Dissolving barriers for differently abled in the field of sports : Sports complex for paralympics

Abstract

This dissertation is an attempt to study the physical activities of the handicapped with respect to sports. It further extends to understand the concept of barrier free campus, which will provide accessibility to the stakeholders. The study intends to analyse certain types of sports in Paralympics and certain specific disabilities allowed to participate in Paralympics, which are- impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference and visual impairment. The result of this study will give opportunities to promote Paralympics in India and will provide a sustainable and barrier free design solution which will unite sports and disability together on the same platform. Studying targeted sports in Paralympics, and aiming to achieve a universally accessible facility, the research divulges into various strategies that aid in accessible design for differently abled. The disabilities, broadly classified into physical and visual impairment, directs the research towards designing for the people belonging to both categories specifically. This is achieved by studying the sports, the disabilities, existing users, design strategies for the specially abled and the different strategies of making Paralympics as approachable and as comfortable as it demands. The project will help individuals with their personal development, which, in return will help them to compete at different levels and to live a healthy life with an active involvement in sports.