A Closer Look at Universal Design
When you hear the term “universal design”, what usually comes to mind? In occupational therapy circles, using the term in conversation usually generates a range of responses, such as “Oh, you mean home modifications?” or “Adapting the environment so it’s more accessible to people with disabilities?”
Well… not entirely.
Something designed under the guiding principles of universal design should be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible. By definition, it should inherently be as accessible as possible for as many people as possible, minimizing need for further specialization. Another assumption about universal design is that it is only a useful concept for people with physical disabilities. While individuals with physical disabilities do benefit from a universally designed environment, individuals with sensory impairments as well as individuals without disabilities can also benefit from the same design.
Sensory Considerations
Let’s take a look at visual impairments, as an example. The term “visual impairment” is an umbrella term used to encompass any type of partial or full visual loss that cannot be corrected by the usual means of prescriptive lenses or glasses. Different types of visual impairments may include:
- Childhood blindness
- Age related macular degeneration
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Cognitive changes related to the brain resulting from stroke or traumatic brain injury
- Uncorrected refractive errors
When an area of sensory input is damaged or lost, the brain often uses neuroplastic capabilities to rewire the damaged connections. In turn, this may support the unaffected senses. Individuals with visual impairments often rely upon other sensory systems to “see” what their eyes cannot.
Universal Design and Sensory Impairments
A home designed using universal design features to support individuals with sensory impairment may include using a varying textures on floors, surfaces, or walls to serve as landmark indicators within the environment to support individuals with visual impairments. Auditory stimuli, such as sound or vibration, may be incorporated to help visually impaired individuals determine proximity to obstacles in the environment.
Audible features, such as alerts or alarms, may also be used to support a broad range of individuals. For example, a watch with an alarm may help individuals with cognitive impairments manage their medication more independently. In addition, the same alarm may assist an individual with establish a toileting schedule, or help someone know when it’s time to leave for a meeting. Audible features may also be used to alert an individual with low vision that a coffee pot has stopped brewing and may be removed from under the drip, in the same way that it would be useful to another individual without a disability.
For an individual who experiences contrast sensitivity, using high contrast design may increase optimal participation within the environment. For example, using tactile strips on the edges of stairs may be used to help an individual with low vision identify the edge of each step. Similarly, an individual with dementia or someone with vestibular issues affecting balance may benefit from high contrast floor patterns in order to decrease the risk of falling in the home.
Features such as color scheme utilization in areas of a home or building may serve dual purposes in supporting individuals with varying disabilities. For example, an individual with blurred vision may have trouble discerning wording on signs or in elevators, despite the use of corrective lenses. If the walls outside of elevators in the building are painted an area-specific color, the individual may be able to recognize that they are on the correct floor of their apartment building by recognizing the wall color when the elevators doors open. Similarly, bedroom walls may be painted hues of blue or turquoise in order to create a calming environment for a child who has anxiety, or to promote a sense of calmness to individuals who endure a lot of stress.
The Bottom Line
The ways in which universal design can be implemented into the built environment are seemingly endless. The aforementioned features are some examples that may help you better understand the concept of universal design for people with various sensory impairments, and how the implementation of universal design can benefit a broad range of people, beyond what meets the eye.
If you’re interested in learning more about how universal design benefits a wide range of people, check our more articles in our publication.
