Universal design

is an example of universal design, making the curb accessible to those with and without wheelchairs. Universal design is the design of buildings, products, or environments to make them accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors. It emerged as a rights-based, anti-discrimination measure, which seeks to create design for all abilities. It addresses common barriers to participation by creating things that can be used by the maximum number of people possible. "When disabling mechanisms are to be replaced with mechanisms for inclusion, different kinds of knowledge are relevant for different purposes. As a practical strategy for inclusion, Universal Design involves dilemmas and often difficult priorities." Curb cuts or sidewalk ramps, which are essential for people in wheelchairs but also used by all, are a common example of universal design.

is an example of universal design, making the curb accessible to those with and without wheelchairs.]] Universal design is the design of buildings, products, or environments to make them accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors. It emerged as a rights-based, anti-discrimination measure, which seeks to create design for all abilities. It addresses common barriers to participation by creating things that can be used by the maximum number of people possible. "When disabling mechanisms are to be replaced with mechanisms for inclusion, different kinds of knowledge are relevant for different purposes. As a practical strategy for inclusion, Universal Design involves dilemmas and often difficult priorities." Curb cuts or sidewalk ramps, which are essential for people in wheelchairs but also used by all, are a common example of universal design.

Barrier-free design

In 1960, specifications for barrier-free designs were published as a compendium of over 11 years of disability ergonomic research. In 1961, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) A1171.1 specifications were published as the first Barrier Free Design standard. It presented criteria for designing facilities and programs for use by individuals with disabilities. The research started in 1949 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and continues to this day. The principal investigator, Dr. Timothy Nugent, who is credited in the 1961, 1971, and 1980 standards, also started the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. The ANSI A117.1 standard was adopted by the US federal government's General Services Administration under the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards in 1984, then in 1990 for Americans with Disabilities Act. The archived research documents are at the International Code Council - ANSI A117.1 division. Dr. Nugent made presentations around the globe in the late 1950s and 1960s, presenting the concept of independent functional participation for individuals with disabilities through program options and architectural design. Another comprehensive publication by the Royal Institute of British Architects published three editions (1963¹, 1967, 1976 and 1997) of Designing for the Disabled by Selwyn Goldsmith (UK). These publications contain valuable empirical data and studies of individuals with disabilities. Both standards are excellent resources for the designer and builder. Disability ergonomics should be taught to designers, engineers, and nonprofit executives to further the understanding of what makes an environment wholly tenable and functional for individuals with disabilities. In October 2003, representatives from China, Japan, and South Korea met in Beijing at the Northeast Asia Standards Cooperation Forum and agreed to set up a committee to define common design standards for a wide range of products and services that are easy to understand and use. Their goal is to publish a standard in 2004 which covers, among other areas, standards on containers and wrappings of household goods (based on a proposal from experts in Japan), and standardization of signs for public facilities, a subject which was of particular interest to China as it prepared to host the 2008¹ Summer Olympics.

Principles and goals

The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University expounded the following principles: Equitable use Flexibility in use Simple and intuitive Perceptible information Tolerance for error Low physical effort Size and space for approach and use Each principle is broader than those of accessible design or barrier-free design and contains a few brief guidelines that can be applied to design processes in any realm: physical or digital.

The "barrier-free" concept

building modification consists of modifying buildings or facilities so that they can be used by people who are disabled or have physical impairments. The term is used primarily in Japan and other non-English-speaking countries (e.g., German: Barrierefreiheit; Finnish: esteettömyys), while in English-speaking countries, terms such as "accessibility" and "accessible" dominate in everyday use. An example of barrier-free design would be installing a ramp for wheelchair users alongside steps. In the late 1990s, any element that could make the use of the environment inconvenient for people with disabilities was (and still is) considered a barrier, for example, poor public street lighting. In the case of new buildings, however, the idea of barrier-free modification has largely been superseded by the concept of universal design, which seeks to design things from the outset to support easy access. Freeing a building of barriers requires first recognizing the features that could form barriers for some people, and then thinking inclusively about the whole range of impairment and disability. It involves reviewing everything from the overall structure down to the smallest detail, and finally seeking feedback from users and learning from mistakes. Barrier-free is also a term that applies to accessibility in situations where legal codes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 applies. The process of adapting barrier-free public policies started when the Veterans Administration and the US President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped noticed a large number of US citizens coming back from the Vietnam War injured and unable to navigate public spaces. Singapore is an example of a country that has sought to implement barrier-free accessibility in housing estates. Within five years, all public housing estates in the country, all 7,800 blocks of apartments, have benefited from the program.

Examples

Barrier-free design

The types of Universal Design elements vary depending on the targeted population and the space. For example, in public spaces, universal design elements are often broad areas of accessibility, while in private spaces, design elements address the specific requirements of the resident. Examples of these design elements are varied and leverage different approaches for different effects. Some examples include:

Design for All

The book Diseños para todos/Designs for All, published in 2008 by Optimastudio with the support of Spain's Ministry of Education, Social Affairs and Sports and CEAPAT, presented a range of everyday objects as examples of Design for All, including the audiobook, the automatic door, the electric toothbrush, the flexible drinking straw, Google, the low-floor bus, tactile paving, the trolley case (roll-along suitcase), Q-Drums, and Velcro. Additional items that benefit people with mobility limitations include the washlet, wireless remote-controlled power sockets, and wireless remote-controlled window shades.

Laws, policies and standards

National legislation

Brazil - Lei Federal 13.146/2015, a Lei Brasileira de Inclusão da Pessoa com Deficiência (Estatuto da Pessoa com Deficiência). Chile - Ley nº 20.422, "ESTABLECE NORMAS SOBRE IGUALDAD DE OPORTUNIDADES E INCLUSIÓN SOCIAL DE PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDAD." U.S. - Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 508 Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA is a law focusing on all building aspects, products and design, which is based on the concept of respecting human rights. It does not contain design specifications as such. Other disability rights laws in the United States include: Fair Housing Act Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act Telecommunications Act Air Carrier Access Act National Voter Registration Act Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Architectural Barriers Act Italy - legge n. 13/1989; D.M. n. 236/1989; legge n. 104/1992; D.P.R. n. 503/1996; D.P.R. n. 380/2001 (artt. 77–82) Australia - Disability Discrimination Act 1992 India - Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 United Kingdom - Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and Equality Act 2010 Ireland - Disability Act 2005 France - Loi n°2005-102 du 11 février 2005 pour l'égalité des droits et des chances, la participation et la citoyenneté des personnes handicapées (Act n°2005-102 of 11 February 2005 for equality of rights and of opportunities, for participation and for citizenship of people with disabilities) South Korea - Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, 2008 Norway - Discrimination and Accessibility Act of 2009 Vietnam - National Law on Persons with Disability, enacted 17 June 2010. Canada - Accessible Canada Act, enacted 11 July 2019.

Policies

Ontario, Canada United States of America. Mexico City, Mexico. "Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo's Plan for Government." Document describing 12 points of intention for the government, the following are directly related to accessibility in Mexico City 6. Public Spaces 7. Mobility 9. Human rights and equality 10. Equality and inclusion Mexico City, Mexico. "Plaza Pública." Reconstruction Commission. Following the 2017 earthquake that destroyed a lot of Mexico City, this policy was released that involved the public in the rebuilding process, creating a good platform for requesting accessibility and universal design. Madrid, Spain. "PLAN ESTRATÉGICO DE DERECHOS HUMANOS DEL AYUNTAMIENTO DE MADRID." A 19-point plan describing the rights of elderly citizens, where the following are directly related to accessibility 11. Right to live free from discrimination and violence 19. Right to a sustainable city environment that provides mobility and quality of life

Standards

The International Organization for Standardization, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, and the International Electrotechnical Commission have developed the following standards: CEN/CENELEC Guide 6 – Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities (Identical to ISO/IEC Guide 71, but free for download) ISO 21542:2021 – Building construction — Accessibility and usability of the built environment (available in English and French) ISO 20282-1:2006 – Ease of operation of everyday products — Part 1: Context of use and user characteristics. ISO 20282 is based on ISO 9241: Ergonomics of Human System Interaction and applies the wider principles to "the user interfaces of everyday products". ISO/TS 20282-2:2013 – Usability of consumer products and products for public use — Part 2: Summative test method, published 1 August 2013

Funding agencies

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on universal design in the Built Environment funded by what is now the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research completed its activities on September 29, 2021. Twenty RERCs are currently funded. The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the University at Buffalo is a current recipient.

Bibliography

See also

Autism friendly Curb cut effect Development plan Disability rights movement Inclusion (disability rights) Inclusive design Right to mobility Sensory friendly Transgenerational design Universal usability Urban planning

References

External links

Universal Design Product Collection - a digital collection of over 200 products through our two gallery installations of the Unlimited by Design exhibition and a traveling exhibit called "live | work | eat | play." - from the University at Buffalo Libraries

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1371057062 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.