Universal Design: A tool for creating a world where everyone is involved

Did you know that people with disabilities are the world's largest minority? In Denmark, there are approximately 30% of 16-64-year-olds, for example, with a self-reported disability. It can be either physical or mental, but common is that it affects everyday life -- not least because the world is not designed for everyone. But couldn't it be great if the world was designed so that everyone was included? That is precisely the goal of 'universal design'. The term takes into account that all people are different and live with different and changing functional abilities throughout a life. And, by the way, it is also part of United Nations Convention on Disability and an obvious means of living UN 'Leave No One Behind' Agenda.
But what exactly is universal design, why is it so important and what does it mean in practice?
thee questions we will try to answer in this article that is the first in a series on how we can design the world in a much more inclusive way.

The origin of universal design

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The concept of universal design was formulated by the American architect Ron Mace in the 80s. Mace had his own drawing room, taught at the architecture school at North Carolina State University and was a wheelchair user himself.
He responded critically to the fact that available solutions, such as a wheelchair ramp, often exposed or downright stigmatized people with disabilities.
The focus of the architecture was on compensatory solutions for a particular user group rather than architectural quality for all. Accessibility was not part of the overall design process or the architectural idea.
The available solutions were separate from the whole, and thus they also separated people with disabilities from people without disabilities.
That's how it was then, and in part so it is today. Think of the wheelchair ramp that we mentioned before. You put it on a building in case a wheelchair user needs to use the house.
People without disabilities arrive via the main staircase, while people with disabilities have to use a different solution because the building is not designed for everyone.
Ron Mace proposed an alternative approach — one based on a human view that does not divide us into “with” or “without” disabilities.
As Ron Mace phrased it:

Universal design is the design of products and environments so that they can be used to the greatest extent possible by all persons without the need for adaptation or special design.

In this way, the division between people with and without disabilities is blurred — both in theory and in practice.
We create space for more people because we understand people as different and design society from that human perspective.

Strengthens diversity

Universal design is, therefore, in its essence a tool to provide equal space for more people.

It is a means of making room for the diversity of functional abilities that exists. And a way to ensure that everyone can participate and be heard in the places they want to.

So it is no longer just about architecture and design, but also about everyone having access to all parts of life as far as possible.

Universal design is a means which can be used in the design of all activities and offers of society. This applies, for example, to educational services, jobs, cultural offerings, leisure life, legislation, health and movement, tourism and travel, democratic debates, etc.

Universal design can thus be used as a quality assurance that we have remembered everyone.

It makes our world more diverse, strengthens diversity and ensures that we get even more good ideas into play. Large companies know this well, which is why diversity, inclusion and equality have become key concepts among managers.

Denmark is committed to universal design

But we can also pull out a few numbers that illustrate the need to think more inclusively.

• Forty-four percent of people with major disabilities have primary education as the highest level of education. For people without disabilities is the figure 25 percent (see p. 66).
• Thirty-nine percent of people with a major disability are in employment. In comparison, 86 percent of people without disability in the labor market; (see p. 43).
• Only 32.5 percent of people with major mental disabilities and 41.4 percent of people with major physical disabilities experience being able to use buses and trains without hassle. For people without disability, the figure is 86 percent (see p. 119).

We owe it to everyone to be able to participate in society. And we've actually promised that too.

All countries that have joined United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Undertakes (since 2006) also to develop and integrate universal design into the design of products, environments, schemes and offers, so that they can be used as far as possible by all persons without the need for adaptation or special design.

And yes, Denmark has joined in.

Thus, universal design is—or should—be a concept that applies to all areas of life lived — family life, education, employment, community participation and health, etc.

What can you do yourself?

Would you like to help increase diversity, inclusion and inclusiveness? So are here are four tips on how you can get started:

1. Become aware of blind spots:

Ask yourself: How do we understand disability? What ideas do we have about people with disabilities? For example, is it always a wheelchair that we envision, or do we have a more nuanced picture of what disability is?

2. The world is diverse — so must the solutions:

People with disabilities are different, and disabilities are different. Therefore, the solutions must be so too. In other words, diversity in user needs requires that you find diversity in the solutions you create.

3. Be norm-critical:

Approximately 30 percent of the Danish population lives with a self-reported disability. This applies to both physical, sensory, cognitive, neurodivergent and psychosocial impairments. Those individuals are also single people, fathers, mothers, bosses, football fans, tango dancers, teenagers and school teachers.

So remember to ask questions about your own notion of who people with disabilities are, and be curious about the language and words you use when talking about people with disabilities.

4. Seek knowledge — and take one step at a time:

Universal design is a complex field of knowledge that requires interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration to be solved. That knowledge is both the learned knowledge, the professional knowledge, the practice-based and the academic knowledge. Therefore, seek your knowledge from many different experts, and be aware that the regulations in construction, for example, represent only minimum requirements.

A way to get everyone involved

Universal design also matches well with a wide range of UN global goals. The Transversal Principle “Leave No One Behind” It is necessary to ensure that No one should be left behind in sustainable development.. People must be heard — and their active participation must be encouraged.

This is where universal design can truly reach its full potential as a value-based change tool.

Ron Mace's original thoughts on an equally-inclusive society for all dovetail into the slipstream of today's ambitions for a shared sustainable future for all people.

With universal design, there are opportunities to rethink who we create a shared future for and how we shape that future.

It is at the same time a means of reflecting on our own blind spots, because how do we imagine ourselves the people we design society for?

A growing awareness of inclusion, diversity and communities, and an ever-growing interest in concepts such as universal design, leave their mark on our expectations for a shared sustainable future — for all people.

For wouldn't it be beautiful if we can create a society in which everyone, regardless of ability to function, can participate and contribute?

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