Educating Designers and Design Educators about Universal Design

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Educating Designers and Design Educators about
Universal Design

• Joy K. Potthoff, Ed.D., ASID
• NCIDQ Certification
• Associate Professor, Interior Design
• Bowling Green State University

Roberta L. Null, Ph.D. Common Place
Design Whittier, California
Margaret H. Teaford, Ph.D. Assistant
Professor School of Allied Medical
Professions Ohio State University
Sandra Sundermeier, CPA Universal Design
Advocate Bowling Green, Ohio
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Universal Design
Roberta Null, Ph.D. Common Place Design Whittier,
CA Arlena Hines Lansing Community College,
MI (Powerpoint Presentation)
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Universal Design
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Universal Design

• Universal Design
• is design for all people

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Four General Principles of Universal Design

• Supportive
• Adaptable
• Accessible
• Safe

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Universal Design is Supportive

• It makes the environment work for the
  individual, stressing ease of use maintenance.

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Universal Design

• Easy to use
• Childs hand with faucet

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Universal Design

• Example
• Easy to use, smooth surface, and also makes it
  easy to care for.
• Faucet

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Adaptable

• Universal Design is adaptable.
• It serves a wide range of users whose needs
  change over time.

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Universal Design

• Example
• From GE. Real Life (electronically) adjustable
  kitchen sink cabinet shown
• at highest level.
• Note Raised placement of dishwasher.

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Universal Design

• From GE. Real Life kitchen sink at lower level.

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Accessible

• The everyday comforts and
• conveniences that Normal individuals enjoy are
  provided to all people.

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Universal Design

• No Step
• Entrance - California home of Ruby Trow that was
  designed
• 15 years ago.

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Universal Design
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Universal Design

• Accessible Bed in wall Closed
• San Francisco
• Hotel guest room

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Universal Design

• Easy to use
• Bed open

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Universal Design

• Accessible
• Elevator at end of hallway
• private home,
• San Diego,
• California.

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Universal Design

• -Low threshold
• -Roll in shower
• -Important for all
• interior doors

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Universal Design

• Shower in Buuck home
• User can slide along
• built in bench to reach
• shower area
• Glass block adds light to
• interior bath

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Universal Design

• Easy to use
• Kohler Comfort Height Toilet

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Universal Design

• Accessible
• Arjo Freedom Bath
• Open

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Universal Design

• Accessible
• Arjo Freedom Bath
• Closed

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Universal Design

• Adaptable
• Bocci Adjustable magnifying mirror

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Universal Design

• Honeywell Thermostat
• Easy to use

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Universal Design

• Asco front loading washer dryer.

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Universal Design

• Easy to use
• Accessible
• Combination
• washer dryer.

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Safe

• Universal design is safe.
• It not only provides environments and
• tools for the presently disabled, but
• actually anticipates and prevents disabilities
• such as repetitive strain injuries, back
• problems, and those caused by accidents.

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Universal Design

• An enlarged chair rail (back wall) provides
  support

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Universal Design

• Safe
• Front controls on
• Range for elderly
• housing

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Universal Design

• Soft bathtub (also warm to touch)

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Universal Design

• Details of
• soft bath tub.

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Universal Design

• Decorative grab bars in a senior housing facility.

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Universal Design

• Shower in senior
• housing facility
• No step entrance

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Universal Design

• Inexpensive
• sturdy
• grab bars

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Universal Design
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Universal Design
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Universal Design
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Universal Design
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Universal Design
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Accessibility Awareness

• Through teaching the concepts of Universal Design
  and the requirements of the Americans with
  Disabilities Act (ADA) codes it became clear to
  this Interior Design educator that the
  collaboration of a consultant with disabilities
  was crucial. In the late 1990s Sandra
  Sundermeier, who has multiple sclerosis (MS),
  volunteered to participate as a consultant to
  students in the Interior Design program at
  Bowling Green State University.

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Accessibility Awareness

• She has collaborated with students on many
  projects including
• Individual residential homes and two nursing
  homes for adults with Mental Retardation and
  Learning Disabilities (MRLD)
• 2006 ASID Student Design Competition which
  required students to design a health spa
  specifically for clients with MS
• Work with Kate Burnham, Holly Harbaugh and
  Melanie Krebs on their poster display presented
  at the Universal Design Lifespan Collaborative
  Strategies exhibit at the University of Southern
  California

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Accessibility Awareness
Sandra is dedicated to making students and public
aware of the many and varied accessibility issues
related to decreased mobility. She has taught
the students and myself invaluable lessons about
the need for Universal Design in both the
interior and exterior built environment. In our
presentation we will discuss this ongoing
collaboration and show you some of the students
design work.
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The Maze

• Retail Stores
• Just because I cant walk doesnt mean that I
  cant think
• When Im shopping, dont ignore me, you never
  know how much money I have!
• Dont put racks of clothing so close together
  that I cant get through--I feel like a mouse in
  a maze and I cant find my way out.

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The Maze

• Retail Stores
• Put wheelchairs/electric scooters/walkers near
  entrances so that I dont have to walk to the
  middle of the mall to borrow a scooter.
• How are disabled individuals supposed to get to
  the designated area to borrow the assistance
  aids? Their helpers can get them? What if they
  are elderly? Are the helpers supposed to leave
  the disabled individual alone while they secure
  the walker?

Designers should put themselves in the seat or
shoes of the disabled community before making
decisions that affect them.
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Accessibility Awareness
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Its a Long Way from Here!

• When you put in handicapped parking spaces,
  please put them close to the buildings entrance,
  not just where they will look nice.
• Remember that some people have a hard time
  getting around, but are not to the point of using
  a wheelchair. If youre having trouble walking,
  then you probably cant do steps, and dont need
  the extra exercise.
• Put curb cuts in convenient places, dont make us
  go down to the end of the building to get into
  the door.
• When you see me coming, hold open the door for
  me, dont wait until you see me struggle with the
  door for several minutes before you offer to
  help.
• Better yet, put in automatic door openers so that
  I can maintain my independence.

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Accessibility Awareness
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Everyones Got to Go!

• In handicap restrooms, please make sure that they
  are equipped so that most physically challenged
  individuals can use them - as independently as
  possible!
• Leave the handicapped stalls for those who need
  them.

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Accessibility Awareness
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Jessica RuschDesigner
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Jessica RuschDesigner
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Jessica RuschDesigner
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Jessica RuschDesigner
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Jessica RuschDesigner
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Lauren KleineDesigner
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Lauren KleineDesigner
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Lauren KleineDesigner
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Lauren KleineDesigner
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Lauren KleineDesigner
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Accessibility For All
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Accessibility For All
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Educating Allied Health and Interior Design
Students About Universal Design

• Margaret H. Teaford, Ph.D.
• The Ohio State University

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Students in the allied health field often
encounter some information about home
modifications as part of their study of
rehabilitation, but their view is limited to
providing equipment or adding grab bars or
handrails to the home. They may have heard about
Universal Design, but have not considered how it
could help able-bodied children and adults.
Likewise, interior design students have been
introduced to Universal Design and how it can be
incorporated into housing in an attractive way.
But they know little about the physical
limitations of both children and older adults
that make working and living in todays housing
environments so difficult. An interdisciplinary
class taught by faculty in interior design and
occupational therapy has brought these two
student groups together to learn from each other.

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The presentation will address class readings and
assignments as well as field trips and community
workshops that have enhanced their experiences.
Course evaluations will highlight what they have
learned together about Universal Design and how
they have been able to apply that knowledge to
real-life home assessments for families living in
the community.
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Introduction

• Students in physical and occupational therapy
  study about home modifications when addressing
  rehabilitation of patients who are planning to
  return home after hospitalization
• Likewise, students in interior design are exposed
  to Universal Design in their classes

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Problem

• Both groups of students have limited view of what
  Universal Design can actually do
• Students in allied health view it as help for
  elderly and disabled
• Students in interior design likewise view it as
  part of Americans with Disabilities Act
  implementation
• Neither sees it as part of lifespan development

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Interdisciplinary Class

• Case studies on kitchen and bathroom
• Field trips to see actual examples
• Conduct community workshops
• Students also conduct home assessments and report
  back their findings to homeowners

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Class Field Trips

• We visited a local home that had been renovated
  last summer to allow a resident to return home
  from a nursing home
• Second field trip was to see Universal Design
  exhibit at Farm Science Review which includes
  educational exhibit and a bathroom and kitchen

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UD Kitchen sponsored by Lowes which will be
featured in the January Issue of Creative Ideas
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UD Bathroom by Dave Fox Remodeling
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Workshops

• The students are trained to work in
  interdisciplinary teams to conduct community
  workshops on universal design
• This gives them a chance to plan and implement a
  workshop along with faculty
• Workshops are offered at churches, senior
  centers, retail outlets, and at Ohio States Farm
  Science Review center.

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Home Assessments

• Students teams representing each discipline
  conduct two home assessments
• Prior to visit, gather information from homeowner
  about any problems
• Complete evaluation form and analyze the home
• Prepare report with suggested changes, products,
  and costs

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Conclusions

• Students gain a better understanding of Universal
  Design through these hands-on activities
• They also have a better understanding of another
  discipline and how they can work together to
  provide improved services to the public