Accessibility | Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Accessibility Quick Tip: What is Universal Design and how does it relate to accessibility?

By Michael Peever: Published on
Accessibility, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Universal design (UD) is a term coined by American architect Ronald L. Mace (1942-98).

Universal design is design that is usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

– Ronald L. Mace

Universal design is a broad idea that refers to designing with everybody in mind. Although there is clear overlap and UD naturally includes elements of accessibility, it should not be confused with accessibility or accessible design, which is concerned with specific accommodations for people with disabilities.

UD Principles

Universal design principles are increasingly being applied to many different facets of modern life, such as building projects, road/sidewalk construction and other city planning, and web development, to name a few. According to the Center for Excellence in Universal design, the seven UD principles (originating from a 1997 working group out of North Carolina State University) are as follows:

  1. Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
  2. Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
  3. Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
  4. Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
  5. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
  6. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
  7. 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.

UD Examples

Examples of universal design are becoming so commonplace that it is easier than ever to overlook them! Here are some examples:

  • Wheelchair accessible ramps are widely regarded as the norm rather than an extra accommodation. They are more likely to be integrated into the total design of a new build, rather than being tacked on as an afterthought.
  • Sidewalks and public transportation, especially in built up areas, are more likely to be accessible to people with limited mobility than in previous decades.
  • Signs that are understandable to most people, regardless of language or ability, including crossing signals that can also be heard as well as seen.
  • Spaces that can be used and enjoyed by all users, including people with many types of disabilities, from vision loss to those with sensory processing issues.
  • Media creation, such as movies with audio description.
  • Job descriptions are likely to be more flexible with respect to hybrid work.
  • Instruction manuals comprised of images/diagrams, rather than text.
  • New approaches to learning that are inclusive of all learning styles/abilities.

What are the benefits of UD?

Universal design is meant to benefit everyone. Take the common example of sidewalks. When sidewalks are designed to be used by everyone (for example, through ramps), not only can wheelchair users navigate them with ease, but so can people who struggle with steps or balance, parents with strollers, delivery workers, people with rolling suitcases, etc. Sidewalks that are not designed to be used by everyone can present safety and ease of use issues for all of us, regardless of ability.

Where is UD lacking?

As the movement is relatively new and often relates to designing from scratch, many older buildings lack UD design principles. But it isn’t just about the physical world, the world wide web is used by most people, but websites are not routinely designed to be used by everyone (or as close to “everyone” as possible). Instead, they tend to cater to the average user. One way of ensuring that a website is usable by everyone is to meet accessibility standards (WCAG is the gold standard). However, developers have much catching up to do, with as little as 3-4% of websites fully meeting WCAG standards. As with buildings, websites often need to be redesigned (sometimes from scratch) in order to come close to being universal.

Conclusion

Universal design is not yet, and may never be, truly universal. It is worth considering that some people, depending on circumstances, may have opposing needs. For example, how can a library’s design be equally welcoming and useful to someone who has low vision and needs a lot of light to see, versus a person who is painfully sensitive to light? It may be impossible to design for all competing needs, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying!

Further reading/watching

Michael Peever
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