MPD575 Design for X
Design for Disability
Jonathan Weaver
Development History
• This material was prepared by Cohort 3
students:
– Jennifer Aittama
– Gary Crane
– Joshua Halliburton
– Michael Hunt
– Jennifer Margherita
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Design For Disability
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
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Design For Disability
Introduction
• People with disabilities represent a
large and growing sector of the
population.
• Over 54 million Americans have been
identified as being disabled.
• At some point, almost everyone
experiences a disability as they age.
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Design For Disability
Introduction
• The concept of designing all products and
fabricated environments (I.e. buildings,
houses) to be aesthetic and usable by the
largest population possible, regardless of
their age, ability, or status in life.
• When applied to environments, it ensures
that facilities, products, and services are
usable by all people.
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Design For Disability
Introduction
• Everyone, regardless of ability, benefits
from a universal design
• Knowledge of existing codes and
standards serves as a starting point in
meeting accessibility guidelines.
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Design For Disability
Who are the Recipients?
• Design for disability includes:
– Mobility
– Vision
– Hearing
– Speech
– Cognitive
• Within the public and private sectors
including telecommunications
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Design For Disability
Globalization
• Consumer businesses must recognize the
opportunities and challenges inherent in global
competition
• The diversity of the consumer base is expanding to
include differences in language and culture, customs,
experiences, and historical design precedents
• Increases in the consumer market base must account
for a design that is sensitive to individual abilities and
preferences
• Since reasonable cost is a fundamental issue in any
design and production process, universal design has
become a very marketable approach
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Design For Disability
Social Climate
• Along with the growth in the disabled population, the
quest for independence and equal rights has grown,
as well
• Buyers demand that products be designed with
concern for their impact on the image, as well as the
function, of the user
• Devices are expected to be appropriate for use at the
office or school, at home, in the community, and on
vacation
• Many consumers have begun to see the usefulness
of products conceived for people with limitations
• Products that offer youthfulness without denigrating
aging will do well
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Design For Disability
Purpose
• Purpose of universal design is to reduce the
physical and attitudinal barriers between
people with and without disabilities
• Strives to integrate people with disabilities
into the mainstream
• Expertise is needed in creating products and
environments that are functional, safe,
attractive, and marketable for a wide diversity
of users
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Design For Disability
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
11
Design For Disability
Federal Legislation
• The American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) incorporated into Uniform Federal
Accessibility Standard (UFAS)
– First standard published for the disabled:
A 117.1 — Making Buildings Accessible to and
Usable by the Physically Handicapped
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
– All buildings designed, constructed, altered, or
leased with federal funds to be made accessible
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Design For Disability
Federal Legislation
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
– Section 504 requires that any program or service
receiving federal financial assistance, either
directly or indirectly, be accessible to everyone
• Education for Handicapped Children Act of
1975
– Guarantees a free, appropriate education for all
children with disabilities
• Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
– Accessible units be created in all new multi-family
housing with four or more units, both public and
private
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Design For Disability
Federal Legislation
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA)
– Discrimination in employment, access to places of
public accommodation, services, programs, public
transportation, and telecommunications is
prohibited
• The Telecommunications Act of 1996
– Telecommunications services and equipment and
customer premises equipment be designed,
developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and
usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily
achievable
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Design For Disability
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
15
Design For Disability
Universal Design
• The principles of universal design guide a
wide range of design disciplines including
environments, products, and
communications.
• Seven principles can be applied to evaluate
existing designs, to guide the design process,
and to educate both designers and
consumers about the characteristics of more
usable products and environments.
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle I: Equitable Use – Design is useful
and marketable to people with diverse
abilities.
– 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
– Make the design appealing to all users
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle II: Flexibility in Use - Design
accommodates a wide range of
individual preferences and abilities.
– 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
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle III: Simple and Initiative Use - Use of
the design is easy to understand, regardless
of the user's experience, knowledge,
language skills, or current concentration level.
– 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 and feedback during
and after task completion
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle IV: Perceptible Information - Design
communicates necessary information
effectively to the user regardless of ambient
conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
– Use different modes (i.e., pictorial, verbal, tactile) for
redundant presentation of essential information
– Provide adequate contrast between essential information
and its surroundings
– Maximize "legibility" of essential information
– 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
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle V: Tolerance for Error - Design
minimizes hazards and the adverse
consequences of accidental or unintended
actions.
– Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors:
most used elements are made 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
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle VI: Low Physical Effort Design can be used efficiently, and
comfortably, and with a minimum of
fatigue.
– Allow user to maintain a neutral body
position
– Use reasonable operating forces
– Minimize repetitive actions
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Design For Disability
Universal Design
• Principle VII: 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.
– 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 variations in hand and grip size
– Provide adequate space for the use of assistive
devices or personal assistance
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Design For Disability
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
24
Public Facilities
• When designing a new public facility, there
are several areas in and around the facility
to apply design for disabilities. The
following are some examples:
– Parking Lots
– Entrances and Exits
– Travel Routes
– Public Restrooms
– Restaurants
– Emergency Notifications
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Parking Lots
– An existing parking area without accessible
parking spaces
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Parking Lots
– Parking lots need to be designed to accommodate
vans equipped with wheelchair lifts and need to
have spaces wide enough to maneuver a
wheelchair or other type of assisting equipment
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Parking Lots
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Entrances and Exits
– Ramps at the entrances and exits of buildings
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Entrances and Exits
– Turnstiles are not accessible to most people with
disabilities. Not only are they not wide enough, they
are not practical for someone in a wheelchair.
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Entrances and Exits
– Providing a gate adjacent to a turnstile makes this
type of entranceway more accessible
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Entrances and Exits
– Examples of door handles that are not accessible
This type of handle requires
the user to tightly grasp the
handle to pull it open
This type of handle requires
the user to pinch down on
the thumb latch while
grasping the handle
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Entrances and Exits
– Examples of door handles that are accessible
Both of these handles are accessible because they can be
operated without tightly grasping, pinching or twisting
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Entrances and Exits
– Door openings
• Minimum doorway
clearance opening
• Maximum
doorway width
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Travel Routes
– Hallways
90o Turn
Turning around an
obstruction
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Travel Routes
– Objects that protrude into the hallways must be
taken into consideration. The example below
shows a blind person identifying objects in a
hallway.
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Travel Routes
– Signs have specifications that include:
• Character proportion and height
• Raised and brailed characters
• Pictorial symbol signs
• Finish and contrast
• Mounting location and height
– International symbols of accessibility
Accessibility
Text Telephones
Access for Hearing
Loss
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Travel Routes
– Drinking fountains have specifications to make
them more accessible. Some include:
• Maximum spout height
• Knee clearance
• Control that is operable
with one hand and does
not require tight
grasping, pinching, or
twisting of the wrist
• The force required to
operate the control
cannot exceed 5 lbs
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Travel Routes
Elevators
• Must operate automatically
• Must have self-leveling
feature
• Hall call buttons have a
specific height
• Lanterns have visual and
audio signals
• Door reopening device
• Specific times for hall and car
calls
• Specific floor area
• Interior control dimensions
• Emergency communications
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Public Restrooms
– Designing an accessible public restroom includes
taking into account:
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Size and arrangement
Doors
Grab bars
Toilet height
Flushing device
Paper
dispensers
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Public Restrooms
– Must also consider:
• Urinals
• Mirrors
• Exposed pipes and
surfaces
• Faucets
• Soap dispensers
• Sink height and depth
• Handrails
• Grab bars
This type of sink handle is
easy to reach and can be
easily operated with only
one hand
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Restaurants
– Public restaurants must accommodate people
with disabilities:
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•
•
•
Counters and bar dimensions
Accessible isles
Dining areas
Tableware and condiment areas
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Restaurants
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Restaurants
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Emergency Notifications
– Alarms
• Audible alarms
– Must exceed sound level in the room by at least 15
dbA or exceed any maximum sound level with a
duration of 60 seconds by 5 dbA, whichever is louder
– Signals shall not exceed 120 dbA
• Visual alarm specification include:
– Lamp type
– Lamp color
– Duration of pulse
– Intensity
– Flash rate
– Placement height
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Design For Disability
•
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
46
Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• An adaptable home is one which is built or renovated
to allow low cost and easy adaptation to the changing
needs of the residents.
• For disabled people and elderly, this means that
devices assisting the activities of daily living can
easily be installed.
• A prerequisite in order to achieve the benefits of a
smart home is a barrier-free physical environment
that supports the residents.
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Layout of the house:
– Layout of the home should be clear.
– Oblique walls will easily give a wrong-direction impression.
– Big areas should preferably have a clear conceptual layout, like a
rectangular or square area.
– Pillars, etc. should not be of same colour as background.
– Living room, toilet/shower, and bed-space on ground floor in 2 story
buildings.
– Bedroom should preferably be next to a bathroom.
– Provisions for stair lift and space for through floor lift should be
considered.
– When there are indented areas, the straight, imagined continuation
of the wall should be free for walking.
– Walking can be supported by clear contrast of the floor material to
the surrounding walls
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
Basic Requirements:
• Ramps
 1:12 maximum slope
 30" maximum rise
 36" minimum clear width
 Level landings at top and bottom at least as wide as the
ramp and 60" clear length. (60" x 60" if ramp changes
direction)
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Handrails
 Ramps with a rise greater than 6" or a horizontal projection
greater than 72" must have handrails on both sides
 12" extension parallel to ground top and bottom
 1¼" - 1½" diameter of gripping surface
 1½" clear space between rail and wall
 Top of gripping surfaces mounted 34" - 38" above ramp
 Ends of rails rounded or returned smoothly to floor, wall, or
post.
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Stairs
 11" minimum wide treads, uniform riser heights
and tread widths
 1½" maximum nosing projection, undersides to be
sloped with a minimum angle of 60° from the
horizontal
 Complying handrails on both sides
 12" horizontal projection of handrail at top;
handrail to continue to slope width of one tread
plus have 12" horizontal extension at bottom.
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Elevators

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Hall call buttons - 42" to centerline
Hall lantern fixtures - 72" minimum to centerline
Door reopening device - 5" and 29"
Car control floor buttons - 54" maximum (side approach) and 48"
maximum (front approach)
Raised letters & Braille
Car emergency controls - 35" minimum to centerline
Emergency communication system - 48" maximum to highest
operable part
Car size - 54" deep by 80" wide minimum (68" wide alternate)
Illumination levels - not less than 5 foot-candles
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Doors
 32" minimum clear width
 ½" maximum threshold height
 48" plus width of door swinging into space clear width for two doors
in a series
 48" maximum height for door handles, pulls, latches, locks, and
other operating devices - operable with closed fist
 3 seconds minimum sweep (closing) period
 5 lbs maximum opening force for interior hinged, sliding, or folding
doors
 8.5 lbs maximum opening force for exterior doors
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Showers
 Clear floor space varies by
configuration
 Walk-in shower with ½” maximum
curb
 Grab bars required - 36" rear grab
bar, 42" side grab bar
 Controls maximum 44", mounted
on the wide side of shower area
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Toilets
Clear floor space varies by configuration
17" - 19" high to top of toilet seat
Grab bars required - 36" rear grab bar, 42"
side grab bar
Flush controls maximum 44", mounted on
the wide side of toilet areas
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Sinks
 34" maximum to rim or counter
surface
 29" minimum clear knee space to
bottom of apron
 27" minimum clear to bottom of
sink bowl
 Clear space 30" wide by 19" deep
underneath sinks
 6½" maximum sink bowl depth
 30" wide by 48" deep clear floor
space for forward approach
 Faucets operable with closed fist
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Fixed storage (i.e., cabinets, shelves,
closets, drawers, etc.)
Clear floor space of 30" x 48" for forward or
parallel approach
Reach ranges apply to accessible storage
spaces
Clothes rods or shelves 54" maximum for
side approach, 48" maximum for forward
approach
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Controls and operating mechanisms
 30" x 48" clear floor space for wheelchair
approach
 48" - 54" maximum height to highest operable part
for forward or parallel approach
 15" minimum for electrical and communications
system receptacles on walls
 All controls and mechanisms to be operable with
one hand and not require tight grasping, pinching,
or twisting of the wrist, with maximum force of 5
lbs for activation
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
I. Kitchen
 Raised dishwasher to provide toe space for wheelchairs,
less bending during loading, as well as a raised counter top
for working while standing.
 Pullout cabinets under sinks and cook tops
 Drawers for storing bulk items
 Tambour cabinets for lowered storage and easy access to
items
 Full height pantry units with lazy susans and door storage
 Lowered upper cabinets with glass fronts
 Open storage racks for often used items
 Larger toe-kick for wheelchair access
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Ideal kitchen layouts
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Cabinets
 Pull down adjustable shelf unit that
can be installed in new or existing
cabinets in order to make reaching
items on the upper shelves easier
 Counterbalanced and easy to operate
 Includes rails to keep items from
sliding off during operation
 Device greatly enhances the usability
of kitchen storage for everyone who
has difficulty with upper cabinets.
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Pull-out drawers
 Pull-out drawer shelves equipped with full
extension ball bearing hardware
 Accommodates different sizes of canned
and packaged goods, cooking utensils,
glassware, etc.
 Can be used efficiently and comfortably
and with minimum fatigue, due to fullextension ball-bearing hardware
 Space is provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use regardless of the
user's body size, posture, or mobility
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Kitchen sinks & Cook tops (adjustable)
 Touch of a button raises and lowers sink height from 28-36
inches
 At lower positions, the height is ideal for seated use or
wheelchair heights
 Raised to 36 inches matches the counter height of standard
base cabinets
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Kitchen sinks & Cook tops (adjustable)
Adjustable Cook top
Adjustable Sink
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Cabinets (adjustable)
 Approach for the Cabinet provides a 20” range of
adjustment
 Cabinets can be moved up to meet a standardheight counter
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
II. Bathroom
 Grab bars make maneuvering easier for the individual in a
wheelchair
 Towel bars will not support the weight of a person so use
grab bars as an alternative
 Sinks with an opening underneath
 Bathroom mirrors and medicine cabinets installed for a
seated user
 Adjustable-height shower head is adjusted to suit different
users
 Single lever faucet handles are universal for all individuals
 In-tub showers are inaccessible to wheelchair users. Provide
a tub transfer seat and properly located grab bars
 Stall shower allows wheelchair users easy access
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Ideal Bathroom Layout
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Recessed Wall Mount Toilet
 Wall recessed tank saving up to
9" of legroom
 Large flush actuator is
accessible from either side and
is also the service panel
 Can be mounted at varying
heights
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Elevated toilet
 3 to 4” higher than
standard heights
 Elongated front
makes it easier to
transfer from a
wheelchair
 Adjustable bars
make for easy
maneuverability
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Faucets
 Infrared faucet incorporates
state-of-the-art microelectronic
technology
 No need to touch any part of
the infrared faucet
 Water flow is provided when
hand movement is detected by
infrared sensor under spout
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Sinks
Similar to kitchen
sinks but doesn’t
have to be as
elaborate
Hinged doors open
fully allowing legs to
fit under sink
comfortably
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Showers
Easy way to help
minimize the
difficulty of
transfers
Slight decline of
the shower's floor
assists the water
to drain properly
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Anti-Scalding device
Prevent scalding by making sure the water
stays at the temperature preset
Recommended between 98° and 115° F
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
• Grab Bars
 Helps assist you
getting in and out of
the tub or shower
 Reduces risk of falls
 Falls are the most
common household
accident
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Design for Disability
Residential Facilities
III. Miscellaneous
 Storage & Closets
• Walk-in closets
• Pull-down or swing-down rods
• Clothing carousel
 Doors & Doorways
• Use keyless locking systems
• Lever door handles
 Exterior to The Home
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Automatic garage doors
Barrier free entrances
Intercom doorbells
Ramps
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Design For Disability
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
76
Automotive Mobility
Background
• Traditional automotive design does not account for
people with physical handicaps (as demonstrated by
SAE 95th percentile mannequin used for occupant
package engineering)
• Disabled population is increasing
• Personal transportation is important to the
independence of individuals with disabilities
• Most of the OEMs provide programs to customize
their vehicles to suit the needs of the disabled
• Automotive manufacturers and private organizations
provide funding aid to offset the cost required to
adapt a vehicle to the needs of its user
• Aftermarket firms have modification and licensing
agreements with the OEM’s to ensure that vehicle
quality and warranty’s are not sacrificed
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Automotive Mobility
• Each individual’s level of disability is unique.
• There are numerous adaptive mobility
solutions available for people with disabilities
• In order to assess the correct equipment to
suit an individual’s vehicle mobility, a
complete evaluation is performed. A complete
evaluation includes vision screening and, in
general, assesses:
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–
–
–
Muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion
Coordination and reaction time
Judgment and decision making abilities
Ability to drive with adaptive equipment
• After completion of the evaluation, a list of
recommended solutions can be developed
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Automotive Mobility
Adaptive Equipment - The term "adaptive equipment"
describes devices that make it easier for people with
physical disabilities or impairments to drive or be
transported in a vehicle. Examples include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Carriers
Door Openers
Hand Controls
Lifts
Lowered Floors
Miscellaneous Driving Aids
Parking Brake Extensions
Steering
Wheelchair Restraints
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Automotive Mobility
Carriers
• Bumper-Mounted Carrier - for manual wheelchairs and is
mounted on the bumper. Most of the bumper-mounted carriers
can be removed to allow access to the trunk.
• Car-Top Carrier - an electric motor-driven hoist operated by
switches. It works by a steel pin, which lowers and picks up a
manual wheelchair. The chair folds as it rises to the carrier.
• Hitch-Mounted Carrier - tilts down when loading the wheelchair
and then easily tilts up and locks into place.
• Pickup Truck Carrier - stores the wheelchair in the bed of the
truck after the wheelchair has been folded and picked up by an
electric-driven motor. Certain manufacturers' carriers will pick up
the rigid chair, power wheelchair, or a scooter not folded.
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Automotive Mobility
Door Openers
•
•
Chain Door Opener - slide door that travels in a track located at the
top of the van.
Pivot Arm and Push/Pull Gear Door Opener - used to open
double-out doors outward.
Parking Brake Extensions
•
•
Electric Parking Brake - motorized and can be set and released by a
switch located within easy reach of the driver. This is ideal for those
with limited foot and leg strength.
Manual Parking Brake - for those with limited foot and leg strength. It
is a handle attached to the parking brake and is long enough to operate
by hand.
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Automotive Mobility
Parking Brake Extension
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Automotive Mobility
Hand Controls
ELECTRICAL
• Push/Pull Control - brakes the vehicle when pushed toward the
floor and accelerates the vehicle when pulled upward.
• Push-Right-Angle/Pull Hand Control - accelerates and brakes
the vehicle. To accelerate, the handle is pulled down. To brake,
the handle is pushed toward the floor.
• Push/Twist Control - similar to accelerating on a motorcycle.
The handle is twisted to accelerate and pushed toward the floor
to brake.
• Quad Hand Controls - consist of extra L-shaped bracket
attached to the hand controls.
MECHANICAL
• Push/Rotary Control - operates by pushing forward to apply
the brakes and rotating backward to apply the gas.
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Automotive Mobility
Hand Controls:
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Automotive Mobility
Lifts
An Automatic lift will fold, unfold, lower, and rise by operating a
switch on either the side of the lift, on the dash, or outside the
van. The Semi-Automatic lift operates similar to the automatic
lift, but requires manual folding and unfolding of the platform.
• Electrical/Mechanical Lift - operates by chain or screw rod and
depends upon the power provided by the battery.
• Hydraulic Lift - uses a pump and cylinder to raise and lower the
lift in conjunction with the van's battery.
• Outside Lift - requires installing a trailer hitch as the scooter is
carried on the outside of the vehicle.
• Pickup Truck Lift - picks up the scooter and stores it in the bed
of the truck. It can lift a ridged chair (manual), an electric
scooter, or a power wheelchair.
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Automotive Mobility
Lifts
• Platform Lift - requires either two side doors, or one sliding
door on a van and is stored either on the side, the rear or under
the floor of the van.
• Rotary (Swing) Lift - beneficial because of the parking
conveniences, due to less room needed to enter and to exit the
van. This device swings into the van, and the lift platform sits on
the floor in the middle of the van.
• Trunk Lift - puts the scooter into the trunk, provided the scooter
measures less than the trunk.
• Under-the-Floor Lift - only pump and motor are located inside.
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Automotive Mobility
Lifts
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Automotive Mobility
Lowered Floors
• Cargo Lowered Floor - the floor area behind the driver and
passenger through to the rear wheels is lowered allowing
wheelchair passengers to transfer to the driver's seat.
• Driver's Lowered Floor - not only is the floor area behind the
driver and the passenger seats lowered but the area under the
steering wheel is lowered as well.
• Power Pan - is a motor that moves a section of the floor up and
down in the driver's area large enough for a wheelchair, which
operates this device.
• Wheel Wells - are convenient for drivers who cannot transfer to
the driver’s seat. It consists of two channels for the wheels of
the wheelchair.
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Automotive Mobility
Miscellaneous Driving Aids
• Adapted Key Holder - for those with limited muscle control, the
key holder is made in various shapes and from plastic and metal
materials.
• Cross Over Gear and Turn Signals - for those who have
limited use of their left hand. The turn signal is crossed over to
the right side of the steering wheel. The same is true for the right
lever.
• Dual Battery System - not required, but recommended to assist
in the event of primary battery failure. With the additional battery,
the added power equipment will not cause an overdrain on the
OEM battery.
• Left Foot Accelerator - used by those with limited or no use of
their right foot. The left foot accelerator allows the driver to both
accelerate and brake with their left foot.
• Transfer Handles and/or Bars - made of a metal that body
acids will not corrode to assist someone who cannot transfer to
a car or van seat.
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Automotive Mobility
Miscellaneous Driving Aids
• Pedal Extensions - for persons dwarf or midget with shorter
legs. The removable extensions attach to the existing pedals
and make it easier for the driver to reach the pedals.
• Power Seat Base - installed as either a 4-way power seat or a
6-way seat. The 4-way power seat adjusts back and forth as
well as up and down. The 6-way seat moves back and forth, up
and down, and swivels for those with limited muscle control in
their upper extremities.
• Ramp - most useful when assistance is available. Expertise and
help is needed to measure for the proper length of the ramp.
Many ramps are available: aluminum, expanded metal, foldable,
and telescoping. They may be portable or installed on the
vehicle - which requires the floor to be lowered.
• Removable Driver Seat Base - allows the seat base to be
mounted on wheels or coasters, able to be easily removed and
stored in the rear of the van.
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Automotive Mobility
Steering
DEVICES
• Amputee Ring - designed best for those with prosthesis.
The hook of the prosthesis will fit into the ring and remain
in place while driving.
• "Para" Spinner Knob - consists of a base, which is
adjustable, and a detachable knob that can be comfortably
gripped with one hand.
• Palm Grip - ideal for someone who has control of the wrist
but is limited in grip strength. The hand is always held flat
to the steering wheel while driving.
• Quad Grip with Pin - a 3/8" steel shaft from a stiff leather
cuff that inserts into the spinner base. A stable wrist is
required. The pin may be attached on a horizontal or a
vertical position.
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Automotive Mobility
Steering
DEVICES (cont.)
• Quad Steering Cuff or Splint - a wrist cock up splint with a
post attached in a vertical or horizontal position. It is ideal
for persons either lacking hand and wrist function or those
unable to use the above steering devices.
• Spinner Cuff - operates as the hand is held in place by a
cuff and fastened with Velcro. A lockable short rod is placed
in the base of the steering wheel near the palm of the hand
to allow the person to steer.
• Tri-Post or Tri-Pin Spinner Knob - designed primarily for
quadriplegics, this device stabilizes and secures the hand
and wrist while driving.
• V-Grip or U-Grip - keeps the hand in an upright position and
in place while driving. It is used primarily by quadriplegics
who have adequate use of wrist movements.
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Automotive Mobility
Steering
MODIFICATIONS
• Deep Dish Steering Wheel - used for those who have limited
reach to be able to turn the wheel safely due to its smaller
size.
• Foot Steering Controls - for drivers who need to maneuver
the vehicle totally by their feet.
• Horizontal Steering - the steering column is easily adjusted
by motorization for those drivers with limited reach.
• Steering Column Extension - the steering column is
extended by 2-6 inches allowing room to steer for
individuals who drive from their wheelchairs.
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Automotive Mobility
Steering
SENSITIZED STEERING
• Joystick - very similar to the joystick on a wheelchair, is
made on a larger scale and allows the driver to maneuver
the vehicle.
• Low Effort Steering - reduces the effort needed to steer a
vehicle by approximately 40 percent.
• Reduced Effort Steering - can assist drivers who have
limited use of their upper extremities.
• Servo Controls - unlike the other hand controls, are
operated by an auxiliary motor of some type, rather than the
pressure of an individual's hand. It reduces the amount of
strength needed by the driver.
• Zero Effort Steering - reduces the effort needed to steer a
vehicle by approximately 70 percent.
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Automotive Mobility
Wheelchair Restraints
• Electric Restraint System - consists of a device on the
bottom of the chair and another device on the floor of the
van. When the two devices are properly aligned, a lock will
sound and the wheelchair will not move.
• Manual Restraints or Tie-Downs System - requires an
attendant because it cannot be operated from the
wheelchair. Four straps are snugly placed around the four
wheelchair wheels to help prevent rolling during vehicle
movement.
• Upper Torso Restraint - used in addition to the wheelchair
restraints for those with weak muscles in the upper trunk
area and poor balance.
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Automotive Mobility
Examples
Hand Operated Drivers Controls
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Automotive Mobility
Examples
Joystick Steering – Automated Wheelchair lift
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Design For Disability
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Introduction
Legislation / Standards
Universal Design Principles
Public Facilities
Residential Facilities
Automotive Mobility
Universal Web Design
References
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Web Accessibility and Usability Design
• According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, 1 in 5
Americans have some kind of disability, and 1 in 10
Americans have a severe disability
• The Challenge:
- It is ironic that while people with disabilities would benefit
the most from the web, the majority of web initiatives
ignore their needs
– Not only do most web sites ignore accessibility issues,
they also ignore usability factors, thus making web site
navigation a challenging task for anyone with or without
disabilities
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Disabilities Impacted by
Web Usage
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People with complete loss of sight
Others with vision impairments
Total or partial hearing loss
Color Blindness
Dyslexia
Cognitive and Physical Impairments
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Web Page Design: Consider
Disabilities of Potential User
• Accessing the Web with a disability is certainly possible
• Using assist devices and specialized computer software
allows the user to have data from the web transformed
into useable signals
– e.g. - People with low vision can use screen
magnifying software to increase the visible size of
type and images
– e.g. - People with no vision can use screen reading
software or Braille-readers
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Specialized Computer Software
• Screen reading software transforms text to
speech, actually speaking the contents of a
web page to the user
• Braille readers transform the text from a web
site onto a moving Braille keypad
• The problem that exists is that both of these
methods are extremely linear, moving along a
web page from left-to-right, or top-to-bottom,
and dependent upon proper design and
construction of the web page
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The Solution
• Execute a great web site and web applications that
are easier for everyone to navigate
• Account for the many different types of users visiting
web sites
– The users will consist of different cultural
backgrounds with varying levels of ability
• Web sites and applications must be designed with
the user in mind
• This approach produces solutions that:
– Enhances the users’ experience
– Eliminates Human Error
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Web Page Design
• As you visit your favorite sites, take a few
moments to imagine navigating through that
content if you were unable to see, or unable
to hear
• How might you use a Web site if you had
difficulty controlling your arm and leg
movement?
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Web Page Design
• Ensuring that a web site is accessible to
people with disabilities should not be viewed
as a burden
• Accessible sites are beneficial to more than
just the disabled
• Accessible sites require the site owner to
think more logically about how content is
organized and presented
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Web Site Accessibility
• To determine if your web site is accessible,
you can utilize a highly-valued tooled called
Bobby
• Bobby was developed, and maintained by the
Center for Applied Special Technology
(CAST)
• The tool allows any user to enter a web
address and Bobby will run an accessibility
report
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Web Site Accessibility
• Not every site which passes the automated
Bobby tests should be labeled as accessible
• Site Owners should become familiar with
web accessibility guidelines and the Web
Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
• When developing a site, site owners should
identify web design and programming
companies which have experience not only
creating basic accessible web sites, but also
web applications which pay attention to
accessibility standards
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Web Accessibility Initiative
(WAI)
• WAI is important and essential for the
following reasons:
– People with disabilities have the right to access
any available information just as easily as those
without disabilities
– While all federal agencies are required to make
public information systems accessible for people
with disabilities, it is a matter of time before all
commercial web sites must comply with new
federal requirements
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Law Requirements
• Accessibility for the disability is not a elective,
it is required by law
• The Americans with Disabilities (ADA) calls
for all parts of educational programs to be
accessible to people with disabilities
• Web pages can be considered part of an
educational program, according to a recent
case law
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Maintaining a Standard page layout
– Once a layout design is determine, stick with it
– A consistent interface for web pages makes it
easier for anyone contacting a site to find
information
– Buttons and navigational links should always
appear in the same place on a page, and headers
should follow a consistent format
• Who Benefits
– Everyone, particularly people with learning and
vision impairments
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Use universally recognized HTML tags
– Don’t use formatting tags, such as <BLINK>, which
makes text flash on and off that are only supported
by one Web browser
– In order to facilitate scanning it is recommended to
emphasize the structure of the page by proper HTML
markups:
– Use <H1> for the highest level heading
– Use <H2> for the main parts of the information
– Use <H3> for lower levels for even finer details of information
• Who Benefits
– All potential Web site visitors, but especially the blind
user
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Test your pages with a variety of browsers
and computers
– Test pages on different Web browsers, including a
text-based program such as Lynx
– Examine pages using various computer platforms,
such as Macintosh and PC
• Who Benefits
– All Potential Web site visitors
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Provide alternate text for browsers that
can not display images
– Many people can not see pictures or drawings
• This may be due to a disability or as a result of using a
text-based browser
– Alternative text tag with a graphic allows for a
written description of the image to be conveyed
– Add utility descriptions that verbalize the meaning
or role of the image in the dialogue
• What is the image intended to communicate and what
will happen if it is clicked?
• Who Benefits
– Users who can not see images
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Use Tables Judiciously
– Text format tables are not supported by all
browsers and can be confusing to read for people
using voice output
– Screen reading software can not differentiate
between columns, so text is read from left to right
– Use a de-columnized version of the information
• Who Benefits
– Anyone using a browser that doesn’t support
tables, and anyone using voice output to read text
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Avoid using a single mode of information
other than text
– If information is to be conveyed using audio or
video files, provide text-based alternatives
• Ex. If an audio file contains dialogue or lyrics, a transcript
of the file will enable someone with a hearing impairment
to access it
– Video may contain information that can be
provided in descriptive text form
• Who Benefits
– Visitors who are blind or deaf
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Provide alternatives to Image-maps
– Image-maps are graphics with multiple areas that,
when selected with a mouse or other pointer, take
you to another web page or section
– Providing text as an alternate to the image-map
will ensure accessibility by a wider audience
• Who Benefits
– Those who can not see images, anyone using a
browser without graphics capability, and users
who have turned off loading of graphics
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Designing For Ease of Access
• Avoid complicated backgrounds
– Many backgrounds do not provide enough contrast for
easy viewing
– Users with visual impairments often invert their screen
colors due to light sensitivity or other needs
– Backgrounds and other formatting that changes the
color of the text can make a page inaccessible to
someone with a visual or reading impairment
– If a custom background is required, select something
that provides good contrast with the text
• Who Benefits
– People with visual impairments and anyone
accessing via slower connections
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In Summary
• Universal Web Design improves web
access for everyone
• Universal Web Design is best initiated
early in the web development process
• Universal Web Design costs little to
implement if completed early in the
development phase
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References
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http://concretechange.home.mindspring.com
http://eleanors.home.mindspring.com
http://evolution.skf.com
http://msucares.com
http://natri.uky.edu/resources/viewer/moblaid/vehicle/mobilcar.htm
http://trace.wisc.edu
http://udhomes.com
http://www.aarp.org
http://www.aarp.org
http://www.accessboard.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm#4.27.4
http://www.access-by-design.com
http://www.accessiblesociety.org
http://www.ap.buffalo.edu
http://www.atnet.org
http://www.ddmc.org.uk
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References
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http://www.design.ncsu.edu
http://www.extension.iastate.edu
http://www.isdesignet.com/Magazine/Jun’95/DesignDisab.html
http://www.ksu.edu
http://www.makoa.org/web-design.html
http://www.mobilitymotoringprogram.com/
http://www.ncosh.com
http://www.netlogix.net
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/brochure/brochure.html
http://www.optionsil.com
http://www.rlis.ford.com/ftj/publication/2001/06/ftj-2001-0053/ftj-20010053.pdf
– http://www.si.edu
– http://www.toolbase.org
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References
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http://www.trace.wisc.edu
http://www.udhomes.com
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adata1.pdf
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/smbusgd.pdf
http://www.useit.com
http://www.washington.edu
http://www.xoc.net
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