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User:TCozad/Universal design

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Universal design emerged from slightly earlier barrier-free concepts, the broader accessibility movement, and adaptive and assistive technology and also seeks to blend aesthetics into these core considerations. As life expectancy rises and modern medicine increases the survival rate of those with significant injuries, illnesses, and birth defects, there is a growing interest in universal design. There are many industries in which universal design is having strong market penetration but there are many others in which it has not yet been adopted to any great extent. Universal design is also being applied to the design of technology, instruction, services, and other products and environments. Several different fields, such as engineering, architecture, and medicine collaborate in order to effectively create accessible environments that can lend to inclusion for a variety of disabilities[1].

Examples[edit]

Spaces and buildings that use universal design often comply with broad areas of accessibility. On the other hand, homes and personal spaces comply with the specific disability or capabilities of a resident [2]. "Gesture movements" are activities that are normally autonomously accomplished on a daily basis [2]. These gesture movements are the foundation for what elements need to be incorporated into a design in order to achieve a space that lends itself to a livable and comfortable environment for somebody with a disability [2]. A study conducted in 2015 revealed that the words homeowners use to describe conditions of comfort and safety in their own home overlaps with words that are commonly used in discussions regarding accessibility, utility and universal design [2]. These concepts include temperature, lighting, social atmosphere, and other sensory qualities of an environment [2].

Color-contrast dishware with steep sides that assists those with visual or dexterity problems are an example of universal design. Anyone can use the dishes, and more people can use this than a flat plate.

There are also cabinets with pull-out shelves, kitchen counters at several heights to accommodate different tasks and postures. In many of the world's public transit systems, low-floor buses that "kneel" (bring their front end to ground level to eliminate gap) and/or are equipped with ramps rather than on-board lifts.[3]

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 US President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped noticed a large amount of US citizens coming back from the Vietnam War injured and unable to navigate public spaces[2]. The ADA is a law focusing on all building aspects, products and design that is based on the concept of respecting human rights.[15] It doesn't contain design specifications directly.

Laws and policies related to accessibility or universal design[edit]

  • Ontario, Canada "Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005". 15 December 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  • United States of America. "Universal Design and Accessibility". Section508.gov. General Services Administration. March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  • Mexico City, Mexico. "Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo's Plan for Government." [16]
    • Document describing 12 points of intention for the government, the following are directly related to accessibility in Mexico City[16]
      • 6. Public Spaces [16]
      • 7. Mobility[16]
      • 9. Human rights and equality[16]
      • 10. Equality and inclusion[16]
  • 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 [16].
  • Madrid, Spain. "PLAN ESTRATÉGICO DE DERECHOS HUMANOS DEL AYUNTAMIENTO DE MADRID." [16]
    • A 19 point plan describing the rights of elderly citizens, where the following are directly related to accessibility[16]
      • 11. Right to live free from discrimination and violence[16]
      • 19. Right to a sustainable city environment that provides mobility and quality of life[16]

Funding agencies[edit]

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC)[17] 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.[18] Twenty RERCs are currently funded.[19] The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the University at Buffalo is a current recipient.[20]

Common Shortcomings[edit]

Aswan Case Study[edit]

One study conducted in Aswan, Egypt published in the Journal of Engineering and Applied Science aimed to explore the accessibility in three administrative buildings in the area [21]. They were looking for universal design in entrances and exits, circulation of traffic within the building, and wayfinding within the building's services [21]. They decided to focus their case study on administrative buildings in order to exemplify universal design that granted access for all citizens to all locations [21]. Among the buildings, there were some shared issues.

The Local Unit of Aswan City[edit]

In here, the researchers found that vertical movement was difficult for disabled patrons, given that there were no elevators [21]. There was also no dropped curb, no Braille system, and the handles of doors were difficult to open, and there were no sensory indicators such as sounds or visual signs[21].

Aswan University[edit]

The entrances of this building, like many others, did not include any textures indicating where ramps or stairs are [21]. In the case of this building, there was an elevator, but it was not large enough to turn a wheelchair in [21]. Although the elevator wasn't a successful adaptation of universal design, the building did include double doors and wider halls, which make the location easier to navigate in a wheelchair [21].

National Organization for Social Insurance[edit]

This case highlights the importance if demographics when considering needs for universal design. Over 60% of the citizens who use this building on a daily basis are elderly, but there aren't accommodations that are helpful to their capabilities [21]. Along with the lack of tactile features to guide the visually impaired, the space within the building is very congested, especially for one who may not have full physical capabilities and must use a wheelchair [21]. The circulation suffers as a result, as well as the wayfinding in the structure. [21]

Latin America[edit]

Guadalajara[edit]

Although there have been attempts to create more accessible public and outdoor spaces, the restorations made have ultimately failed to meet the needs of the disabled and elderly [16].

Article Draft[edit]

Lead[edit]

Article body[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Di Bucchianico, Giuseppe; Kercher, Pete F., eds. (2018). Advances in design for inclusion: proceedings of the AHFE 2017 International Conference on Design for Inclusion, July 17-21, 2017, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA. Advances in intelligent systems and computing. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-60597-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Persson, Hans; Åhman, Henrik; Yngling, Alexander Arvei; Gulliksen, Jan (2015-11). "Universal design, inclusive design, accessible design, design for all: different concepts—one goal? On the concept of accessibility—historical, methodological and philosophical aspects". Universal Access in the Information Society. 14 (4): 505–526. doi:10.1007/s10209-014-0358-z. ISSN 1615-5289. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Nasar, Jack L; Evans-Cowley, Jennifer, eds. (2007). Universal design and visitability : from accessability to zoning. Columbus OH. p. 53. ISBN 978-1427618955. OCLC 173818638.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Ley Chile - Ley 20422 - Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional". www.bcn.cl. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - United States Access Board". www.access-board.gov. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Guide to Disability Rights Laws". ADA.gov. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  7. ^ "Disability Discrimination Act 1992". Austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  8. ^ "Disability and the Equality Act 2010". Direct.gov.uk. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  9. ^ "DISABILITY ACT 2005". Irishstatutebook.ie. 2005-07-08. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  10. ^ "Loi n°2005-102 du 11 février 2005 pour l'égalité des droits et des chances, la participation et la citoyenneté des personnes handicapées" (in French). Legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  11. ^ "(Translated)장애인차별금지 및 권리구제 등에 관한 법률(장애인 차별 금지법) Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, Remedy Against Infringement of Their Rights, etc".
  12. ^ "Act relating to a prohibition against discrimination on the basis of disability (the Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act)" (PDF). app.uio.no. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  13. ^ "THE LAW ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES". www.drdvietnam.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  14. ^ "Accessible Canada Act". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  15. ^ Caves, R. W. (2004). Encyclopedia of the City. Routledge. p. 4.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Garcia-Checua, Eva (2022). Advancing urban Rights: Equality and Diversity in the City. Black Rose Books.
  17. ^ Reinkensmeyer, David J.; Blackstone, Sarah; Bodine, Cathy; Brabyn, John; Brienza, David; Caves, Kevin; DeRuyter, Frank (December 2017). "How a diverse research ecosystem has generated new rehabilitation technologies: Review of NIDILRR's Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers". Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 14 (1). BIoMed Central: 109. doi:10.1186/s12984-017-0321-3. ISSN 1743-0003. OCLC 909885328. PMC 5674748. PMID 29110728. S2CID 19368471.
  18. ^ "RERC-UD 2015-2020". Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access. School of Architecture and Planning: University at Buffalo. 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14.
  19. ^ "United States: Grant Helps Carnegie Mellon, University at Buffalo Improve Transit Access". Mena Report. Al Bawaba. 11 December 2018. OCLC 926165117. Gale A565298465. Found through Gale Academic OneFile
  20. ^ "Who we are? What is universal design?". Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access. School of Architecture and Planning: University at Buffalo. 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Khalil, M. E.; Mohamed, N. A.; Morghany, E. A. (2021-12). "Towards inclusion and diversity in the light of Universal Design: three administrative buildings in Aswan city as case studies". Journal of Engineering and Applied Science. 68 (1). doi:10.1186/s44147-021-00020-0. ISSN 1110-1903. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
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