Universal Design

AUSTRIA: Shoes with sensors embedded in them have been created to alert blind and visually impaired people to obstacles in their path. Developed by Austria’s Tec-Innovation company in collaboration with the Graz University of Technology, the intelligent shoes can increase the safety of visually impaired and blind people in their everyday… Continue Reading »

UAE: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in coordination and cooperation with the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO), has launched an initiative to provide medication instruction labels in Braille to help visually impaired patients and the blind read them without seeking help. The initiative is part of… Continue Reading »

Americas: If you have a body, you are an athlete – according to the sports brand Nike, that is. It’s an inclusive outlook from a brand that is closely associated with elite athletes at the very peak of their physical prowess. And with the unveiling of the latest iteration of… Continue Reading »

INDIA: McDonald’s India unveils new EATQUAL packaging specially designed for customers with limited upper hand mobility – Becomes the first brand in the industry to undertake such an initiative McDonald’s EatQual McDonald’s India West and South, that announced the launch of EatQual – a special pack for customers with limited hand… Continue Reading »

CANADA: While the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the need for safe housing, Ontarians with disabilities have always lived with the harsh reality that their housing choices are extremely limited, chronically inaccessible and often substandard and unsafe. One in seven Ontarians have a disability. Yet, Ontarians with disabilities routinely face discriminatory… Continue Reading »

NEW ZEALAND: Alzheimers NZ wants more focus on designing buildings, particularly commercial and government buildings, to reflect the needs of people affected by dementia. Chief executive Catherine Hall says buildings cater for physically disabled people – they should also cater for people with cognitive disabilities like dementia. “We’ve seen great progress… Continue Reading »

On September 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) launched the world’s most comprehensive report on dementia-related design and the built environment. The first of its kind, the World Alzheimer Report 2020 is the most comprehensive and in-depth look at dementia related design and the built environment. It looks… Continue Reading »

A new LAV4ALL design, developed by Austrian MRO provider FACC Aftermarket Services, seeks to make narrowbody lavatories accessible while occupying the same compact space as existing lavs. The design’s corner door, multiple handles, and clever use of space allows disabled passengers to enter the bathroom with their wheelchair and position… Continue Reading »

CANADA: Several UNBC professors have been working to make outdoor spaces across the province more accessible to British Columbians. The research is being supported with a $24,000 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Engage grant. The professors, Drs. Mark Groulx, Shannon Freeman and Pamela Wright have been working collaboratively… Continue Reading »

INDIA: National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has announced the 11th edition of NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards 2020 to honour contributions towards the cause of accessibility and universal design. Nominations for the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards are now open. This is a prestigious award given nationally every year to people who are… Continue Reading »