Universal accessibility in architecture refers to the capacity that all people have to access and inhabit a space regardless of their cognitive and physical capacities, and it is a subject that cannot be dismissed.
Jane Earl was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 26, a week before her wedding. “I will continue to get weaker, I am destined to be in a wheelchair,” she said. “How do I have the best quality of life from a wheelchair?” That question led her to a concept known as universal design, which aims to create accessible, welcoming spaces for all.
Utilizing Universal Design, interior designer Kendall Ansell and team were able to create a home that would be accessible for Jenna Reed-Cote, who has been in a wheelchair all her life.
Stephen Henderson speaks with three people who have spent a lot of time thinking about how to design a better future for all Detroiters.
87 percent of adults age 65-plus want to stay in their current home and community as they age.
As Hurricane Florence barreled toward the Carolinas, Terry Helvie and her children were forced to evacuate to a shelter farther inland. They met a new set of challenges there.
Home modifications can help delay institutional care, creating benefits for the individual, the taxpayer and the healthcare system.
The Universal Design Living Laboratory in Columbus, Ohio, is the top-rated universal design home in North America with three national universal design certifications. The Universal Design Living Laboratory serves as an example of how to best design for everyone of all ages and abilities.
As artificial intelligence and IoT continue to advance and refine, the smart home is starting to take flight. More and more objects are now becoming connected to smart devices—washing machines, lighting systems, ventilation, cooking appliances, cameras—all controllable from a single device.
New Uniland Development Company hotel in Amherst, New York, will incorporate innovative solutions for Universal Design(isUD™). Supported by extensive evidence from research and practice, isUD™ includes both tried and true ideas and cutting-edge solutions for creating inclusive and healthy environments that make everyone feel welcome. isUD was developed by Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.