Where’s Universal Design?
Let’s look at universal design and it’s use in various contexts and spaces.
You may perceive this as a loaded question and you are right, it is!
Universal design (UD) is often applied to different contexts and spaces; however, it is so under-utilized in many areas of our lives; especially in the design of homes. Let’s take a look at UD across a variety of settings.
Universal Design in the Classroom
After attending a roundtable discussion concerning UD in the academic environment last month, it was brought to my awareness that sincere attempts are being made to include universal design principles in the structure of a classroom within a university setting.
How is UD used in the world of academia?
Universal design can be applied to physical aspects of the environment, including a naturally lit classroom, widened doorways and aisle space, adjustable tables and desks to promote inclusiveness and communication, various seating options, and many others. Universal design for learning, on the other hand, is a type of curriculum design that promotes equal learning opportunities for all individuals. This type of approach is less concerned with the physical setup of the classroom and more focused on the process-oriented aspects of teaching and learning. Examples of universal design for learning may include incorporating various teaching methods and creating an environment with multiple modes of expression. Applying these processes and features to an academic environment seems simple enough, right? Well, not always. Factors such as an educator’s valuable time and expenses come into play, and can make implementing UD difficult and time-consuming. However, the difference and effect that a universally-designed classroom can have on students is so worthwhile and beneficial to their ability to perform in an academic setting.
Universally Designed Products
My colleagues and I from The Universal Design Project have been meeting regularly to put on our occupational therapy (OT) thinking caps and brainstorm features of products and the design of areas of the home that we felt were truly universal. A universally designed product should be usable by the greatest number of people without the need for specialization or adaptation. As future and current OT practitioners, we are constantly looking at features that would best serve this purpose. What would a product designed this way even look like? Products designed with universal features are embedded in the environment around us, and sometimes we are not even aware they are there. If something is universally designed, it shouldn’t be obvious to the eye.
Touch-less, automatic faucets
One product currently on the market is a touch-less faucet with a built-in LED light that changes color to alert the user of the temperature of the water. It is also equipped with an automatic shut-off feature, which serves as a convenience to the user. This product would truly benefit a wide array of individuals. Consider these scenarios:
- An individual cutting chicken with juices on their hands that decreases the risk of contaminating the on/off lever.
- An individual with decreased hand function that could initiate the water flow with the wave of a hand versus having to grasp a handle or lever.
- An individual who is experiencing sensory deficits and therefore unable to feel any discomfort with the variations in water temperature may be less likely to experience an accidental burn from water too hot.
- An individual with dementia who occasionally forgets to turn off household appliances would benefit from the faucet having this sensory component take care of that step automatically.
All of these individuals would benefit from this type of faucet, therefore simplifying the tasks at hand or eliminating the need to perform unnecessary steps altogether.
The Problem
My colleagues and I were able to brainstorm features that would enhance the way individuals function in their own homes. An issue arises when there is not a product on the market that accommodates everyone’s needs. It would be extremely helpful if the design of products were engineered to consider the functionality and usability for all ability types in order to fit the UD mindset.
Universal Design in the Home
“Universal design in housing applies universal design principles to all spaces, features, and aspects of houses and creates homes that are usable by and marketable to people of all ages and abilities.” (Trachtman, et al., 2000)
The implementation of UD features within the design of new home projects or developments continues to be underutilized. One barrier includes a decreased awareness to the concept of UD, therefore resulting in a lack of consumer demand. This aligns with the initial perception I had regarding UD.
My faux pas about universal design in the home
When initially learning about UD in my occupational therapy graduate program, I became wrapped up in the idea that UD involved modifications and design elements only within the physical environment. The type of design features I most often thought about included widened doorways, ramps to enter the home, a one-story blueprint, a wheelchair accessible bathroom, etc. These types of features are only limited to the physical features of the home or environment and are mainly partial towards individuals with mobility-like difficulties. Like many people, I am learning that this is a common misconception about UD, and it is something that UD advocates are working hard to change. Universally designed spaces go way beyond minimal accessibility standards as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The interesting part of this design practice is that a well-designed home, product, classroom, or activity with universal design principles is one that often goes undetected.
Story (1998) hits on this perfectly with this quote from her article titled Maximizing Usability:
“In the best examples, universal design features go unnoticed because they have been fully integrated into thoughtful design solutions that are used by a full spectrum of the population.”
Let’s Break It Down
The most well-known definition of universal design is, “the design of products and environments to be usable to the greatest extent possible, by all people throughout their lifespan, without adaptation or specialized design” (Mace, 1985).
While keeping that definition in mind, most often we assume designing for everyone translates to designing for individuals using a wheelchair, but on a broader level, designing this way could in fact benefit an even greater number of people. Let’s take a look at some examples of how this makes sense.
People who can benefit from universal design…
- An individual who works for UPS delivering large packages to the front door.
- A caregiver of a spouse with end-stage cancer who is physically and mentally exhausted.
- An individual with a lower leg amputation as a result of diabetes.
- An individual undergoing the natural aging process experiencing decreased vision.
- An individual experiencing cognitive deficits as a result of recent dementia diagnosis.
- An individual using a walker to maneuver around the house and community due to double knee replacements.
- An individual who recently threw out their back reaching into the dryer to fold laundry.
- A child who is overly sensitive to his or her environment due to autism.
- An individual attempting to carry their groceries into the house in one overloaded trip.
- A concerned parent to a child who is beginning to explore their environment and getting into everything.
- An individual born with a hearing impairment.
- A pregnant female who is 40-weeks and about to pop any day now.
Although UD may benefit many others, these are a handful of examples of who UD can benefit. This list is not exhaustive, and as you can imagine, UD would be advantageous for people of all ages, especially as we cannot always predict what the future may bring.
Unfortunately, widespread use of UD in the home environment is something that is lacking within our communities. How confident are you that someone using a wheelchair to maneuver around or someone with a visual impairment would be able to successfully navigate and perform everyday tasks in your home? I know that my answer to that question is one of minimal confidence.
Opportunity to Enhance Quality of Life
If all homes, classrooms, and products were initially designed with a universal focus, then the impact of injury, illness, or disability would not have as much of an effect on the way we live within our communities. It is my hope that we all can make this connection and perhaps be more motivated to make a change in the way that we design our environment.
