I chose this topic because I think it is the most important. I know when I go somewhere in public with my grandparents they need to take the ramp or elevator but sometimes thats completely out of the way. Or just last week I saw a kid in a wheelchair having difficulty moving in the icy cobblestone on campus and another student walked over to help him. I don't think it is fair that some people just because they have some sort of impairment do not get the same experience out of a trip to the store or museum or really anywhere that everyone else gets. We are not getting any younger and eventually we will all need some sort of adjustment to everyday life whether it is due to hearing or vision lost or something physical like arthritis.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN MEANS ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONE AND ALL
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/ada/article/Accessibility-for-One-and-All--5573
In this article, I really liked the "Beyond the Requirements" section. They used the example of separate wheelchair accessible entrances. While this is a requirement and does comply with ADA guidelines, the ramp may be in the back of the building or around the corner. Either way it is either more difficult to find than the main entrance, and people who need it may need to go completely out of their way. Just because the building is accessible does not mean it is welcoming.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ON DISABILITY AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN
What I like about this video is the grad student talking about his accident and his apartment. It goes to show that a disability really can come across anyone at any given moment. Also I liked how they pointed out that just because a space is accessible, it is not universal. If you look at his bathroom when they show it, it does look easy for him to use but what about for someone else who doesn't necessarily need that? It almost looks dangerous for someone who wouldn't know how to work the sliding chair. There has to be some happy medium between the two that can make it truly universal.
KHOLER AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN
What I enjoyed about this video is that they used standard products, not products for the disabled, when designing this bathroom. It has many features that would make it easy for a person with a disability to get around comfortably but also it could be used by anyone. It also looks very nice and modern.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN AHEAD OF TIME
This video reminded me of my grandparents house. When my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo treatment he became very weak and they had to make adjustments in their bathroom and front steps. I find it pretty sad that life is so a crazy cycle and before you realize it you need help doing everyday things. I think it was pretty cool that they could afford to make all of those adjustments in their home and that it has been working well for them. Also the spec house is really cool. The home doesn't even look like it was designed for the handicapped and it could serve perfectly well for a family that is completely healthy at the moment but its features of universal design could be used in the future.
WHY DESIGN EXCLUDES MANY
http://www.smartplanet.com/people/blog/pure-genius/early-oxo-designer-why-our-design-still-excludes-many/5533/
What I found most interesting in this article is that in the 70s designers admitted they designed for 40-year old caucasian families with 2.3 kids. I think its cool that this designer is a gerontologist and has been studying universal design for decades. I'm glad that the homes are being changed the most as well, because this allows for comfort at least in the private sector for people with disabilities.
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