Universal design and the built environment

This chapter describes the need for universal design, its evolution, and its application across various domains of the built environment. Universal design has been adopted enthusiastically by many members of both the rehabilitation technology and environmental design communities. It offers these two disciplines a great opportunity to influence society at large by taking a leadership role in re-shaping the physical world using human-centered design. Disability is part of the human condition. Almost everyone will be temporarily or permanently impaired at some point in life, and those who survive to old age will experience increasing difficulties in body function. Rehabilitation practice focuses primarily on helping individuals with disabilities to overcome their daily barriers to independence and participation. Environmental design can reduce those barriers and make the rehabilitation practitioner’s job easier, reduce the cost of rehabilitation technology, and increase freedom of action for people with disabilities.