Green spaces to meet disabled people’s needs: an empirical survey on the Isle of Mainau in Southern Germany

Seeland, K. & S. Nicolè, 2004, Green spaces to meet disabled people’s needs: an empirical survey on the Isle of Mainau in Southern Germany, in: OPENspace, ‘Open space, people space’, OPENspace, Edinburgh

  • Author : Seeland, K. & S. Nicolè
  • Year : 2004
  • Published in Book : Open space, people space
  • Abstract in English : In post-industrial societies public urban green spaces serve social purposes. Social inclusion of disabled people and users with special needs has become an important objective as their number is constantly increasing throughout Europe. Officially recognized disabled and moderately disabled people make up two distinct groups of people that demand particular attention. An empirical survey on the Isle of Mainau in Southern Germany, comprising 142 persons, out of which 29 per cent hold an officially recognized status of being disabled and 18.3 per cent are ‘weak users’, ie they are not officially recognized as disabled, but have difficulties with everyday activities, shows that their needs and interest for assistance in the public are different. Public acceptance is conceded within certain limits by the non-disabled, predominantly defined by economic and educational status.
  • Comments/Notes : KEYWORDS: disabled people, parks, public green space, accessibility of open space, social inclusiveness. [paper 5 p.]