Z E M C H 2 0 1 2 I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e
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Figure 1: Time and conceptual evolution of the normative governing the architectural and sensorial
barriers overcoming in the last 40 years, in the Italian context (above the time line) and in the
European context (below the time line). They are highlighted the two international meetings of the
World Health Organization WHO (1980 and 2001), whose classification models (respectively the
ICIDH model and the ICF model) are the key steps of the disability concept evolution.
The ICIDH model (that stands for “International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities
and Handicaps”) developed in the year 1980, represents a classification of disability and
handicap arising from the disease and the physical impairments in a causal linear way,
while the ICF model (that means “International Classification of Functioning, Disability
and Health”) advanced in the year 2001, proposes a classification that no longer focuses
on disability as a result of a linear evolution from the disease, but stresses the concept of
activity. More exactly, it is no longer the impairment to shape people life, but the
activities that people can do and this is underlined by the cyclic relationship with
environmental and territorial factors where the person lives (Fig.2).
Therefore, it represents a positive approach that emphasizes the fundamental role of the
environment in relation to the problems due to disabilities.
It can be assumed that
disability
becomes
handicap
when it is perceived by the person
as a difficulty, as "an obstacle to the assumption of a normal role in relation to the
environment, the age, the gender and the social and cultural expectations" (D'Amato
2000).
In the light of these considerations, it results fundamental the figure of the designer as
the subject who studies and understands the environment according to the human needs
and therefore able to intervene on it in order to ensure accessibility.
In this view, the architectural design studies the disability problem in an absolute way to
find technical, cultural and social solutions, that allow to break down its general sense
into relative elements and therefore more easily applicable to different contexts.
Providing an independent and safety use of a specific environment (either external or
internal) to extended users, including not only people with disabilities but also the elderly,
the children and people with more difficulties in general (not as a marginalized category
