Tenant Experience
As part of this project, we met with people living in a range of housing types and design categories of Specialist Disability Accommodation. We talked to them about their individual experiences of housing, their support needs, and participation in home and community life. We completed a published measure of support needs(i). We talked to them about their experience of setting up the house, and the activities they undertook in and around the home. We asked people to explain and demonstrate the features they found useful, and those identified as barriers, in their experiences of the home. With the permission of participants, we also spoke to family and support staff. Key things to consider as a result of our findings are listed below.
i. Tate, R. (2004). Assessing support needs for people with traumatic brain injury: The Care and Needs Scale (CANS). Brain Injury, 18(5), 445–460.
1 | Resident may choose to use ensuite or main bathroom when both are accessible. |
2 | Consider need for human support vs external cognitive aides to assist independence with dressing. |
3 | Accessible home environment offers the capactiy to develop skills + build independence. |
4 | Larger dwellings offer option to set up work space for tenants or support staff. |
5 | Consider location of tap for reach by tenant + support staff. |
6 | Installation of additional handrails can be more flexible with plywood lining behind wall finishes. |
7 | Items that are used often should be placed within easy reach. |
8 | Negotiated access to key work spaces will be required as informal + paid support workers use space. |
9 | Joinery may need to be customized for individual’s reach + access. |
10 | Site + glazing orientation can offer low-cost clothes drying options. |
11 | Consider use of natural light to manage thermal + visual comfort + utility costs. |
12 | There are potential conflicts between expectations of ‘homelike furnishing’ versus functional use for resident. |
13 | Connection of interior and exterior spaces can support a range of uses. |
