Abstract:

The paper aims to characterize the environmental factors that are perceived by the target group of people with disabilities as problematic, to describe the attitudes, fears that arise in connection with unsatisfactory conditions in the environment. It is proven that a suitable arrangement of the environment can eliminate some symptoms of disease or disability, so the partial goal of the research is to create own design of environmental modifications by respondents with disabilities because if the final design of the solved environment is to meet all, or at least the basic criteria for the present and the near future, it must arise in the form of so-called inclusive design, where the future user becomes one of the co-authors of the project and the final design is a product of communication of all involved. The results should be reflected in the planning of further research activities, practical activities in the field, and also in the training of future special educators.

A quantitative approach is used for the implementation of research. For the quantitative part, a questionnaire is used, modified for the specific requirements of the bearers of individual types of disabilities. The research sample consists of parents of children with disabilities aged 0–14 years and persons with disabilities aged 15+.

The research intention is to find and define all the factors that can be described as determining the success or failure of the adaptation of the environment for people with disabilities. In this context, key questions are also identified: Is it possible to define the factors determining the success or failure of the adaptation of the environment for people with disabilities? Which environmental factors act as supportive and which as limiting? Are there areas in which it is possible to focus on special pedagogical intervention? How is an individual's personality characteristics reflected in attitudes, concerns, and needs concerning landscaping?

Data collection lasts until the end of August 2020. As of 15 July 2020, we obtained data from 155 parents of children with disabilities aged 0–14 and 191 questionnaires from people with disabilities 15+. The questionnaire consists of several parts. The first part contains questions of the demographic type, in the second part, the respondents express the degree of disagreement/agreement with the statements (opinion on aids, architectural barriers, means of transport, availability of cultural activities, assistance, adjustment of clothes and shoes, the regime at school or work, communication, etc. .). In the last part, respondents should express on the Likert scale the degree of agreement/disagreement with statements, such as “In the environment in which I live, I feel safe. I orient myself well in the environment in which I live. I feel free in the environment in which I live. By properly arranging the environment, you can alleviate the symptoms of my problems. My satisfaction in life determines the relationship of others to me. I'm worried about entering an environment I don't know what it looks like. I get used to the change of environment very quickly. I am independent and I manage the demands of everyday life. I like communication via social networks the most. I feel isolated. I'm self-sufficient. I'm addicted to my surroundings. The presence of another person (assistant, guide, and interpreter) is important in my life."

In the article we will present the final data.

Keywords:

Adaptation, disabilities, specific needs, environment, modification.