Universal DesignInclusion, Innovation, Livability and Economics

Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D.University Professor, Syracuse University

Chairman, Burton Blatt Institute (BBI)

Chairman, Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC)

June 2010

http://bbi.syr.edu

http://www.globaluniversaldesign.org/

Accessibility in the US

• Accessibility focus on compliance with law, standards and antidiscrimination, such as with Fair Housing Act (FHA) or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• Focus of builders and design community on minimal and rigid compliance.

• Focus for disability community on equal rights and access.

• Result is rule-based and functional approach.

• No requirement or outcome for innovative design or usability across the spectrum of disability.

• Accessibility not necessarily equate with usability, inclusion or innovation.

US Legislative Context -- Accessibility

• 1968 Architectural Barriers Act – federally funded buildings

• 1973 – Rehabilitation Act, Section 504 antidiscrimination law for people with disabilities, federally funded activities.

• 1988 – Fair Housing Amendments Act, antidiscrimination law for people with disabilities in access to multi-family private and public housing with four or more units.

• 1990 – ADA, antidiscrimination law for people with disabilities.

• 2008 – ADA Amendments Act, broaden definition of disability.

• State Laws

US Accessibility Standards and Guidance (illustrative)

• 1961, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accessibility standard, A117.1 - Buildings Accessible and Usable by “Physically Handicapped.” Enforceable if adopted by states or local governments.

• 1991, US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines, with compliance safe harbors.

Universal Design Focus

• Usability, safety, healthy, and sustainable environments, products, and systems to all people and abilities.

• Transcend disability.• Innovative, flexible, and customized approaches to

design, urban planning and environment.• Social integration, dignity, and performance outcomes;

not minimal compliance and social isolation. • Enhance function, aesthetics, wellness, comfort, choice,

cultural values, lifespan.• Innovation, livability, inclusion and economic benefit.

Universal Design Business Case

• Address demographic/aging population shifts• Enhance investment in social capital.• Extend market reach and diversity.• Extend business goals, customer experience and loyalty.• Competitive advantage – reduce renovation costs,

enhance product, productivity, safety, inclusion and social and cultural benefits.

Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC)

• Promote UD by development of voluntary consensus standards for designers, developers, lenders, governments and users.

• Nonprofit NGO with experts in architecture, industrial and product design, law, finance, policy, technology, and social science with focus on UD, inclusive workforce, customer experience, applied research.

• Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Honorary Chairman; Joshua Heintz and Bill Gilberti, BBI, Edward Steinfeld (Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access) among major partners.

GUDC Activities

• Application of UD to building (commercial, research, residential), products and services.

• Voluntary consensus standards provide objective and innovative measurement of UD adoption.

• Education, training and certification for designers, developers, lenders, governments, and users of UD.

• Research, benchmarking, and measure social and economic benefits of UD standards adoption.

GUDC Pioneer Adopters (illustrative)

• Destiny USA Holdings, New York• Rehabilitation International• Consejo Nacional De Discapacidades (National Council

on Disability) of Ecuador• Quito, Ecuador (new international airport)• Seneca Nation• University of Buffalo

Peter Blanck, Burton Blatt Institute (BBI)

Syracuse University, 900 Crouse Avenue, Suite 300

Syracuse, New York. 13244-2130

(315) 443-9703 phone

pblanck@syr.edu

http://bbi.syr.edu

Twitter http://twitter.com/BBISyracuse

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burton-Blatt-Institute/194731496501

Global Universal Design Commission, Inc. (GUDC) P.O. Box 6801, Syracuse, New York USA 13217

(315) 442-0139 phone

http://www.globaluniversaldesign.org/

info@globaluniversaldesign.org