Peter McKevitt

Chairperson NDA Board

Phil Hogan, T.D

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Launch of “building for Everyone – A Universal Design Approach”

Dr Ger CraddockChief Officer

Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD)

President of Ireland

Buildings – Pouring Social Life into Buildings

What is Universal Design?Universal Design in Ireland

Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. (Synopsis of the Irish Disability Act 2005)

An approach for achieving more accessibility and usability in Built environment, Products, Services and ICT systems.

Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, CEUD Established January, 2007 in the NDA

7 Universal Design Principles and 29 Guidelines

1. Equitable use2. Flexibility in Use3. Simple and Intuitive Use4. Perceptible Information5. Tolerance for Error6. Low Physical Effort7. Size and Space for Approach and UseCenter for Universal Design, North Carolina State

University, Raleigh, NC, 1997

Centre For Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD)

Standards– Stimulate research– Participate in Standardisation work nationally and

internationally– Provide advice to stakeholders– Encourage compliance

Education and Professional Development– Incorporate UD content into design curriculum– Guidance on Universal Design for teaching, examinations

and accreditationAwareness

– Maintain a best practice database (website)– Promote awareness and understanding

Education

Gov Depts &Public Bodies

Industry + Standards

PWD, Age, Size General Public

Professional Bodies

CEUD

CEUD Key Stakeholders

”Good Design is Good Business”

Thomas J. Watson, IBM

Product designs that are Easy to Use:- Gets a better product to market, faster- Builds business growth on satisfied

customers- Creates satisfied employees and more

productivity- Prevents 80% of downstream user

requirements”Usability equals Profitability”

It is normal to be different

Knowing your customer is key to Universal Design

Key benefits of Universal Design

Requirement(Legal, organisational)

Increased efficiency(reduce costs of maintenance, support)

Increased reach(increasing the usability of your product,

increased market)

Social Responsibility(Ethical, the right thing to do, leading

from the front)

2006, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Values)

2001, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (Framework for Analysis)

2011, World Report on Disability (Evidence)

International Disability Trilogy

15

United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities 2006 (UNCRPD)

Governments are: “to undertake or promote research and development of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities…”

Council Of Europe (COE)ResAp(3)2009 ”Full participation through Universal Design”

World Disability Report (2011):A Paradigm Shift

• Accessibility: Provides basic access and usability of facilities, products and services for people with disabilities

• Universal design: Enables independence and social participation for all through continual improvement.

New EU Procurement PolicyMacro Economic Impact

• Mandate 420: Accessibility of the Built Environment

• Mandate 376: Accessibility requirements for public procurement of products and services in the IT domain

• Mandate 371 Services-tourism, transport• Mandate 392 Domestic appliances

508 like Macro Economic Impact

EU Public Procurement Directives

Mandate 420 Accessibility of the Built Environment

• Standard for addressing accessibility of the built environment in the context of public procurement.Covering:– Public buildings, public places, parking, roads,

schools, hospitals, sport facilities, – Transport facilities such as airports,

train/coach stations, ports, • Phase 1

– Inventory of functional requirements and technical specifications Dec (2011)

European Accessibility Act 2012

• Reason:– Insufficient supply of accessible goods

and services.– Fragmentation of the EU market for

accessible good and services.

Closing date: 29 February 2012 http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/discrimination/opinion/111207_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/opinion/survey_accessibility_en.htm

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works”

Steve jobs Apple

what distinguishes innovators is a powerful drive to understand—and please—the people who buy their products.Open innovation: How to create the right new products, the right way – Accenture 2009

Norway’s vision: To be Universally Designed by 2025.

National action plan:Shows how the government will achieve this through various goals and measures across all government Departments which are subject to deadlines

Ireland - Dept of Environment

Building Regulations, 2000 Technical Guidance Document M - Access for People with Disabilities;

Building Regulation (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010;

Building Regulations 2010 Technical Guidance Document M - Access and Use. (Operational Jan 2012)

• Disability Access Certificate (DAC)– A DAC is a certificate of compliance to show that if

the works are built in accordance with the design it will meet the requirements of Second Schedule of Part M of the Building Regulations.

• Required– For works requiring a Fire Safety Certificate

including all new buildings, extensions, some material alterations etc.

• The requirement for a DAC came into operation– 1 January 2010 – Where works commence after

that date.

Disability Access Certificates

Historic Buildings and Places

Code of PracticeAccessible Heritage Sites

2011

ACCESS: Improving the Accessibility of

Historic Buildings and Place 2011

Save the Date

Conference on 30th May on Access to Historic

Buildings and Places

CEUD Work 2011-12 ICT

• National Universal Design Digital TV guidelines Feb 2012

• European guidance Standard on Training ICT Professionals in Universal Design April 2011

• Best Practice in Universal Design of the Web Oct 2012

CEUD Work 2011-12 Built Environment

• Built – Building for Everyone (BFE) – Guidance on Universal Designed Environment 23rd Feb 2012

• Universal Design homes national guidelines Sept 2012

• Guidelines on Universal Design of Educational Campus Dec 2012

Research on UD Rating System for Buildings – Doctoral

Researcher Trinity College Dublin

“Until Universal Design is infused in pre-professional and continuing education the attitudes of designers

will limit their understanding and appreciation of diversity”

Elaine Ostroff Universal Design Handbook 2nd edition 2011

CEUD Work 2011-12 Education

• European Workshop Agreement on Training ICT Professionals in Universal Design April 2011

• Universal Design Curriculum for 3rd level education Sept 2012

• Universal Design Curriculum for 2nd level education June 2012

CEUD Work 2011-12 Standards, User participation and Awareness Raising

• User Participation in Standards working group 7 in partnership with National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)

• First national Size guidance for Ireland Oct 2012

• Universal Design Standard for Customer Services for Energy Suppliers (Electricity and Gas) 9th Feb 2012

• 24 Hour Universal Design Challenge 09/10/11

“Contrary to the assumption that attention to the needs of diverse people limits good design, the results of imaginative designers around the world reveal a wide range of applications that delight the senses and lifts the human spirit when “universal design” is integral”

Elaine Ostroff Universal Design Handbook 2nd edition 2011

Thank you for Listening

Michelle Fagan MRIAI

President Royal Institute of Architects Ireland

Onny Eikhaug

Norwegian Design Council

Neil Murphy MRIAI

Senior Built Environment Advisor CEUD