Universal Design

The basic principles of accessibility are those of universal design.  Simply put, universal design is the concept that designs should be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Universal design does not suggest that every product need be accessible to everyone.  There are certain items that are inherently not useful to people with certain disabilities – for example, an MP3 player for the deaf.   However, for most types of disabilities, there are simple and low-cost measures that we can take to make our designs more useful.  Adding these measures can also help improve the overall usability of the product for all customers (Vanderheiden 13).

Disability advocates often cite the curb cut as an example of an adaptation with many uses.  Curb cuts, the slight ramps built into many modern sidewalks at street corners, were originally created with wheelchair users in mind.  However, curb cuts today are used by people with strollers or shopping carts, people carrying heavy items, and bicyclists, skateboarders, and in-line skaters.  Such an accommodation feature can benefit many users, not simply the subset of the disabled.

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The Center for Universal Design established 7 principles of universal design (Connell et al, http://www.design.ncsu.edu:8120/cud/univ_design/princ_overview.htm).  They are:

1. The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

2. The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

3. Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

4. The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

5. The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

6. The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.

7. Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.

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