Annotated Bibliography on Universal Design

A Selection of Books on Creating Accessible Environment

Universal design is an approach to design that acknowledges the changes experienced by everyone during their lifetime. It addresses the needs of children, seniors, people who are tall or short and people with disabilities. Universal design looks beyond the proportions and abilities of the mythical average person and provides solutions for an inclusive built environment that can better accommodate the needs of everyone.

Table of Contents

Accessibility General

Accessible Housing

Accessible Public Spaces

Appendices

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Main entry under title:
Annotated Bibliography on universal design

ISBN 0-7726-3391-6

1. Architecture and the handicapped - Bibliography. 2. Dwellings - Access - Bibliography. 3. Public buildings - Access for the physically handicapped - Bibliography. I. British Columbia. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Accessibility Program. II. British Columbia. Library Services Branch.

Z5943.H3A56 1997 | 016.720'87 | C97-960294-7

Introduction

This bibliography was compiled to promote the concept of universal design and to provide information on accessibility. We hope that this bibliography will aid researchers, designers, builders and public library users in finding information to meet the changing needs of our aging population, as we work to create more accessible and inclusive communities.

This project was undertaken by Frances Dodd, the Principle Researcher, and Co-managed by Jeff Vasey of the Accessibility Program and Dawn Stoppard of the Library Services Branch. Our sincere thanks go out to Frances, without whose diligent research and resourcefulness this project could not have been so successfully completed.

Initial searches in automated bibliographic databases yielded over 2500 items under the subject heading "Architecture and the handicapped". Subsequent searches were narrowed by limiting language to "English", format to "books" and date to "post 1992". The year 1992 is significant because of the publication of Toward A Barrier Free Environment, a bibliography on accessibility that was used as a starting point for this project. Special thanks to Tali Conine, Ben Ostrander and Carolynn Hatten for the valuable contribution they have made to our project through their work on the 1992 bibliography.

After review of search results, it was decided that some older items should be included to ensure that the bibliography had sufficient depth and coverage of accessibility issues. The focus is on books considered to be the most appropriate for B.C. public libraries, including: philosophical and awareness books to clarify concepts, do-it-yourself and how-to books to improve dwellings, and accessibility guidelines for community policy makers, designers and builders.

To help in the acquisitions process, an appraisal has been made to identify some books as "core". They have been tagged with a star at the end of the annotation. These selections are the result of subjective but thoughtful decisions: we consider these core books to be the best, the latest, the most pertinent and comprehensive material on each topic.

Although our intention was to steer away from material that focused on laws and regulations outside of Canada, we have included several books which are founded on the principles and guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The "ADA" is recognized internationally as landmark legislation and represents a major step in advancing the state of accessibility in the built environment. The American books included here are of particularly good quality: they provide insightful interpretations of the "ADA" and contribute important material on access in the built environment that is relevant to B.C.

For ease of use and browsing purposes the bibliography is divided into three principle subject areas: Accessibility - General; Accessible Housing; and Accessible Public Spaces. Within each subject area, books have been grouped by topic, such as: gardening; libraries, etc. A subject index is also provided for searching particular topics. Author and title indexes have been included. When possible, ordering information from Bowker's Books in Print, Canadian edition, has been provided. Titles listed as being out of print have been identified as such.

Entries are listed alphabetically within each subject grouping. Each entry includes the entry record number, title and statement of responsibility, followed by an annotation. The publication data is then provided, and includes: place of publication, publisher and date. The physical description provided is restricted to pagination. The series titles, cost, ISBN, and catalogue numbers, if applicable, are listed. If an item is known to be available in other formats this information is provided. The distributor name, if given, follows on the last line.

The words "metric" or "imperial" have only been used where they would not normally be expected. All illustrations or plans in Canadian or UK publications are assumed to be metric and all US publications are assumed to be imperial. If a deviation occurs from this pattern, it is noted in the annotation.

Constant changes in social attitude, technological development and design concepts sometimes make the language of accessibility imprecise. We have tried to be consistent in our use of terms such as barrier-free, accessible or universal design. The difference in meaning is sometimes subtle and even the experts often use these terms inconsistently and interchangeably. The glossary should help to make distinctions among these terms, and aid in familiarizing the reader with all frequently used terms in this bibliography.

Universal Design Principles

Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need of adaptation or specialized design.

Universal design is relevant to a wide range of design disciplines including the design of environments, products and communications. A working group of architects, product designers, and environmental design researchers has identified seven universal design principles for use in evaluating existing designs, guiding the design process, and educating both designers and consumers about characteristics of more usable products and environments. The seven principles are presented here in the following format: name of principle, intended to be a concise and easily remembered statement of the key concept embodied in the principle; definition of the principle, a brief description of the principle's primary directive for design; and guidelines, a list of the key elements that should be present in a design which adheres to the principles.

(Note: all guidelines may not be relevant to all designs.)

Principle One: Equitable Use

The design is useful and marketable to any group of users.

    Guidelines:

  • Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
  • Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
  • Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.

Principle Two: Flexibility in Use

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

    Guidelines:

  • Provide choice in methods of use.
  • Accommodate right - or left-handed access and use.
  • Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
  • Provide adaptability to the user's pace.

Principle Three: 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.

    Guidelines:

  • Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
  • Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
  • Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
  • Arrange information consistent with its importance.
  • Provide effective prompting for sequential actions.

Principle Four: Perceptible Information

The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

    Guidelines:

  • Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
  • Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
  • Maximize "legibility" of essential information in all sensory modalities.
  • Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e. make it easy to give instructions or directions).
  • Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

Principle Five: Tolerance for Error

The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

    Guidelines:

  • Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors; most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
  • Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
  • Provide fail safe features.
  • Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

Principle Six: Low Physical Effort

The design can be used effectively and comfortably and with minimum of fatigue.

    Guidelines:

  • Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
  • Use reasonable operating forces.
  • Minimize repetitive actions.
  • Minimize sustained physical effort.

Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use

Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture,or mobility.

    Guidelines:

  • Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
  • Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
  • Accommodate variation in hand and grip size.
  • Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

The principles of universal design in no way compromise all criteria for good design, only universally usable design. Certainly, other factors are important, such as aesthetics, cost, safety, gender, and cultural appropriateness, and these aspects should be taken into consideration as well.

Principles on universal design courtesy of the Center of Universal Design in North Carolina.

Whatever you build
in your community...
make it accessible
for everyone!

Download: Universal Design Principles

Please send any comments or questions to

Housing Policy Branch
PO Box 9844 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9T2
Telephone: (250) 387-6467
Email: Housing.Policy@gov.bc.ca

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