Evaluation of shopping centers with regard to accessibility standards for the handicapped

This thesis focuses on `The limitations of the handicapped people, to access the services provided by public areas and buildings because of the obstacles of the built environment? as a problem and aims to establish an idea, via observations, if `ADA Accessibility Standards? were applied at the existing condition of two shopping centers, where social life takes place, constructed in different terms in Ankara. As a result an investigation method was created to determine The General Accessibility Value (G.Er.D.) of those buildings. During this research following methods were applied. (i). Preparing the investigation forms which question the availability of the `ADA Standards? at the existing condition (ii). Describing the functions provided in the buildings and separating and renaming the activity areas. (iii). Evaluation of each activity area by observations through investigation forms. (iv). Comparing the accessibility values of each activity area with related other areas, through investigation forms. (v).Displaying the data that provide feedback to the user about the problems and deficiencies, using tables and photographs (vi). Comparing the percentages of the accessibility values (Er.D.) gathered from both buildings, on the basis of each investigation form and each activity area. As a result the (G.Er.D.) determined by this study of recently constructed building (2002) shows a %40 improvement in value when compared to an early term (1989) building. This result is a very positive vii improvement, but there is still an important amount of deficiency that contribute to the (G.Er.D.) of the late term (2002) constructed building.