Quality of Life of the Disabled in Tehran

The quality of life for the disabled is one of the biggest challenges in today's societies. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life, determine the effective criteria, and provide operational solutions to improve the right of people with disabilities in Tehran.

This combined-exploratory research with the qualitative-quantitative method was carried out on disabled people in Tehran from 2021 to 2022. In the qualitative phase, the pathology of improving the right of people with disabilities in the city was investigated using a phenomenological approach through a semi-structured interview. The experts and disabled population were selected by snowball and available sampling, respectively (n=27). The quantitative phase was performed by survey method using a researcher-made questionnaire. Cluster sampling was performed in five areas of Tehran. The number of samples was estimated to be 384 using Cochran's formula. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were confirmed using face validity and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. Data were analyzed using a one-sample t-test by SPSS 20 software.

A total of 335 primary codes and 52 secondary codes were extracted from all interviews. These 52 secondary codes were subjected to 18 sub-themes and finally, five main themes, including improvement of urban spaces for the people with disabilities; participation of the people with disabilities in urban spaces; allocation of the right to people with disabilities; adaptation of public transportation for people with disabilities; and education and information as fulfilling the rights of people with disabilities were extracted.

It is necessary to pay attention to the factors affecting the quality of life of people with disabilities in various socio-cultural, economic, and physical-structural dimensions of Tehran in urban management and design.