Assoc Prof Lisa Stafford‘s presentation is titled, “Where are all the children? Positioning children, young people with a disability and their families in the universal design agenda”.
Synopsis: Much of the discourse around universal design assumes an adult perspective and consequently children are left out and become invisible in the designs. Lisa argues that we must include children, including those with a disability and their families if we are to truly be representative in our policies and practices in universal design. Otherwise they will end up as an afterthought.
Edited transcript of Bec Hoand Justine Perkins presentation, Fair Play: Inclusion begins in the playground.
Synopsis: Including children with a disability in outdoor play is possible with some careful design planning. All children benefit from learning through play and using outdoor activities to socialise and interact with each other regardless of their level of capability. Bec and Justine provide insightful case studies and an overview of the Touched by Olivia Foundation.
Richard Bowman says that slips are often misreported and thus overrepresented as a cause of falls, where many such falls are not necessarily associated with slippery surfaces. There are many factors to consider in preventing slip-initiated falls and not all of these can be captured in an industry standard. Cleaning materials and wear and tear over time all contribute to the complexity of the challenge of providing adequately sustainable slip resistant inclusive access. The title of his presentation is Slip Resistance According to Goldilocks.
The Goldilocks principle dictates that liveable housing should have flooring that is just right. In terms of slip resistance this means not too slippery and not too rough (so as to be difficult to clean or likely to cause stumbles). This enlightened view runs contrary to some safety experts, who simply believe that specifying greater slip resistance is the effective panacea. People want to live in safe homely environments, not with senselessly mandated semi-industrial flooring.
In a sensible world we would make informed decisions based on established data. In the world of slip resistance, there has been no infrastructural benchmarking. Undertaking any public good research is generally considered somebody else’s responsibility due to the perceived high costs. Governments invest heavily in trying to prevent older people from falling, where researchers seek to devise increasingly incremental degrees of preserved health, fitness and postural stability, and to protect older people from being subjected to medically prescribed polypharmaceutical disorientation. Yet none of the duplicated biomedical multivariable studies have actually determined the available underfoot traction. Most falls by older people are likely to be due to biomedical causes rather than environmentally induced slips, but the whole community benefits from appropriate slip resistance levels.
This presentation will provide a sneak preview of outcomes of two current research projects: a psychophysical slip resistance study where experiential public participation should indicate what bathroom flooring is considered to be just right; and a pilot study using virtual reality environments to determine when pedestrians modify their gait and reduce their traction demand, thus enabling development of improved risk models relevant to specific situations. The ultimate aim is to get universal design slip resistance specifications just right.
Geoff Barker’s presentation highlights the importance of community engagement and involvement. Using a case study of a project in the Northern Territory with the local Aboriginal people he shows how careful planning, and involvement in all stages from initial concept to implementation, is important for the success of a project. Inclusion is a necessity and not an option.
Transcript from the live captioning of Guy Luscombe’s presentation, Beyond Universal Design: What else can designers do?
Guy outlines his research in Europe which included engagement with older residents in care settings and found some unexpected results. He was looking for innovative buildings for housing and care for older people. Large windows was an unexpected finding and he goes on to discuss why this might be one of the most desirable features, among others, for older people.
The principles of universal design, as they are realised in buildings and products, focus on physical and physiological needs such as accessibility and of ease of use.
However, despite being hinted at by principles of equitability and simplicity, the more emotional and psychological barriers, such as stigmatisation and social exclusion, are not usually actively addressed in building design.
True universal design would surely address this and try to design for the whole person. But is it possible and if so, how can the more emotional and psychological needs be addressed in design?
This presentation will draw upon an exploration of innovative buildings for older people completed as part of a Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship study tour recently completed to suggest that there are ways to design for the whole person and provide a more thorough, richer and ultimately more inclusive universality.
Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (Ireland)
DrGer Craddock’s first keynote presentation, Universal Design as a Public Good, was captioned and transcribed. It was his presentation at the 2014 Australian Universal Design Conference that got CUDA off to a start. The transcript includes questions from the audience
Synopsis: Dr Craddock’s presentation covers the importance of using consistent terminology when discussing and researching aspects of universal design and supports the use of the term “universal design” as defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Also essential to the ongoing success of universal design is finding champions within government and industry. Continue Reading Universal Design as a Public Good: can it deliver?
This is an edited transcript of the final panel session at the Australian Universal Design Conference 2014.
Dr Ger Craddock, The Hon Susan Ryan AO, Ms Joe Manton, and Mr Richard Hawkins discuss the need for a centre for universal design in Australia. It includes audience questions.
Dr Ger Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (Ireland)
Embracing the whole mosaic that forms society, Ireland’s story
You can read the edited transcript from the live captioning of Dr Ger Craddock‘s keynote presentation at the Australian Universal Design Conference 2104. He explains how the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design was set up in 2007 and the progress made to date. He showcases how a dedicated centre can promote the principles, provide information and educational guidance, develop appropriate standards and be a driving force for inclusion. His presentation was the catalyst for starting CUDA.
Dr Ger Craddock showing the live captioning screen
Synopsis: Dr Craddock outlines some of the challenges and successes of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design in Ireland. He explains the establishment of the Centre and its position within the government framework. He highlights the work they have carried out since its inception seven years ago and some of the key documents that have helped inform their work. Much of the Centre’s work has been engaging with stakeholders to develop many standards and guidelines, promotional material, educational packages, and award programs.
The Centre covers the three key areas of design: the built environment, product development, and information and communication technology. Universal design in education is also closely linked. Their website contains many useful publications, guidelines and standards. Dr Craddock’s presentation was followed by a panel session and a call for a similar centre to be set up in Australia. The presentation begins with a video of students undertaking a design challenge.
In 1998 a group of passionate people came together with the aim of creating a centre for accessible design. They consulted widely and held two symposia, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. The findings from these symposia are documented in Accessible Design in Australia.
For various reasons, the project ended at this point and no further action was taken. However, soon afterwards a small group, led by Dr Max Murray, started the Association of Consultants in Access Australia, (ACAA). This has become the professional body for access consultants in Australia.
Centre for Universal Design Australia has picked up the threads of the original idea to follow through on the aim of having a central point or body for creating an inclusive Australia.
The Norwegian Government has taken the principles of universal design and applied them across all policies to create maximum inclusion. This makes everyone responsible for inclusion at every level – in the built environment, outdoor areas, transport, and ICT. Here is an update to “Norway Universally Designed by 2025”.
In 2008, the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, launched its first Action Plan 2009-2013 with the goal of a universally designed Norway by 2025.
The focus on was on people with disability, accessible built environments and minimising discrimination. The plan covered the actions of the public service and all ministries. “The Government’s work is based on universal design. Universal design is an expression of a value put on equality by society.”
In 2010, Norway amended its Planning and Building Act, among others, to include universal design. The plan is to take a staged approach to upgrading public buildings and spaces.
The Delta Centre was given responsibility to coordinate the actions in Norway’s 2015-2019 plan in 2016. This plan is more comprehensive and covers ICT and communications to a more detailed level. This is in recognition of how we are becoming more reliant on digital applications.
Assoc Prof Lisa Stafford‘s presentation is titled, “Where are all the children? Positioning children, young people with a disability and their families in the universal design agenda”.
