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Category: Advocacy
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Universal Design TED Talks
Recently, we had a Good Fit Poor Fit listener write in hoping to learn more about Universal Design. Like many of us these days when seeking to learn something new, our listener was scanning the web for TED talks that discuss Universal Design but was having trouble finding what she was looking for. We agree […]
We should be designing universally accessible homes for future generations now.
People with disabilities regularly compromise on housing based on what’s financially accessible, often negatively affecting physical and mental health.
This article unpacks three practice settings in which an an occupational therapist could collaborate with professionals in the home building industry.
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Different has to be experienced.
We run The Universal Design Project on software called Basecamp. The company that created Basecamp is on the verge of releasing a new email system called Hey. What’s interesting about this is that they’re declaring email “broken” and are more or less redesigning the way people interact with email. Here’s a recent tweet from their […]
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There’s a 60% Probability…
“In the United States of America, it has been estimated that there is a 60% probability that any new house will be occupied by a person with a functional impairment over its life span.” Smith SK, Rayer S, Smith EA. Aging and disability: implications for the housing industry and housing policy in the United States. […]
The United States has an accessible housing problem: there aren’t enough available options.
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Bias is an enemy.
The first phrase of the definition of universal design is “design that’s usable by all people.” It’s easy to think, “cool, that just means everyone,” which is true, but that’s also a really complex idea. Ensuring usability across the entire spectrum of people in our society is no simple task. Here at The Universal Design Project, we focus on people […]
Universal design is often described as “design for all ages and abilities,” but what does that really mean? It’s gaining popularity every day, partially because of the size of the baby boomer generation, and partially because of society’s increasing interest in being inclusive to people with disabilities. What is universal design? Design that’s usable by […]
Ron Mace is credited with coining the term “universal design.” This is a fictional interview that might be what we’d expect if he were still alive.
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Universal design: why it’s about time
A sense of urgency is felt when someone declares “it’s about time!” We feel that way about the need to make our communities more welcoming to people affected by disability. When the design of something doesn’t work for someone, that person either gets excluded or has to struggle unnecessarily. It’s time for that to change. […]