INCLUSIVENESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION DORMITORIES

Abstract

The university provides educational services to applicants for higher education with special needs on an equal basis with other applicants for higher education, without discrimination. For this purpose, conditions are created for the accessibility of educational buildings and dormitories for people with special needs, as well as the territory of the educational institution. In existing buildings, an individual approach is required to ensure inclusivity, taking into account the existing space-planning and structural solutions and the purpose of the premises.The purpose of the study is to investigate ways to implement practical measures to increase inclusiveness using the example of an existing university dormitory building.Main research results. As part of the project to overhaul the building of Dormitory No. 4 of the National University "Yuri  Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic", a number of design and planning solutions were developed to increase the accessibility of people with special needs.The project envisages the installation of a ramp at the main entrance and an internal ramp in the hall on the first floor. On theground floor, there is a room that has been converted into two toilets (one for women and one for men) and a shower room. Each room has a space for maneuvering a wheelchair. The sanitary facilities are equipped with special devices. The shower cabin is equipped with special appliances, a mixer tap, and shelves of standardized sizes.Doorways are designed to be wider. The door opening to the outside has a horizontal handrail.The project included a kitchen remodel in which unnecessary partitions were removed and the existing doorway was widened. Two living rooms for people with disabilities were arranged next to the kitchen and the sanitary facilities. For this purpose, partitions were dismantled in two residential blocks with four living rooms and bathrooms, which made it possible to create two separate rooms. The rooms are sized to be easily accessible to people in wheelchairs.The dormitory has a basement that can be used as a simple shelter. The entrance to the basement from the street is equippedwith a ramp. The basement floor will be equipped with sanitary facilities for general use.The space is designed according to the principles of universal design. There are tactile elements.The dormitory can be turned into a space for studying and living for students with special needs.