No abstract

One of the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs') rights is participation in religious ceremonies, and mosques are where most Muslim religious activities are conducted. The present descriptive qualitative research investigates the accessibility of Persons Who Use Wheelchairs (PHUWs) to The University of Jordan's (UJ) mosque and the attached Islamic cultural center in light of national codes. The study was carried out through observations, photographs, and measurements using the maps and blueprints of the UJ mosque. The study found that the UJ mosque and its attached facilities had some accessible entrances, but many spaces lacked accessibility for PHUWs. For example, some ramps did not comply with standards, and PHUWs couldn't use them independently. In addition, the blueprints had proposed converting an existing WC unit into an accessible one for PHUWs, but this was not achieved. Instead, a new expansion added a fresh barrier to PHUW. The study recommends ensuring accessibility in mosques, monitoring accessible entrances, and raising awareness of PWDs' rights. Adopting some of the other Islamic countries' standards to improve national accessibility codes is also recommended. The study findings can benefit from renovating mosques and Islamic cultural centers in Jordan and other countries.

PurposeThis paper aims to examine accessibility in the built environment and tries to determine the physical and attitudinal barriers affecting Persons with Visual Disabilities' (PWVDs) experience on the University of Jordan (UJ) campus.Design/methodology/approachThis is a descriptive mixed-methods study, based on the following: data collection regarding PWVDs' services at UJ; semi-structured interviews with PWVDs and with some employees at UJ; observations, photographs and direct measurements during campus tours; accompanying one student with poor eyesight when navigating through UJ campus; then, analyzing data in light of the national code's accessibility checklist.FindingsUJ campus suffers from many shortcomings regarding accessibility; these include an insufficient pedestrian environment, limited tactile paths, low illuminance levels in lecture halls and other inadequate services. Besides, there are many infringements on PWVDs' paths, due to either new expansions or unconscious behavior. Moreover, interpersonal barriers prevent PWVDs from using assistive equipment and accommodation. The study concludes that preserving pedestrians' rights, monitoring new expansions, renovating the UJ campus in accordance with national codes and international standards, improving PWVDs services and awareness-raising programs are needed to ensure accessibility for PWVDs.Originality/valueNew legislation has been recently passed regarding accessibility in Jordan, and – on the UJ campus – the first phase of tactile paving has been installed. This paper is believed to be the first of its kind to evaluate PWVDs' services following the new changes. The study's methodology might also be deemed useful to stakeholders when enabling the built environment.

This paper investigates enhancing internal natural illumination levels of existing drawing studios in the Architecture Engineering Department at the University of Jordan for the purposes of securing a better learning environment and lowering energy costs. These studios are artificially lit all daytime despite the existence of large side windows. By using the daylight factor method, the daylight factor was measured inside a selected studio and then via a scale model in the Artificial Sky Lab under clear sky conditions. The scale model enabled us to study several elements or factors affecting daylighting. By using high transmittance glass, changing the windows' wide frames, adding reflective panels facing the studied studio's windows and using bright white paint for the studio's interior walls, the daylight factor increased by 6-13.5% in the studio model. These interventions can be applied on existing and other studios and labs in the University. Moreover, the method used can be replicated to improve daylighting in similar deep-plan rooms due to its easily applicable and simple low-cost tools.