Syllabus

• Background and need

• Types of disability and approaches towards disability

• History of development of universal design initiatives

• Study of Human – Environment Interaction system

• Norms, standards and best practices for

• Indoor environment

(horizontal circulation in building, vertical circulation, sanitary facilities, signage

etc.)
 Syllabus

• Norms, standards and best practices for

• Outdoor environment

(road and footpath, parking, bus stop, park etc.)

• Special requirements

• For the elderly

• For children

• Universally accessed transportation and tourism

 References
1. Steinfeld, E. and Maisel, J. L. (2012). Universal Design: Creating
Inclusive Environments. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.

2. Null, R. (2014). Universal Design: Principles and Models. CRC

Press, Taylor & Francis Group.

3. Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free

Built Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons
(2016). Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India.

4. Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built

Environment for Disabled and Elderly Persons (1998), Central
Public Works Department, Ministry of Urban Affairs and
Employment, Government of India.
 Assignments

• Access audit of an environment (8 marks)

• Proposal for an environment (7 marks)

• Class test (1) (5 marks)

What is universal design?
What is the need of studying
universal design?
Universal design
BACKGROUND

Universal design emerged out of the disability rights

movement, which began in the late 1960s, its goal was to
bring people with disabilities into the mainstream of society
by equal opportunity and eliminating discrimination
Universal design

Ron Mace, an architect with a disability, is often credited with the

invention of the concept.

Ron stated “ Too often older and disabled people live limited lives
or give up their homes and neighbourhoods prematurely because
the standard housing of the past cannot meet their current needs”
Universal design
Definitions

universal design is:

“The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to
the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or
specialized design.”
—Mace (1985)

“design for all” is used in Europe:

. . design for human diversity, social inclusion, and equality.

—Design for All Europe (2008)

In the United Kingdom, the term “inclusive design” is popular:

The design of mainstream products and/or services that is accessible to,

and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible . . . without the
need for special adaptation or specialized design.
—British Standards Institute (2005)
Universal design
Definitions

Revised definition of universal design is:

“Universal design is a process that enables and empowers a diverse

population by improving human performance, health and wellness, and
social participation.”
—Steinfeld and Maisel, 2012
Universal Design
Accessibility

Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York

Accessibility

Ramp in back door, Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York

Accessibility

Sign at a picnic spot in rural area of U.S. The sign reads: “Picnic area
for handicap only. Local ordinance prohibits use by others!”
Social integration, acceptance, and
understanding of disability have not yet been
achieved in human civilization.
Universal design
Accessibility
Elevators are a blessing
when we are sick or injured.

glazed elevator

Subway station in
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Universal design
Guggenheim
Museum, New York
Universal design
Barriers in our life
Barrier

Barrier is any obstacle or circumstances that hinders or obstructs

progress, access etc.

Barriers are a part of everyone’s lives.

Barriers are encountered at many levels of human experience,

including the physical, the sensory, the cognitive (thinking and
understanding), and the communicative dimensions.
Barrier
Physical barrier
Barrier
Attitudinal barrier

• Stereotyping- relating to poor quality of life

• Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination- considering disability as a
personal tragedy

Communication barrier

• Use of small font

• Long sentences
• Oral communications without accompanying manual interpretation
Barrier
Social barrier

Social barriers are related to the conditions in which people are

born, grow, live, learn, work and age

• Unemployed
• Poverty
• Victim of crime
Barrier

Breaking down barriers can allow people

• to gain access to resources.

• To mark progress toward the ultimate goal of social justice
Is barrier always negative?
Barrier
BARRIERS IN INTELLECTUAL LIFE

Thinking about barriers creatively should be an important part of

design.
Approach towards disability:
Disability models
1. Medical model of disability

Disability is regarded as objectively bad, as a pitiable condition, ‘a personal

tragedy for both the individual and her family, something to be
prevented and, if possible, cured’ (Carlson 2010).

• failures and an embarrassment

• able-bodied as somehow ‘better’ or superior

• ‘sick role’ approach fail to differentiate between impairment and

sickness

Carlson, L., 2010, The faces of intellectual disability, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN.
 1. Medical model: Disability as a disease

1. Non-ambulatory: individuals to
wheelchairs.

2. Semi-ambulatory: Individuals using

braces or crutches, amputees, arthritics,
spastics and those with pulmonary and
cardiac illness may be semi-ambulatory.
 1. Medical model: Disability as a disease

3. Sight: Total blindness or impairments

affecting sight to the extent that the individual
functioning in public areas is insecure or
exposed to danger.

4. Hearing: Deafness or hearing handicaps that

might make an individual insecure in public
areas because he is unable to communicate
or hear warning signals.
 2. Social model of disability

Union of the Physically Impaired against Segregation, London

(1976) draws an important conceptual distinction between the
terms ‘impairment’ and ‘disability’.

Impairment is defined as ‘lacking part of or all of a limb, or

having a defective limb, organ or mechanism of the body’,

UPIAS, 1976, Fundamental principles of disability, Union of the Physically Impaired against
Segregation, London.
 2. Social model of disability

Disability is defined as:

the disadvantage or restriction of activity caused by a

contemporary social organisation which takes no or little account of
people who have physical impairments and thus excludes them from
participation in the mainstream of social activities. (UPIAS 1976:14)

UPIAS, 1976, Fundamental principles of disability, Union of the Physically Impaired against
Segregation, London.
 2. Social model : Disability as a socially
constructed phenomenon

Disability is a situation, caused by social conditions, which requires for its

elimination, (a) that no one aspect such as incomes, mobility or
institutions is treated in isolation, (b) that disabled people should, with
the advice and help of others, assume control over their own lives, and
(c) that professionals, experts and others who seek to help must be
committed to promoting such control by disabled people. (p. 3)

UPIAS, 1976, Fundamental principles of disability, Union of the Physically Impaired against
Segregation, London.
 2. Social model of disability
Social model theorists argue that the term ‘people with disabilities’ is
directly linked to the philosophy underlying the medical model and
therefore insist that the term ‘disabled people’ better reflects the
societal oppression that people with impairments are faced with every
day

Purtell (2013:26) observes, ‘[D]isabled people are people who are

“disabled” by the society they live in and by the impact of society’s
structures and attitudes’.

Purtell, R., 2013, ‘Music and the social model of disability’, in J. Williams (ed.), Music and the social
model: An occupational therapist’s approach to music with people labelled as having learning
disabilities, pp. 26–32, Jessica Kingsley, London. .
3. The identity model: Disability as an identity
A number of ways in which the identity model of disability, shapes the
identity of PWDs:
• An acknowledgement of the social model.
• Motivating PWDs to belong to a campaigning group, which aids in
the development of a collective identity.
• The collective expression of ‘frustration and anger’.
• A realisation that there is nothing wrong with PWDs embracing an
identity as ‘outsiders’, but PWDs should have the right to be
‘insiders’ if they prefer.
• Group identity has inspired many PWDs to endeavour for
revolutionary ‘visions of change, often under the flags of “civil
rights” and “equal opportunities”’.
4. The human rights model: Disability as a human
rights issue
• offering a theoretical framework for disability policy emphasises the human
dignity of PWDs

• it encompasses both sets of human rights, civil and political as well as

economic, social and cultural rights

• It recognises the fact that properly formulated prevention policy may be

regarded as an instance of human rights protection for PWDs

• Lastly, while the social model can helpfully explain why so many PWDs are
living in poverty, the human rights model offers constructive proposals for
improving the life situation of PWDs
Symbol of accessibility

International Symbol of Active Symbol of Accessibility

Accessibility (ISA) in 1968 developed in 1980s.
Background of Universal design
Background
Movement of modernism

•In industrial design, there was the celebration of industrial materials

and form, consumer-oriented society, adoption of simple basic
forms with limited variety, easy to manufacture in vast quantities at
extremely low prices.

•However, these products are often poorly designed for comfort,

health, and convenience, are prone to failure, and have a short useful
life due to the emphasis on competitive pricing, fashion cycles, and
planned obsolescence.
Background
Movement of modernism

The social transition from an industrial economy to a consumer-oriented

economy and the emergence of a huge urbanized population that does not
have the means or the time to sustain a vernacular crafts-based design
tradition.
Background
Movement of modernism

•“function” to the foreground of building design.

•Development of high-rise, high-density housing

•High-rise living proved to be dangerous and difficult to police, not

suitable for low-income families with many children
Background
Human centred design

• Problem of modernism in architecture and urban development

became evident as early as the late 1960s.

• architects, planners, and social scientists realised that design could

be human-centered and truly dedicated to usefulness incorporating
methods of practice that involve the end users and knowledge from
the psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

• development of evidence-based design guidelines , an efficient

way to bridge the gap between research and practice.
Background
Universal design

•Universal design married the ideals of human-centered design with

the social goals of the civil rights movements.
Movements

• The barrier-free design movement actually began in the late 1950s in the
United States as advocacy groups found that universities were not
accessible to returning war veterans and young adults who had
contracted polio during the postwar epidemic.

• The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was used as a
model to ensure that civil rights were extended to people with disabilities.
Acts

• Architectural Barriers Act (1968) in United States- building or facilities

(medical, park, mass transit, public housing etc.) should be accessible

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,- providing regular or

special education and related aids and services to the people with
physical or mental impairment
Acts

Fair Housing Act Amendments (1988), which prohibits discrimination

on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in housing
sales, rentals or financing. The FHAA extends this protection to persons
with a disability and families with children. This law is intended to
increase housing opportunities for people with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) is the nation's first

comprehensive civil rights law addressing the needs of people with
disabilities, prohibiting discrimination in employment, public
services, telecommunications and public and private places.
Universal design

The term universal design was first used in 1970s by the staff of
Centre for accessible housing at North California State University

Ron Mace, the director of the centre, whose goal was “truly
universally usable” house for future.
Beneficiaries

• In general, the literature on universal design has focused on

the same target population as the literature on accessible
design: people with mobility, sensory, and cognitive
impairments, including the older population as one at risk
for these types of disabilities.
Beneficiaries
• People who have temporary and permanent limitations in
function; these include pregnant women, children, and
“outliers” in typical population distributions of human
characteristics (e.g., very short, very tall, very light, or very heavy
people).

• Caregivers who have people dependent on them

• People with psychosocial conditions, such as autism,

Alzheimer’s, and chronic depression,
Beneficiaries

• People with behavioral and/or functional limitations due to

alcohol and/or drug dependency etc.

• Minority ethnic groups or foreign visitors with culturally

based traditions, preferences, and expectations

• Low- and even middle-income populations

• Abused spouses, children, or homeless people

Universal design
Definition

“Universal design is a process that enables and empowers a diverse

population by improving human performance, health and wellness, and
social participation.”

—Steinfeld and Maisel, 2012

 Universal design
Principles
1. Equitable use. The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any
group of users.

2. Flexibility in use. The design accommodates a wide range of individual

preferences and abilities.

Side by side refrigerator Provision of knee spaces in kitchen

 Universal design
Principles

3. Simple and intuitive use. Use of the

design is easy to understand, regardless of
the user’s experience, knowledge, language
skills, or current concentration level. Single-lever faucet

4. Perceptible information. The design

communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user’s sensory
abilities. Digital temperature
control on ovens
 Universal design
Principles

5. Tolerance for error. The design

minimizes hazards and the adverse
consequences of accidental or
unintended actions.
Magnetic induction not
hot to the touch
6. Low physical effort. The design can be
used efficiently and comfortably, and with
a minimum of fatigue.

D shaped lever handle

on door
Universal design
Principles

7. Size and space for approach and use. Appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user’s
body size, posture, or mobility
900 mm x 1200 mm floor space in front of all appliances
Universal design
Goals of universal design

1. Body fit. Accommodating a wide a range of body sizes and abilities

2. Comfort. Keeping demands within desirable limits of body function
3. Awareness. Ensuring that critical information for use is easily perceived
4. Understanding. Making methods of operation and use intuitive, clear,
and unambiguous
5. Wellness. Contributing to health promotion, avoidance of disease, and
prevention of injury
6. Social integration. Treating all groups with dignity and respect
7. Personalization. Incorporating opportunities for choice and the
expression of individual preferences
8. Cultural appropriateness. Respecting and reinforcing cultural values
and the social and environmental context of any design project
Universal design: India
 Background
• Article-15, Constitution of India, protects disabled people from
discrimination and allows to access public facilities.

• IS code 1968, revised in 1992 recommendations for buildings and

facilities for physically handicapped.

• In 1970, National Building Code (NBC) included annexure D in part 3, for

physically challenged (only for public building)

• Immediately after United Nations declared 1983-92 as the Decade of

Disabled persons, National Building Code, Bureau of Indian Standards,
1983 addressed the need of physically challenged both for public and
private buildings.
 Background

•Government of India enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act (Equal

Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation), 1995

1.Removal of architectural barrier from school, college etc.

2.Promoting healthy and safety measures and creation of better working
environment for PWDs
3.Removal of discrimination providing accessibility to transport, built
environment etc.
 Background

• Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built Environment for
Disabled and Elderly Persons, CPWD, 1998

• 1999 National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral
Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act- has provisions
for legal guardianship of the four categories and creation of enabling
environment for as much independent living as possible.
 Background

• Manual on Barrier Free Environment, MSJE (Ministry of Social Justice

and Empowerment, 2002)

• Target group: persons having walking difficulties, reliance on walking

aids, visual impairments, speech and hearing impairments, in-
coordination, reaching and manipulation (when an arm is dis functional),
lack of stamina, difficulty in interpretation, reacting to sensory
information, extremes in physical size.

• Promote access audit for the existing environment through a set format.
Background
Background

• The National Policy for Persons with Disability was announced

in February 2006

• India signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of

Persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008. UNCRPD sees
disability as an interaction of impairments and barriers that
hinder effective participation in society

• Rights of persons with disabilities bill 2014

Background

Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) in 2014

with a focus on the following:
• Built environment
• Public transportation
• Information and Communication Technologies

Harmonised Guidelines and Space Standards for Barrier Free Built

Environment for Persons with Disability and Elderly Persons,
Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, 2016
Disability scenario in India
Data as per census 2011
Overall disability

• out of the 121 Cr population of India, 2.68 Cr persons are

disabled which is 2.21% of the total population. Among the
disabled population 56% (1.5 Cr) are males and 44% (1.18 Cr
) are females.
• Proportion of disabled population is higher in rural areas
Data as per census 2011

Types

1. In seeing- persons having blurred vision

2. In hearing- persons using hearing aids
3. In speech- persons who speak in single words and are not
able to speak sentences

4. In movement- Paralytic persons, who crawl, walk with the

help of aid, have acute and permanent problems of
joints/muscles, have fragile bones, Have difficulty balancing
and coordinating body movement, Have loss of sensation in
body etc.
Data as per census 2011

Types

5. Mental retardation- below-average intelligence or mental ability

and lack of skills necessary for day-to-day living
6. Mental illness
7. Any other- any other category not mentioned in the list
8. Multiple disability- designed to record as many as three types
of disabilities from which an individual is suffering.
Data as
per
census
2011

Types
Data as per Proportion of Disabled Population in the
Respective Age Group
census India, 2011

2011 90+ 8.40

Types 80-89 8.41

70-79 6.22

60-69 4.15

Age Group
50-59 2.83

40-49 2.31

30-39 2.09

20-29 1.97

10-19 1.82

5-9 1.54

0-4 1.14

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00

Percentage
Universal design: India
Principles
Universal Design

• self reliance,

• social empowerment

• personal choice.

• flexibility, adaptability and

• modularity to achieve

best fit and mass customization

Principles
Universal Design India Principles (UDIP)-2011, By nine experts in India
Sl No. Principle Description
1 Equitable/ Saman The design is fair and non discriminating
to diverse users in Indian context

• Avoid prejudices against people of all ages, gender, disability, sizes,

caste, class and religion.
• Consider different capabilities of users and build in many levels of
engagement.
• Provide choices in access and use through flexibility and
customization.
• Allow personalization through inclusion of adjustable and adaptable
options.
• Provide equality in challenge, opportunity and energy requirement
Principles
Universal Design India Principles (UDIP)-2011, By nine experts in India

Sl No. Principle Description

2 Usable/ Sahaj The design is operable by all users in Indian
context

• Provide independence, comfort, safety and support during use.

• Facilitate access, operation and convenience by diverse users.
• Include adaptations for those experiencing difficulty in use.
• Provide clarity in use, operation and maintenance to minimize instruction
and avoid confusion and error.
• Adopt simple means to overcome complex operation. .
• Offer multi-sensory feedback
Principles
Universal Design India Principles (UDIP)-2011, By nine experts in India
Sl No. Principle Description
3 Cultural / Sanskritik The design respects the cultural past
and the changing present assist all
users in Indian context

• Maintain social and traditional qualities in design.

• Include Indian idioms to make historic and social
connection.
• Present in many languages for inclusive comprehension.
• For all castes and society levels.
• Respond to local context and conditions.
• Employ appropriate technology to match user
expectations.
Principles
Universal Design India Principles (UDIP)-2011, By nine experts in India

Sl No. Principle Description

4 Economy/ Sasta The design respects affordability and
cost considerations for diverse users in
Indian context

• Ensure affordability, durability and maintainability.

• Use local materials for energy savings and cost effectiveness.
• Focus on low unit cost through wide distribution.
• Adopt modular approach to offer choice in features and price range.
Principles
Universal Design India Principles (UDIP)-2011, By nine experts in India

Sl No. Principle Description

5 Aesthetics / Sundar The design employs aesthetic to promote
social integration among users in Indian
context

• Employ aesthetic to enhance universal appeal and use.

• Allow personalizing aesthetics through flexibility, adaptability and
modularity of colour, form, texture and interaction.
• Employ appearance to inform use and safety.
Principles
Sl No. Universal India
1 Equitable use. Equitable use.

2 Flexibility in use Usable

3 Simple and intuitive use.
Cultural / Sanskritik

4 Perceptible information.

5 Low physical effort.

6 Tolerance for error

7 Size and space for

approach and use.
8 Economy/ Sasta
9 Aesthetics / Sundar
Space standards
Mobility device

Non ambulatory disabilities

Mobility device space requirement
Mobility device space requirement
Mobility device space requirement
Mobility device space requirement

920
Reach range
Reach range

1300 max
Reach range

1300 max
Vision zone

1300 max
About Indian Standards

• Identification of Indian standard is not as per demographic survey, i.e.

Census of India
• Indian standard mentioned only two types of disabilities
• Lack of research based study for Indian Anthropometric data (similar
to American Anthropometric data)
 Universal design vs. Accessible design

• Accessible design refers to buildings that are accessible by PWD, while

universal design is buildings or products that are accessible by all,
including PWD.
• The former tends to result in access channels for PWD which are
separate, while the latter provides for design solutions that
accommodate all people in the same manner.
• Home for universal design may cost same as other homes, but adding
more features for people with disabilities may cost more
• A hotel may have 100% universally designed rooms but it may have few
number of rooms for PWDs.