It’s often assumed that music education programs are not something for people who a deaf. An article in the Journal of American Sign Languages & Literatures says this is not so. Using a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach, the authors challenge these preconceptions. The article begins, ” Music is not bound to a single modality, language, or culture, but few music education programs represent a multimodal spectrum of music…” and overlook the contribution of Deaf culture. Music universal design and the Deaf community do go together.
An Auslan interpretation of Handel’s Messiah was performed by a Deaf choir in 2015 at the Sydney Opera House. There is a video of the complete two hour concertwhere there is interpreting throughout by individuals and groups. If you just want the Hallelujah Chorus where all interpreters get involved, go to 1hour 38 minutes into the video.
Evan Wilkinson outlines the process that Sport and Recreation Victoria went through to bring about a better understanding of the principles of universal design.
One of his key arguments is that if universal design principles are considered at the outset, the cost implications are low. However, if left until later in the design and construction process, the cost of ‘adding on’ access features is far more costly. Download the PDF of the PowerPoint Slideshow (5.5 MB) for more on UD and sport and recreation facilities.
Sport and Recreation Victoria have also launched their Design for Everyone Guide. The link takes you to the website that also has a very useful video on universal design shown below.
Camp Manyung continues to lead the way in implementing universal design principles with more improvements for access and inclusion. They now have a harness for the flying fox for wheelchair users which is a great addition to their inclusive facilities. However, there’s no reason why other campers can’t use it too. Others with reduced mobility or low vision, or very apprehensive about participating could perhaps use it as well. The harness looks like it feels very safe.
The harness was co-designed with industry experts, outdoor professionals, and disability support experts. People with lived experience helped develop and test the system.
Camp Manyung is a good example of how specialist equipment enhances the existing universally designed camp site to make it more inclusive. It also shows how specialist equipment needs to be embedded in a universally design setting to be successful.
The new harness enables participation in activities like Giant Swings, Flying Foxes, and Challenge Courses. Image courtesy Gary Sissons, MPNews.
Camp Manyung aims to make camp programs inclusive for all and to provide equal participation and challenge for every camper. The new harness replaces the old one which had limited access to height-based activities.
So many things to do
The websitesection on accessibility outlines the accommodation, specialised equipment such as beach wheelchairs, and adaptive cycles. The camp is one of many located in Victoria and has many different indoor and outdoor activities.
More details on the facilities are provided in a larger document in plain language. It covers everything from pre-arrival and what to expect when you get there including food and drink. The long list of adventure activities are carefully explained with images of equipment and places. This is an excellent example not just being inclusive, but how to let others know that you are.
There is also a video of really good instructions for operators about applying the harness which is also well designed for operators. A good universal design result.
Integrating universal design into camp activities
An earlier version of this post outlined some of the initial work that went into making Camp Manyung universally designed. Here is the relevant content.
Sport and Recreation Victoria and YMCA wanted to increase awareness and applicability of universal design in residential camps. They produced a report,Universal Design: Integrating the Principles into Camp Activities. The report outlines ways in which environments, activities and programs within residential camps can be used by everyone. It shows how to apply universal design to all aspects of camp activities.
The image shows how any one can enjoy the flying fox on the “Skyrider”.
There is no legislation within Australia to guide the design of sporting or leisure activities that enable participation by everyone at a level that suits them. Sport and Recreation Victoria have embraced the principles of universal design to make all their camps and activities inclusive. The accessible high ropes course shows that anything is possible.
It’s often assumed that music education programs are not something for people who a deaf. An article in the Journal of American Sign Languages & Literatures says this is not so. Using a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach, the authors challenge these preconceptions. The article begins, ” Music is not bound to a single modality, language, or culture, but few music education programs represent a multimodal spectrum of music…” and overlook the contribution of Deaf culture. Music universal design and the Deaf community do go together.
Evan Wilkinson outlines the process that Sport and Recreation Victoria went through to bring about a better understanding of the principles of universal design. 
