UNIVERSAL DESIGN: ACCESS FOR ALL

In 1997 The Center for Universal Design in collaboration with a consortium of universal design researchers and practitioners from across the United States developed the Principles of Universal Design. These seven principles may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments.

Principle One: Equitable use, the design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Principle Two: Flexibility in use, the design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Principle Three: Simple and intuitive, use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

Principle Four: Perceptible information, the design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

Principle Five: Tolerance for error, the design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended acts.

Principle Six: Low physical effort, the design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

Principle Seven: Size and space for approach and use, appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

People who could benefit from more universal designs include many with and without disabilities. Beneficiaries of universal design include: people in a noisy shopping mall who cannot hear at a kiosk, people who are driving their car who must operate their radio or phone without looking at it, people who left their glasses in their room, people who are getting older, people with disabilities, actually, just about anyone. In recognition of this need and the aging workforce (by the year 2020, the number of workers age 55 and over will increase by about 80% to more than 33 million), Microsoft has collaborated with dozens of other companies that develop software and devices to make computers more accessible and easier to use. Much of the computer technology that was developed for people with disabilities can help keep older workers happy and productive. These efforts may provide an unexpected benefit to the economy by enabling millions of workers to extend their productive years and realize their full potential whether they are aging, disabled or not.

Please call our Funding & Advocacy Specialists, Anne Mulready and Jim Engstrand
at (401) 831-3150 (V) or (401) 831-5335 (TTY), or ATAP (800) 733-5332 (in-state).