The Role of Architectural Design in Supporting the Requirements of Users With Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Architecture is mainly concerned with establishing an appropriate environment that enables individuals to live in comfortable environment that guarantees his dignity. The problem of people with intellectual disability is in movement from one place to another and lack of training and skills with the surrounding environment as he depends in most cases on individuals or assistive devices, and to be able to deal in a more flexible way in public and private spaces like government buildings, markets, recreational and service buildings, and other buildings that may be frequented by, it is required to achieve a architectural technical standards related to services located in those places in terms of their positions, dimensions and required spaces. Design considerations are divided into physical problems (mentalbehavioral-mobility-hearing-visual), and psychological needs (intimate atmospherecontainment-privacy-simplicity and clarity-ease of movement-colors). Egypt sought through years of time to provide support and requirements that work on the care and rehabilitation of the disabled and allocated so many agencies and institutions that serve those requirements such as youth and the labor force and the Ministry of Education, health and housing. A study was conducted on the current situation of a building that deals directly with individuals with intellectual disability (Suez Canal Authority capacity center) and evaluated that data and knowing the strengths and weaknesses points based on what has been extracted from standard design considerations. These considerations could be taken into account as guidelines for the decision makers through setting and enforcing the legislation.