A Day’s Journey Through Life©

Abstract

Forty-nine million Americans are permanently disabled (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1992), but the scope of the problem is much greater in that anyone who lives long enough will, at some point, experience a disability, for example, a problem with walking, seeing, or hearing. “We are not only different from each other, we are also different individuality from who we were yesterday and who we will be tomorrow” (Mueller, 1993). Increasing numbers of people with disabilities are striving to live independently, but the available information is incomplete as to the characteristics of the micro and macro environment that support successful completion of the activities of daily living (ADLs) in the context of the home setting. To further complicate the problem, there may be a disparity between the typical clinical assessment modalities for performing ADLs and the individual's ability to successfully initiate the same tasks in the home setting. All too often the physical environment inhibits the performance of daily life activities by the person who has a disability. These physical barriers, whether product or architectural, are contrary to the prevailing desire to attain or sustain independence. Lawton and Namehow (1973) point to the negative effects that result from an imbalance between the demands of the environment and the functional capacity of the individual and the designed environment may be the key factor in preventing accidents, withdrawal from activities, and even death (Lawton, 1980).