Universal design — We need to do it together

‍Universal design is a value-based concept and a tool to include diversity in human abilities as a core parameter in design and planning. Concepto può essere interpretato come mindset, un strumento del processo o un solução de design tangibles. Se originaly defined, it has been further developed in various contexts and in a dynamic process. Het is geplaatst in het UN-Konferentie op de Rights van personnes met disabiliteiten (CRPD) als een grootste conceptuel en zoals ook een potenziel voor en voorvoer om de voorvoer om een voorbeeld naar een onderhoud (LNOB) in het global effort van implementeren van de Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Interdisciplinary Approach and Collaboration

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Universal design is a dynamic concept needing to be implemented in a context specific approach. To unleash its potential, it is decisive to work across scale, sector, discipline, and process. Prioritizing interdisciplinary collaboration, exchange of experiences, sharing of examples, development of new methods and investigation of research-based knowledge is all crucial to the process of implementing universal design in planning, design and use of our built environment. American universal design pioneer and architect Ron Mace initially wanted to challenge the idea of a 'them and us', 'disabled and abled' and instead create a concept that could enhance the understanding of all users living with different and changing abilities throughout a lifespan. He reacted to the existing approach of designing solutions in a fragmented and detailed manner, instead of thinking, process, knowledge, collaboration, values, and complexity. Sêwirana universale pode ser interpretada y implementado em varios manos, e requiere diferentes skillas, tipos de zanistão e collaboração. A. We need to share knowledge and inspire each other. There is no static or set way of interpreting universal design, and hence it is decisive to seek inspiration and knowledge outside of our own professional framework. Collaboration across disciplines, types of knowledge and experiences, geographical settings, different uses and roles in the building sector and knowledge field. We all need to interact, challenge each other, and collaborate.

From Planning to Practice: Un esempio

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Designing, planning, and building the physical framework for our lives is a complex process with many different actors involved. The process itself is highly interdisciplinary, and requires different skills and types of knowledge, as well as consistent communication and collaboration. Universal design does not fall into one aspect of the build environment, but across the entirety of it. When a student goes to college, she needs to get from her home to the bus stop, access the bus as well as exit it. Then she needs to cross the street and get to the building, locate and enter her classroom, participate in the class and take her exams. She needs to take part in study trips, lunch in the canteen and social activities. Securing universal design in this chain of activities spans across different disciplines, policies, and sectors. Hem a. La classe deve essere accessibile, come l'approche educativo, planno curricula, e la legislativa e políticos fornece la tecnologia assistiva necessaria. Securing an inclusive environment and society through universal design is indeed an interdisciplinary process and task. And we need to do it together.