Author: Jane Bringolf

Participants in this panel session at the Universal Design Conference were Kathryn Greiner (perspective of older people), Nikke Gladwin (perspective of children), and Mark Relf (perspective of people with disability). The session was chaired by Andrew Buchanan.

Panel Session Day 2 Transcript  PDF

Panel Session Day 2 Transcript Word

Kathryn Greiner Presentation Synopsis:  The focus of Kathryn Greiner’s presentation is on older people, but also recognising what is good for older people is also good for people of all ages. Attitudes to older people need to change so that there are more inclusive behaviours by others in the community. Unfriendly or thoughtless behaviours can be a barrier to being more active and involved as we age, and this is where engagement with the private sector is critical. Also needed are toolkits and information to help people understand why behaviours need to change, and this applies particularly to the private sector so that they can benefit from the upcoming baby boomer cohort, as well as the baby boomers themselves.

Kathryn Greiner’s speaking notes PDF

Nikke Gladwin Presentation Synopsis:  Children are often forgotten in planning and neighbourhood design, yet they have a wealth of information and idea ready to be tapped, if only they are asked.  Child Friendly by Design is a projects are collaborative projects where children and young people are involved in community engagement processes for the benefit of everyone.

Mark Relf Presentation Synopsis:  The evolution of accessibility and universal design covers some fifty years and several legal instruments, standards, state planning policies, and local government ordinances.  This presentation provides a potted history of the evolution of accessibility and universal design and helps us make sense of the situation today.

Mark Relf’s Panel Presentation slides PDF 6MB

Edited transcript from live captioning of Chris Nicholls’ presentation, The House that Chris Built.

Synopsis:  Chris discusses the design and construction of his family home from the perspective of a wheelchair user.  He outlines some of the problems with applying standards such as AS1428 in homes and explains why some design features, which are often referred to as disability features, are not necessarily needed by every wheelchair user or person with a disability. He also explains which features were important and why. The slideshow has many instructive photographs.

Chris Nicholls Presentation Transcript  PDF

Chris Nicholls Presentation Transcript  Word

Chris Nicholls slideshow PDF 23MB

Noelle Hudson’s edited transcript from the live captioning.

Synopsis: Noelle outlines her research at local government level in Queensland to find out the degree of support for introducing universal design in housing.  There were some surprising results with some councils being supportive, but changing their minds later on, and others that were against it.  Noelle provides some insights into some of the local government thinking on this topic in Queensland.

Noelle Hudson Presentation Transcript PDF

Noelle Hudson Presentation Transcript Word

Noelle Hudson slideshow PDF  500kb

 

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.

Stafford Presentation Transcript PDF

Stafford Presentation Transcript Word

Edited transcript of Bec Ho and 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.

Bec Ho, Justine Perkins Presentation Transcript PDF

Bec Ho, Justine Perkins Presentation Transcript Word

Bec Ho, Justine Perkins Slideshow PDF 9MB

 

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.

Richard Bowman slideshow  PDF  7MB

Abstract: 

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. 

Geoff Barker Presentation Transcript  PDF

Geoff Barker Presentation Transcript Word

Geoff Barker slideshow   PDF  4MB

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.

Guy Luscombe Presentation Transcript PDF

Guy Luscombe Presentation Transcript Word

Abstract:

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.

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

UD as a public good Transcript PDF

UD as a public good Transcript Word

Slideshow presentation PDF 4MB

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. 

Final Panel Session Where to from Here? Transcript PDF

Final Panel Session Where to from Here? Transcript Word