Links to Other Universal Design Resources

A European project developed in response to the Council of Europe resolution on universal design education. Partner organizations from Belgium, Denmark, France, and Poland are involved in creating curriculum for design for all. A Yahoo-based group site invites interested people to interact; contact Ivor Ambrose below.

Website: http://anlh.be/aaoutils/en/index.html

Universal Design and Home of the Future Detailed views, features, and interactive tours of universally designed homes.

Website: http://www.aarp.org/universalhome/

AccessIT promotes the use of electronic and information technology (E&IT) for students and employees with disabilities in educational institutions at all academic levels. This Web site features the AccessIT Knowledge Base, a searchable, growing database of questions and answers regarding accessible E&IT. It is designed for educators, policy makers, librarians, technical support staff, and students and employees with disabilities and their advocates.

Website: http://www.washington.edu/accessit/index.php

UD Conferences, Access to Public Schools, New England ADA and Accessible IT Center, universal design education and consulting, Access to Design Professions, publications and more.

Website: http://www.adaptenv.org

The effects of America's aging workforce are expected to significantly impact business growth and productivity in the near future. The resources here detail the coming demographic shift and illustrate how accessible technology can equip employers to face the challenges posed by this demographic trend.

Website: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/workforce.aspx

The AIA Knowledge Communities are groups of people who share common challenges, opportunities or a passion for a given topic, and who collaborate to deepen their understanding of that topic through ongoing learning and knowledge sharing. This Knowledge Community advocates excellence in design for today's aging population.

Website: http://www.aia.org/dac/

Through the annual essay competition and other endeavors, the Berkeley Prize seeks to develop among students of architecture a shared motivation to not only express their ideas and concepts about creating a Social Art of Architecture, but in doing so provide the building blocks to realize this goal. It asserts that the architect's primary client, even in the execution of the individual project, ultimately, was society itself.

Website: http://www.berkeleyprizecompetition.org/

CAST is a research-based center that includes resources, programs and products for students of all ages and abilities. Home of Teaching Every Student (TES, supporting educators in learning about and practicing Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Website: http://www.cast.org/

Home of the RERC on Universal Design at NCSU, the Principles of Universal Design, Universal Design Exemplars,The Universal Design File, Center for Universal Design Newsline, universal design history publications, and more.

Website: http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud

The primary purpose of CEBE is to provide discipline based support for learning and teaching in the built environment, in the subject communities of Architecture, Town Planning, Landscape, Building and Surveying. There is a special interest group on “Inclusive Design” at: http://cebe.cf.ac.uk/learning/sig/inclusive/people.html

Website: http://ctiweb.cf.ac.uk/

Now online, this is a refereed journal and multidisciplinary, international network dedicated to improving the lives of young people. The journal targets researchers, policy makers and professionals and is guided by a distinguished Editorial Advisory Board.

Website: http://cye.colorado.edu/

The purpose of this Code is to improve the communication of transportation-related information for persons with disabilities on a systemic basis as they use the (Canadian) federal transportation system. While this Code focuses on the information needs of persons with disabilities while they travel, the information enhancements contained in the Code will benefit all travellers. The Canadian Transportation Agency wishes to emphasize that this Code presents minimum standards that transportation service providers are expected to meet and urges them to strive to exceed these standards wherever feasible.

Website: http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/access/codes/communication/index_e.html

Focus on visitability in homes, all homes, the most basic accessibility features. National and international laws, amendments, guidelines.

Website: http://concretechange.home.mindspring.com/

Resources for software accessibility, Descriptive Video Services, other multi-media resources.

Website: http://ncam.wgbh.org/

Design Corps is a non-profit group whose mission
is to find ways to offer quality, affordable design services to the many who don't currently have it available. Conferences include 'Structures for Inclusion.'

Website: http://www.designcorps.org/

This web site has many resources on “Inclusive Design.” The best way to find the resources is to “search” on the phrase “Inclusive Design.” A few notable pieces are: “About Inclusive Design” - A guide to inclusive design, introducing current thinking applied to public and private sectors, highlighting future trends and challenges and including facts, examples and a glossary. “What Do I Do Next?” - Advice on introducing and practicing inclusive design, including FAQs, tips, events, competitions, standards and regulations, a reading list and signposts to further information. “Oxo International - Good Grips kitchen tools”- The Good Grips range takes the strain out of spud bashing and sets new usability standards. “Exclusively for Everyone, November 2002” - What is inclusive design and what does it mean for designers?

Website: http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/

Design helps successful businesses stand out in increasingly competitive global markets by creating unique products and services that meet customers’ needs. Absolutely vital to the work designers do are the tools and techniques they use to understand people’s behavior and envision the future. Design for Future Needs is a Europe-wide research project that set out to find out how those methods can help EU policy makers to plan effectively to improve quality of life. The site contains case studies at: http://www.dffn.org/Research/Casestudies.html

Website: http://www.dffn.org/index.html

Home of the iDesign project, Design for Ageing network, Royal College of Art design fellowships and more.

Website: http://www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/

A web-zine dedicated to advancing an exchange of information and research about the international independent living movement of people with disabilities. The web-zine was produced March 2000-May 2004. The full archives are on the site.

Website: http://www.disabilityworld.org

Educational research project focused on architectural education, at University College, Dublin.

Website: http://avc.ucd.ie/DraWare

Examines, in a European perspective, the home environment as a determinant for autonomy, participation, well-being and health in old age and by this create recommendations for healthy housing solutions across Europe. Especially in very old age, Especially when living in private households, Especially when living alone, and Different In different European countries (e.g., West vs. East)

Website: http://www.enableage.arb.lu.se/

The EQUAL Research Network is open to all those who are interested in the contribution which inter-disciplinary user focused research with an engineering, design or physical science perspective can make to improving the quality of life of older people, people with disabilities, and society in general. At the heart of the Network are those who are actively engaged with undertaking and implementing ageing- related and disability-related research - and researchers, those who are directly involved with older people and disabled people, and intermediaries of all types.

Website: http://www.fp.rdg.ac.uk/equal/

Home of the European expert collaboration to define broad concept of accessibility.

Website: http://www.eca.lu/

This website was established following the European Congress on Media and Disability, which took place on 14-16 June 2003 in Athens, Greece. The goal of the website is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the mass media today, including television, fiction, news, and advertisements.

Website: http://www.media-disability.org/

The (EDeAN) secretariat was created to aid and support the newly formed network of European National Contact Centers (NCCs), which are working with Design for All, e-Accessibility and Assistive Technology issues. The 15 European National Contact Centers form the primary nodes of the EDeAN network. Each NCC is also responsible for a national Design for All e-Accessibility network in their own country.

Website: http://www.e-accessibility.org/

Home of Design-for-All, Crisp and Clear magazine, links to EIDD affiliates, and more.

Website: http://www.design-for-all.org/

During the European Year of Disabled People 2003, the British Film Institute, in partnership with Disability Equality in Education, developed an educational resource pack, supported by in-service training for teachers and cinema-based events for primary and secondary pupils. Many of these resources are available online.

Website: http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/resources/teaching/disability/

"Provides research, training, technical assistance and information dissemination to improve the accessibility of distance education for students with disabilities at universities and colleges throughout the nation."
GRADE is developed by the Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) at Georgia Tech (GT) in parternship with IDET Communication Inc. (IDET). Current resources on the site include: Accesselearning (10 module on-line learning course), Fact Sheets, and Accessible Course Design.

Website: http://www.catea.org/grade/

This Portuguese design project for the House of the Future started in June 2003. In close cooperation with AveiroDOMUS (an university - enterprise association, currently including 12 companies from the housing field and the University of Aveiro), the project is meant to engage a number of multidisciplinary teams of professionals and academics in order to conceive, specify, draw and build the House of the Future.

Website: http://www.egi.ua.pt/casadofuturo/En/inicial.htm

Home of the RERC on Universal Design at Buffalo, Bright Ideas, publications, software, videos on accessibility as well as universal design.

Website: http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/~idea/

IDCnet is focused on the design of information and communication products, systems and services.

The activities of IDCnet are aimed to support the objectives of eEurope and the European Secretariat for the Design for All e-acessibility Network (EDeAN) in regard to the development of curriculum recommendations in the area of Design for All in ICT.

Website: http://www.idcnet.info/idcnet/home.xhtml

Discussion list for the discussion of issues about an inclusive design process and its application. Inclusive design is applicable in all fields of design and therefore this list covers a wide range of design disciplines.

Website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/INCLUSIVE-DESIGN.html

The Design Council has worked in collaboration with the Helen Hamyln Research Centre to produce a series of case studies based on industry-funded projects by Research Associates at the Royal College of Art.

Website: http://www.designcouncil.info/inclusivedesign/

The Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center (ITTATC) is charged with providing accessibility training and technical assistance related to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. We want to help our audiences - industry, state officials, trainers, and consumers - to understand the requirements of Sections 508 and 255 and to achieve success in their efforts to develop, market, and buy accessible E&IT.

Website: http://www.ittatc.org/

Home of resources for international self-help organizations, global networking, training materials, library, discussion forums, and reviews.

Website: http://www.independentliving.org

Home of the former E&C Project, design of products, IPOLOCO standard setting process, and examples.

Website: http://kyoyohin.org/eng/

The Lifetime Home Standards are the result of careful study and
research. They apply to both the interior and exterior of the home.
Each of the 16 design features is valuable in itself, but a Lifetime
Home is incomplete without all of the standards. Lifetime Homes make life as easy as possible, for as long as possible because they are thoughtfully designed. They are homes for everyone and bring benefits to anyone who lives in them because of the individual choices that they make possible. The flexibility and adaptability of Lifetime Homes accommodate life events quickly, cost-effectively
and without upheaval.

Website: http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk

A collaborative program of Indiana University and the National Park Service, the National Center on Accessibility is the nation’s premiere resource promoting access for people with disabilities in recreation. Through the comprehensive services of Research, Technical Assistance and Education, NCA focuses on universal design and practical accessibility solutions creating inclusive recreation opportunities for people of all abilities.

Website: http://www.ncaonline.org/

This center addresses the need for research and development for improving access to public transportation for all. This is a mission both timely and important due to major changes in the travel industry and the need to adapt to those changes in a way that provides safe and dignified travel for persons with disabilities.

Website: http://ncat.oregonstate.edu/

The National Center for Seniors' Housing Research was established in the spring of 2000 by the NAHB Research Center in cooperation with the Administration on Aging of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of the Center is to enable all Americans to continue to live comfortably, safely and independently in their own homes as they age regardless of income or ability level.
Hosts the annual Senior Housing Design Competition.

Website: http://www.nahbrc.org/seniors1.asp?TrackID=&CategoryID=1798&Type=

The National Center on Educational Outcomes provides national leadership in the participation of students with disabilities in national and state assessments, standards-setting efforts, and graduation requirements. There is also a power-point presentation “Universally Designed English Proficiency and Content Area Assessments” at: http://www.education.umn.edu/nceo/Presentations/UniversalDesignTrainingSlides.ppt

Website: http://www.education.umn.edu/nceo/TopicAreas/UnivDesign/UnivDesign_topic.htm

Universal Design Meeting Report, summary and recommendations of June 7-8, 1999 meeting.

Website: http://www.arts.endow.gov/resources/Accessibility/DesignResources.htmlArt

National and international resources, directory of home modification programs, library, news, links to government and private web sites on aging resources and services.

Website: http://www.homemods.org

The website of the National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP), a Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) training and technical assistance provider. NSIP builds connections between disability organizations and state commissions, offices, and service programs.

Website: http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/web.php?page=activities

The Natural Learning Initiative was created at the College of Design, NC State by designers Robin Moore and Nilda Cosco. It helps communities create stimulating places for play, learning, and environmental education -environments that recognize human dependence on the natural world. Site includes environmental exercises, projects, useful data, publications and liks to child-centered play and design organizations.

Website: http://www.naturalearning.org/

PVA Architecture has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of our members—veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction. PVA's Architecture program promotes accessible design through technical assistance services, standards development, design guides, and building-code initiatives. Current topics include: Architecture, Standards and Design, Barrier-Free America, Accessible Home Design and Windows to the World. There is also the book “Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User” (1999) available for purchase.

Website: http://www.pva.org/livingsci/architecture/archindex.htm

This site outlines some of the features of smart technological housing as well as assistive technology and considers the role of dependable technology for disabled people. It looks at what dependability means within a home context and how technology can be considered as integrally a dependability feature.

Website: http://www.smartthinking.ukideas.com/index.html

UC Berkeley's website on the Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement. A rich collection of primary sources exploring the social and political history of the disability movement from the 1960s to the present.

Website: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/

Tourism for All UK is a national registered charity which provides information to people with disabilities and older people in relation to accessible accommodation and other tourism services, expertise and support to the tourism and hospitality sector to provide accessible services for all, and a network for organisations and individuals who wish to support our objectives. It includes a great page on “Advice for Tourism Businesses.”

Website: http://www.tourismforall.org.uk/index.htm

Home of the RERC on Telecommunications, Designing a More Usable World, wide range of information on accessible technology including Information Transaction Machines (ITMs), list discussion groups, and more.

Website: http://www.trace.wisc.edu/

Transgenerational Design is the practice of making products and environments compatible with those physical and sensory impairments associated with human aging and which limit major activities of daily living. Transgenerational Design Matters is an independent non-profit corporation dedicated to the practice of making products and environments compatible with those physical and sensory impairments associated with human aging and which limit major activities of daily living.

Website: http://www.transgenerational.org/

Promotes those aspects of design that consider the needs of all possible users equally, regardless of age or ability with a mission of working toward Universal Design by: Increasing member's awareness of why and how to apply the concept of Universal Design in professional practice, Including consideration of people of all ages and abilities in the policies, activities, and programs of IDSA, Stimulating inclusion of Universal Design in design education, and Increasing public awareness of the role of design in meeting the needs of elders and people with disabilities.

Website: http://www.idsa.org/whatsnew/sections/udidsa/index.html

Home of the Universal Design News, the Images of Universal Design Excellence, publications, and consulting services and resources.

Website: http://www.UniversalDesign.com

The term “universally designed assessments” refers to learning-related assessments that are designed and developed from the beginning to be accessible and valid for the widest range of students, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency. Like the curb cuts and ramps that grew out of environmental and architectural universal design, universally designed assessments are likely to make tests better for everyone.

Website: http://education.umn.edu/nceo/TopicAreas/UnivDesign/UnivDesign_topic.htm

The US Access Board is an independent federal agency that develops guidelines on a wide range of accessibility issues - from acoustics to vision. They infuse the spirit of universal design in much of their guidance. This is a very comprehensive web site.

Website: http://www.access-board.gov/