Examples of Universal Design

Universal Design Examples

Definition: an approach to designing environments and products so they can be used by the widest range of users without adaptation. (Center for Universal Design, 1997) It is also a way to conceptualize access and to maximize learning for the greatest number of students.

Examples of Universal Design:
- An entrance with no stairs at all
- Doors with a large switch installed
- Toilet rooms with more than one stall that is larger
- “family” toilet room
- Sidewalk curbs
- Closed captioning
- Captioning course videos
No stairs: means that instead of providing a separate entrance for those with disabilities, that the entrance accommodates everyone at the same time. This allows for everyone to use the same entrance and benefit from it even they do not have a disability.
Large switch installed: Means that instead of having a large door for only wheelchairs that there is a switch that can be used for someone using a wheelchair as well as a person carrying a large box who needs helping getting into a building. This shows how the door is being used universally.
Large stall bathrooms: Means that there would be more bathrooms with larger stalls to accommodate other needs besides using a wheelchair. Another reason for this is having a baby changing station, or a station for a mom to breast feed, or help child who is potty training.
“Family” toilet room: is a bathroom that is accessible to men and women with closed stalls so that if a mom needs to take her son in the bathroom or a dad needs to take his daughter to the bathroom it wouldn’t be awkward or unacceptable and allows for one facility instead of two.
Sidewalk curbs: were originally designed to help those using wheelchairs, but they also are used for people on skateboards or moms and dads walking with strollers , or for a delivery staff with rolling carts, and bike riders etc.
Closed captioning: allows for television programs including movies, shows, weather, sports, and weather for the deaf or hearing impaired. Closed Captioning also allows for people to be able to watch and understand television when in nosy environments like the airport, a restaurant, or with a group of loud friends. Also if you want to learn the lyrics to a song, closed captioning helps.
Captioning course videos: makes course videos for hearing impaired more accessible, along with redundant information for the non hearing impaired student- also benefits those when English is not the primary language.