Design for Everyone
Universal Design is a concept for designing all aspects of the built environment -- homes, mobility routes, landscapes, commercial developments, products and life space, including equipment and architecture -- with the goal of making them accessible to every person, regardless of age or ability.
Aging and Disability Services is working with our Advisory Council, other local and national organizations, and community members to promote the use of Universal Design. Our hope is that Universal Design will become commonplace in all aspects of the built environment -- enabling all to remain in the place they call home, even if their abilities change.
Resources:
- Northwest Universal Design Council (NWUDC) NWUDC serves as a forum to educate and collaborate in an effort to promote universal design and create "environments for all." The council meets quarterly on the 3rd Thursdays of January, April, July. NWUDC hosts a web site which includes resources, guidelines, and relevant research on Universal Design (UD), and maintains a listserv, or electronic mailing list, for sharing information on UD related news and events.
- NWUDC web site: environmentsforall.org
- Sign-up for the NWUCDC email list.
- Recent Presentations
- Designing for Life - A presentation by Mike Vowels and Emory Baldwin for the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging, June 2009, and the ADS Advisory Council, August 2009.
- Universal Design: US and International Updates, Trends and Prospects - presentation by Valerie Fletcher, August 22, 2007.
- Universal Design: Increasing Livability An educational documentary addressing the meaning of "Universal Design" in single family home construction. In partnership with Seattle Pacific University. Copies of the film are available for purchase by calling (206) 417-2227.
- "Universally Designed House Built in Tukwila" Article by Sandra Hartje, Associate Professor at Seattle Pacific University, featured in the September 2005 issue of Housing Washington.
- Neighborhood Quality of Life Study for Seniors (NQLS) A research project funded by the National Institutes of Health to examine the relation between one's neighborhood, quality of life, health, and physical activity. This study is unique because of collaboration between two different areas of research: health behavior and transportation/urban planning.
- Adaptive Environments/Institute for Human Centered Design Information on Universal Design, education and training, publications, design examples.
- The Center for Universal Design Information for designers, researchers, and consumers. Content includes the seven principles of universal design, educational materials, resources, design ideas, and other information.
- Concrete Change Description of "visitability" design and effort to make all homes visitable. Links to additional resources and information.
- Practical Guide to Universal Home Design
- Aging in Place Video Learn about simple modifications that can improve the usability of a home for all members of the household. Created by the Kirkland Senior Council and ADS Advisory Council members.