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Understanding the neighbourhood attributes which best support independent living opportunities for adults with intellectual disability
Dissertation   Open access

Understanding the neighbourhood attributes which best support independent living opportunities for adults with intellectual disability

Catherine MacMillan
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast
2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00519
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Abstract

neighbourhood attributes intellectual disability independent living just neighbourhoods place and space knowledge and power new urbanism human factors and sociotechnical systems urban planning urban design
This research examined the neighbourhood as a system for identifying and understanding the attributes that would support independent living opportunities for adults with an intellectual disability. Neighbourhood attributes such as roads, seats, parks and facilities influence how people live in an urban designed space. The research developed an understanding of how the neighbourhood attributes may or may not support these adults, who can and want to live away from the family home, in a regular house in a regular street. While choosing where to live is an important decision for anybody, the decision is more complex for adults with intellectual disability. As the longevity of adults with intellectual disability increases many of these adults will continue to outlive their parents and carers. This research, after identifying a gap in current urban planning research, investigated how various combinations of neighbourhood attributes provided opportunities for independently living for adults with intellectual disability. This research examined how attributes, if included or omitted from a neighbourhood might impact on independent living opportunities for the target group. This research excluded other factors such as levels of support and funding which also impact on independent living opportunities.

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