows commensurate with the height of the stairs, the absence of handrails on the side of the ramps, the lack of an easy passageway to enter the bathroom, and

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