Universal Design

JAPAN: When a manufacturer here set out to create a notebook for developmentally disabled people, who are often bothered by pure white pages, decorative lines and date columns, they went right to the source. Ohguri Shikou, a notebook maker based in Ikuno Ward here, teamed with a patient support group to… Continue Reading »

EGYPT: Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has signed a MoU with Japan’s Assistive Technology Development Organisation (ATDO) to carry out projects to improve the lives of disabled people. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Assistive Technology Development Organisation (ATDO)… Continue Reading »

CANADA: Municipalities on the northeast Avalon are testing new technology to increase the safety and ease of using crosswalks for people with disabilities including sight loss. The pilot project, called Key2Access, allows pedestrians to access crosswalk push buttons with a fob or through a mobile app that includes audio instructions. “An… Continue Reading »

Design Council Spark: The Home Innovation Challenge  Ten of the UK’s brightest minds pitch for share of £150,000 to fast-track home innovation ideas to market  Dragons’ Den investor and entrepreneur Deborah Meaden to host 2019 Spark showcase event Ten bright UK entrepreneurs will be pitching for a share of up… Continue Reading »

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: One of your favorite card games just got a little more accessible. On Tuesday, Mattel unveiled UNO Braille with cards and instructions that make the popular game completely accessible to Braille-literate players who are blind or have low vision. UNO Braille features Braille numbers or letters in two… Continue Reading »

AUSTRALIA: The University of Sydney has reached an important milestone in inclusion and access for people with disability, with today’s launch of its Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2019-24 during Disability Inclusion Week.  The Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2019-24 strengthens our commitment to protect staff, students and visitors with disability from discrimination and… Continue Reading »

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE): Around the UAE, efforts to integrate people with disabilities into public life are becoming increasingly visible. Parking lots include designated spots, public washrooms have special cubicles and ramps are increasingly commonplace outside public and residential buildings. There is a shift in mindset among employers too. Zia Mirza, who… Continue Reading »

MALAYSIA: Future projects by Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld) will be based on Universal Design principles which aim to create holistic and sustainable living environments for residents of all ages. Universal Design is a design approach towards creating a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to… Continue Reading »

AUSTRALIA: A group of Perth university students and real estate agents have teamed up to design an accessible home using construction software inspired by the gaming industry, with the goal of raising awareness of the importance of creating universal affordable accommodation. Created for a Town of Victoria Park-owned site on Boundary… Continue Reading »

UNITED STATES: When the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, it set forth expectations around how buildings and public spaces should be designed to accommodate limited mobility. Over the years, the guidelines helped create more accessible parks, buildings, schools, and neighborhoods, but for many architects, the rules stop short of… Continue Reading »