Resources Information tagged with: universal design

Provides information and resources for key issues related to usability in website and software design. Broad range of topics including job postings.

"The Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD), founded in Boston in 1978 as Adaptive Environments, is an international non-governmental educational organization (NGO) committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities through excellence in design. IHCD’s work balances expertise in legally required accessibility with promotion of best practices in human-centered or universal design."

This is "a National Demonstration Home in Columbus, Ohio: Universal Design, Green  & Healthy. We were on an ambitious campaign to build a national demonstration home and garden. The Universal Design Living Laboratory will be available to the building industry and consumers. The Universal Design Living Laboratory will serve to help people better understand how to create a more comfortable living environment that will enhance their quality of life. This Universal Design Living Laboratory will act as a resource to learn from – today and tomorrow." One of the leaders of this endeavor, and speaking as an advocate for universal design, Rosemarie Rossetti.

"EIDD - Design for All Europe is the joint European platform for social planners, architects, designers and others who believe in the potentials of their professions to play a vital role in the necessary transformation of our societies into more cohesive, innovative and sustainable ones."

Good links for universal design centers in Europe.

"People see color with significant variations. In Japan, there are more than 5 million people in total who see color differently from ordinary people, due to their genetic types or eye diseases. Color Universal Design is a user-oriented design system, which has been developed in consideration of people with various types of color vision, to allow information to be accurately conveyed to as many individuals as possible."

"The Sensory Trust promotes and implements: an inclusive approach to design and management of outdoor space; richer connections between people and place; and, equality of access for all people, regardless of age, disability or background. The Sensory Trust advises on issues, influences policy, assists professional practice, showcases good practice, organises user-testing by disabled people, provides training and education and develops design and management projects. We work with organisations in the UK and internationally to try out new ideas, share knowledge, create on-the-ground examples of best practice and evaluate the success of different techniques. All while riding a unicycle and drinking a glass of water."

"The mission of the National Organization on Disability (NOD) is to expand the participation and contribution of America’s 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. Just over one-third of working-age Americans with disabilities are employed. That’s barely half the employment rate of the general population. To address this gap, NOD works in partnership with businesses, government, national philanthropies and local organizations to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

NOD accomplishes its mission by piloting innovative programs, evaluating their results, and communicating successful approaches to policymakers, researchers and service providers."

"Our expertise draws from years of following changing age demographics and our passion for designing homes that enable people to thrive regardless of their age or ability. We weave Universal Design principles into everything we do and we are dedicated to designing friendly, inspiring spaces for people to live their active lifestyles in.

FabCab designs and sells pre-fabricated and kit-built environmentally-friendly homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). We strive to lead the market specializing in design for all ages and environmentally sustainable design by providing clients eco-friendly and universally designed cabins that support healthy lifestyles."

"EIDD - Design for All Europe is the joint European platform for social planners, architects, designers and others who believe in the potentials of their professions to play a vital role in the necessary transformation of our societies into more cohesive, innovative and sustainable ones.

 With member organisations in 22 European countries and with a concept that is attracting increasingly growing interest around the world, EIDD - Design for All Europe is dedicated to change global mindsets by exploring and demonstrating how design can improve life for everyone.

Design for All, that is design for human diversity and social inclusion, represents a good deal for businesses and for the society as a whole, and a professional challenge for decision-makers, planners, architects and designers."

"DRDF believes that the society needs to be conductive in order to be inclusive and universal. It is the environment that renders people disabled and not the medical impairments. the traditional and conservative definition if disability is fast changing around the world with the able and disabled securing equal rights in society.

Technology is increasingly becoming the means wherein the person with disability can achieve independence and lead a life of self sufficiency. Access to affordable technology is a basic human right. However the prohibitive cost of technology and the lack of indigenous research in the field of adoptable and assistive devices has meant that people have had limited access to rehabilitation and subsequent empowerment in the third world countries.

DRDF is an organization which brings together the creative, technical and legal expertise of architects, engineers and activists to formulate solutions for an all inclusive society. Our approach is deeply grounded in design and public policy to attain comprehensive solutions to the issues of rights for people with disability in society"

"An award-winning author, international lecturer, and designer with more than 30 years of experience, Cynthia Leibrock's mission is to improve the lives of older and disabled people through design. Ms. Leibrock is the principal/founder of EASY ACCESS TO HEALTH in Ft. Collins, Colorado, a firm that offers consulting services in patient centered design, planning for independent living, product analysis, and judiciary witness services." - quoted from THE CENTER FOR HEALTH DESIGN

Also author of New York Times article, February 18, 2009: A Colorado Home Is Ready for Its Owners’ Old Age

"An award-winning author, international lecturer, and designer with more than 30 years of experience, Cynthia Leibrock's mission is to improve the lives of older and disabled people through design. Ms. Leibrock is the principal/founder of EASY ACCESS TO HEALTH in Ft. Collins, Colorado, a firm that offers consulting services in patient centered design, planning for independent living, product analysis, and judiciary witness services." - quoted from THE CENTER FOR HEALTH DESIGN

Also author of New York Times article, February 18, 2009: A Colorado Home Is Ready for Its Owners’ Old Age

"Lifetime Design doesn’t build houses, or sell them.  But we have set the standards and guidelines for accessible, adaptable and inclusive house design.  We work with architects, designers, retirement village operators, developers and home owners as the resource centre for inclusive, accessible and adaptable design. Lifetime Design's standards are freely published and available to all."

"Lifetime Design doesn’t build houses, or sell them.  But we have set the standards and guidelines for accessible, adaptable and inclusive house design.  We work with architects, designers, retirement village operators, developers and home owners as the resource centre for inclusive, accessible and adaptable design. Lifetime Design's standards are freely published and available to all."

"Lifetime Design doesn’t build houses, or sell them.  But we have set the standards and guidelines for accessible, adaptable and inclusive house design.  We work with architects, designers, retirement village operators, developers and home owners as the resource centre for inclusive, accessible and adaptable design. Lifetime Design's standards are freely published and available to all."

Blog about the universal design learning environment.

"Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach that addresses and redresses the primary barrier to making expert learners of all students: inflexible, one-size-fits-all curricula that raise unintentional barriers to learning. Learners with disabilities are most vulnerable to such barriers, but many students without disabilities also find that curricula are poorly designed to meet their learning needs."

"It's all about people-powered products: We are a community of people passionate about well designed everyday products. By sharing our loves, hates and ideas, we can challenge the one-size-fits-all approach to assistive equipment through the use of clever modern design."

Site features:  Loves & Hates,  Ideas Factory,  Product Reviews