Effectiveness of Self Decision as a Mode of User Participation in Housing Modification for People with Physical Disabilities

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of self-decision as a mode of user participation and satisfaction in public housing modifications in Yola. Data was elicited from buildings in eleven housing Estates which were modified to accommodate people with physical disabilities. Four approaches to Self-Decision - Labour Selection, Site Supervision, Purchasing Materials, and Wages for Labour were identified and analyzed to determine the variables that influenced satisfaction with modification outcomes. A comparison of level of satisfaction among the different approaches to self-decision as a modes of users participation in the buildings alteration revealed highly statistically significant mean differences (p<0.05) between the groups. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) shows that satisfaction is highest with respondents that were involved with site supervision (4.93), Purchasing Materials (4.77), Labour Selection (4.26) and Wages for Labour (4.08) Paired sample t-test indicated that overall satisfaction with the building alteration gave a statistically significant higher mean level (3.96; satisfied) than their mean satisfaction level before the building alteration (2.54; dissatisfied). The study recommends that "Self-decision” should be officially recognized and regulated as an approach where the users are in total control of the home-making, as the ultimate form of user involvement that optimizes user freedom in the making of their house.