New York City and Nonprofit Clash Over Accessibility of Roosevelt Memorial
Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park opened on Roosevelt Island four years ago, City Hall has been arguing with the nonprofit group that built and runs the park over whether it is fully accessible to disabled people.
Creating Inclusive Environments with DeafSpace Architecture
The Deaf community live in a world designed for people who can hear, but a new design movement challenges how buildings should be built, where sensory experiences and interaction with the fabric of the building takes precedence.
A day in the life of accessible design: the case of the invisible lift – Part 2
On reaching the automatic sliding glass doors at the North Entrance, you will find a call button for assistance if needed on the wall to the left of the doors. Reception is at a higher level approached by four limestone stairs here. A retracting staircase lift is provided here for wheelchair users and anyone with […]
A Lesson in Universal Design: How to Make Stairs Safer for All
One of the most dangerous stairs people encounter each day are the ones leading into the house from the garage. Often these are cheap, prebuilt MDF stairs that are narrow, steep, and a hazard to everyone: toddler, teenager, adult, and senior alike.
Design for Everybody
Whether it’s a corridor plan for two blocks in small-town USA or a blockbuster master plan worthy of a national award, planners have to design for all users of the public realm. Yet planning for people with disabilities seems to flummox even the best of urban designers.
Universal Design
Level Playing Field: A group of recent projects demonstrates that true universal design goes beyond mere accessibility.
An Open Letter to Restaurateurs and Restaurant Staff
I love eating out! I really do. Eating out lets me experience flavors, sights, and sounds from around the world. If the staff and restaurant have made for a good experience, I leave feeling satisfied, enriched, and even a little bit pampered. But, as an individual who uses a wheelchair, I find that many of you have […]
How To Design For Autism
Problem: many autistic kids are super sensitive to the sight, sound, and feel of their environment. So when New York-Presbyterian decided to build an early intervention center for autistic children, they needed it designed with their needs in mind. One in 68 American children have been diagnosed with autism, according to the Center for Disease […]
Improved access: Disabled, advocates see progress in public accommodations
People with disabilities and officials say Columbia is a good place to live for those with a disability, but challenges still exist and improvements are needed. Advances in technology, particularly smartphone technology, have led to significant improvements for people with disabilities.
A day in the life of accessible design: the case of the invisible lift – Part 1
The idealised format of modern living and design requires space, light and a lack of clutter in design and spatial planning. This ideal has evidently been at the forefront of the thoughts of the designer (s) of the foyer area of the GreyFriars Hotel, East Hill, Colchester. As a result, the entrance foyer is an […]