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Corie Allen

Environmental Analysis: DBS Dorm Room (Apartment)

Routes:o During mobility lessons, I would not give specific routes within the

dorm room areas because students typically do not use their canes within their living environments. Upon first entering the dorm room, however, I would do room familiarization techniques with the student so that he/she could get an idea of the layout. I would have the student trail the walls starting from the left of the entrance door from the hallway and working their way back to the same door. This pattern would take them along the counter of the kitchen, past the dining table, through the living room, into the bedroom and then into the bathroom.

**Pictures of various rooms are attached below.

Illumination:o Overhead fluorescent lighting is provided throughout the majority of

the dorm rooms. Two large (4 foot) lights are situated within the living room/dining area, one on the East wall and one on the West. Another larger fluorescent light illuminates the kitchen area from the ceiling. Within the bathroom, there is a fluorescent light above the sink and countertop. There is also a small, circular fluorescent light situated within the shower. Within the bedroom, there are the same two large (4 foot) lights situated on the East and West walls for illumination.

o There is a lamp on the side table within the living room to be used for additional lighting. This lamp is portable and lightweight, so that it can be carried to various locations within the dorm room.

o Natural lighting shines through the window in the living room as well as the one in the bedroom. These windows are located along the North side of the dormitory, limiting the amount of natural sunlight that will enter the windows due to the positioning of the sun.

Color/Contrast:o Bedroom- The walls are pale beige with brown tile flooring, allowing

for some contrast, although it could be darker. The same tiles used on the flooring are also used as a baseboard throughout the entire apartment area, allowing for more contrast. Furniture within the bedroom is a dark brown, contrasting between that of the walls and floor. Furniture includes the desk, bookshelf, closet wardrobe, bed frame, and night stand. The desk chair matches that of the color of the walls within the bedroom, but is significantly lighter than that of the actual desk itself. The bedding is a dark green which stands out from the rest of the bland colors within the room.

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o Kitchen- The walls and tile match that of the bedroom. Cabinets are dark brown with white appliances (oven, stove, refrigerator, dish washer) with the exception of the silver microwave and sink. The countertops are pale beige and allow for little contrast between that and the appliances.

o Living Room- The walls and tile match that of the bedroom. Tables, dining chairs, and closet doors are dark brown, allowing for high contrast. The 2 couches within the living room are dark green which stands out from the rest of the bland colors within the room.

o Bathroom- The walls show very high contrast as the top half is painted a medium blue shade and the bottom half is covered with white tiles. The tiles on the floor are a dark brown, with the same color tiles used as the baseboards. The cabinets are an even darker brown, but show little contrast with that of the tile floor. However, the countertop of the cabinets is beige in color. The sink, as well as the toilet and shower curtain, are all white in color.

Landmarks:o Various pieces of furniture strategically placed throughout the

apartment can be used for landmarks. For instance, if the student encounters the couch, he/she will know that she is in the living room.

Texture/Terrain:o Tile used throughout the dorm apartment during travel. The tiles

located within the bathroom are smaller in area than that of the rest of the apartment and can be determined using the width of the grout.

o Braille labels and tactual stickers are provided on the microwave, dish washer, and oven/stove.

Open Areas:o The main open area within the apartment style dorm rooms is the

area between the kitchen and the living room. Furniture is placed up against the far walls to allow for an open space within the living room. This open space coincides with that of the kitchen, as the cabinets and appliances are along the walls of the kitchen, facing that of the living room.

o Within the bedroom, there is an open area to each side of the bed, as well as in between the foot end of the bed and the desk and chair.

o The bathroom is set up nicely that there is an open area big enough entering and exiting the shower without making contact with any other appliances and/or objects.

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Obstacles/Hazards: o Within the bedroom, the bed is situated within the middle of the

room, leaving minimal space for students to travel between the foot end of the bed and the desk and desk chair. Students may also frequently bump into the bed while traveling within the small open areas within the bedroom.

o Because the desk chair is on a wheels, students may bump into the chair and send it rolling away, or may have a difficult time finding the chair if it is moved from its original location. The seating cushion also rotates 360 degrees. This could potentially cause a problem if the student is not cautious about checking to see which direction the chair is facing before taking a seat.

o The laundry bins that are provided for students are not suitable to carry while using the mobility cane. Laundry bins are below waist height, plastic, and do not have wheels or a handle. Students are taught to carry the bins on their hips (like a baby) or drag it behind them while using the mobility cane. However, both techniques are not satisfactory when there are large loads of laundry or if the student has physical impairments (back, hip problems, etc).

Volume/Type of Pedestrian Traffic:o During class hours (8:00-4:00) on weekdays, the students aren’t

typically in their dorm rooms. Before and after classes and on the weekends, students usually retreat to their rooms or hang out in the recreational area on the first floor of the dorm. Most students do not hang out in each other’s rooms; they typically like to socialize in the recreational area. Therefore, I can imagine that the volume and type of pedestrian traffic will be just that of the student who lives in each particular room.

Social Aspects:o Typically, students are alone within their dorm rooms as they do

most of the socialization within the recreational area on the first floor of the dorm. However, there is a living room area situated with a love seat couch, a single cushioned chair, and a table with two chairs. This allows for socialization with others if they chose to hang out in each other’s dorm rooms.

o The bathroom and bedroom have doors that can be closed to make for a more sociable environment. This also benefits the student resident for privacy reasons.

o While within their dorm rooms, students are familiar with their environment and tend not to carry their canes with them everywhere they go. However, they do live on their own, which encourages independent travel.

Photos: Attached below

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Recommendations:o It is recommended that students receive room familiarization

techniques upon arrival at the rehabilitation center. o It is recommended that students receive proper training and

instruction in using kitchen appliances before being granted permission to use them.

o It is recommended that the blinds be opened when available and the students are in their rooms to provide optimal natural lighting.

o It is recommended that the furniture within the bedroom be rearranged to allow for more open area for traveling. Putting the bed up against a wall will allow for optimal space.

o It is recommended that braille labels are provided for cabinets within the kitchen so students can locate utensils, dishes, etc. more easily.

o It is recommended that dormitory staff look into purchasing laundry bins that provide wheels and/or a handle for student use.

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#1. Left: Bedroom standing from door entrance (showing bed, wardrobe closet, and nightstand).

#2. Below: Bedroom standing from closet area (showing bed, bookshelf, desk, chair, and window).

#3. Left: Bathroom standing from door entrance (showing shower with curtain, toilet, and sink with countertop and cabinets).

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#4. Top Left: Living room standing from kitchen (showing closet, table, 2 chairs, side table, window, and 2 couches).

#5. Bottom Left: Kitchen standing from living room (showing refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, microwave, sink, and countertops.

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