Research initiated by Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumna Naila Hasan during her master’s studies at the University of Oklahoma has continued through faculty collaboration and resulted in a peer-reviewed publication in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal examining the relationships among Universal Design, autonomy and psychological well-being among older adults with mobility disabilities.
Hasan’s master’s thesis, Psychological Well-Being for Elderly Population with Disability: Implications of Universal Design, established a research foundation focused on how the built environment can support the well-being and independence of older adults with disabilities.
The subsequent study, “Universal Design, Autonomy, and Psychological Wellbeing of Older Adults with Mobility Disabilities,” was co-authored by Yeji Yi, Naila Hasan, Suchismita Bhattacharjee and Jinhyo Cho. The publication represents a new collaborative study that builds on the research direction established through Hasan’s thesis while employing a new survey and methodology to further examine how Universal Design features relate to autonomy and psychological well-being.
“This research has strengthened my commitment to evidence-based and inclusive design,” said Hasan. “My goal is to continue exploring how architects and interior designers can create environments that support accessibility, autonomy, dignity, and psychological well-being throughout the aging process.”
Publication:
Yi, Y. J., Hasan, N., Bhattacharjee, S., & Cho, J. (2026). Universal Design, Autonomy, and Psychological Wellbeing of Older Adults With Mobility Disabilities. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 19(3), 169–183. https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261440940
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture professor and Institute for Quality Communities Director Dr. Amber N. Wiley’s book, Model Schools in the Model City: Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation’s Capital, has received two major honors from the Urban History Association.
Research initiated by Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumna Naila Hasan during her master’s studies at the University of Oklahoma has continued through faculty collaboration and resulted in a peer-reviewed publication in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce Esther Thorp, Tyler Boydstun and Chukwuma Nwokoye as the winners of the 2026 Construction Innovation Translation Hub (CIThub) Student Ideas Competition.
