Universal Design Elements |
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Why Universal Design? Universal design doesn't just make a home livable for wheelchair users or the elderly. It makes life easier for everyone, from the moment they enter your home until they leave. Even if members of your family are perfectly healthy and agile now, a future injury or a more permanent disability can leave them struggling to get around the house. This type of design helps people with temporary or long-term disabilities - from an injured hand to a bad back - enjoy life in their homes. Healthy, able individuals can also benefit from universal design. Sure, the single-lever faucets recommended for use in kitchens and baths make it easier for people who have limited hand strength or an injury to turn the faucet on and off. But they also help you to easily turn on the water when your hands are dirty and you don't want to grasp the faucet. Widened doorways allow people who use wheelchairs to travel through the house, but they also make it easier for parents carrying young children around or homeowners loaded down with groceries to enter and move around. That's the key. Good universal design should be virtually invisible. The Principles of Universal Design |
