Case Study
Barrier-free design for a manager

The company produces margarine, edible fats and oils.

The man is paraplegic and dependent on the use of a wheelchair. His reach and mobility are restricted due to his disability. The degree of disability (GdB) is 100.

The man is employed by the company as a product manager.

The product manager is responsible for marketing the products manufactured by the company. He develops marketing strategies, analyzes market research data, prepares forecasts and supports the development of prototypes and product variants.

Almost the entire building is barrier-free for the product manager. He uses an elevator to get to his workplace. To carry out his work, he also has to visit the various departments of the company, e.g. the test kitchen, the sensory department, packaging development and quality control. One of the departments he has to visit is on the top floor of the taller and older building. However, the elevators end one floor before it, so the top floor could only be reached via a staircase. To enable the product manager to reach the department on the top floor, a stair elevator with a wheelchair platform was installed in the stairwell to overcome the one floor.

The barrier-free design was supported by the Integration and Inclusion Office. Advice was provided by the Technical Advisory Service of the Integration and Inclusion Office.