Global Universal Design Educators 
Monthly Online News

Produced and distributed monthly by Elaine Ostroff In cooperation with the Adaptive Environments Center, the Center for Universal Design and the Trace R&D Center; with support from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

Volume 4 Number 2, February 2002

Contents

• Editor's Note
• News from the Global Network
  • CANADA
    • Design Exchange Design Challenges 2002
  • EUROPE
    • Workshop on Network for European Curriculum in Design for All
  • MEXICO
    • International Congress of Disabled People United
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    • Salford University Begins Distance Learning Certificate Program
  • UNITED STATES
    • EASI Workshop: Business Benefits of Accessible IT Design
    • RESNA Conference Highlights Universal Design
    • Trace Center Date Correction
    • US Access Board Works to Advance Standards on Classroom Acoustics
• Global Universal Design Educator's Network e-mail list
• Calendar
• Adding your information, questions to the Online News

EDITOR'S NOTE

This issue includes news of a few of the many developing programs in information technology, from individual content providers such as EASI to the plans from the European Commission to establish Centers of Excellence in Design for All in e-learning. You'll also learn about the launch of one of the first certificates in inclusive design from Salford University in the UK, primarily by distance learning; the continuing partnerships between businesses and students forged by the Canadian Design Exchange to create products and environments that are sustainable and universal; the gathering of research experts in universal design in an international meeting to identify research agendas in universal design, and an international conference of people with disabilities in Mexico. The US Access Board continues to be a key resource for the Online News, with an overview of their new and far-reaching collaborative work in acoustics - an emerging area for universal design.

Information from the Monthly Online News may be freely copied and quoted as long as the individual author, and/or web site and this source is cited. NOTE: Previous issues of the Online News are available online at the NEW Global Universal Design Education Network website at:

<http://www.universaldesign.net>.

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NEWS FROM THE GLOBAL NETWORK

CANADA

Design Exchange Design Challenges 2002

Design Exchange is proud to announce three new competitions for 2002. This year's competitions place special emphasis on sustainable design - design that strives for a positive environmental, social and economic impact throughout all phases of product lifecycle. Designers are also asked to demonstrate design excellence and universal design in their submissions. Deadlines for each are in March 2002 and detailed submission requirements for all three are available at <http://www.dxnet.net/dxdesignchallenges/>.

Every year, Design Exchange manages competitions aimed at young designers throughout Canada. This Toronto-based national design promotion center works with partners in the education and business communities, a collaborative effort which produces winning design concepts that set Canadian products, environments and communications apart and that improve the quality of life. The winners of the 2001 competitions were exhibited at Inclusion by Design, in Montreal.

The 2002 competitions are:

1. DURABLE BY DESIGN - the GARDENSMITH Design Competition
   Sponsored by The Mibro Group, this competition challenges all designers to develop innovative hand nozzles and oscillating sprinklers for home use with standard garden hoses.
   
   The challenge is to design both the nozzle and sprinkler with common design elements that will appeal to a broad consumer audience. Since designs must be feasible and economical to produce, material and manufacturing concerns should be a consideration in all submissions.
   
   
2. LIFE BY DESIGN - Hot Plastics Competition
   Sponsored by Dupont Canada, this competition challenges industrial design students across the country to develop sustainable solutions for products that require heat-resistant plastics. Participants may choose to design a set of year-round barbecue tools or an entire science lab desk system for students.
   
   
3. SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN - R-2020 Residential Design Challenge Sustainability - Efficiency - Esthetics
   Sponsored by Natural Resources Canada
   Sustainable Design is an advanced design process focused on the triple bottom line, improving social, economic and environmental performance so future generations can enjoy the prosperity and abundance currently enjoyed by ourselves. To improve the level of energy efficiency in the housing and its related infrastructure, the government created the R-2000 HOME Program. However, as we move into the 21st Century, energy efficiency is part of a larger picture that includes proper environmental stewardship, more effective use of natural resources and long-term issues of economic and social sustainability.
   
   To meet the public's demand for sustainable homes, the proposed R-2020 program will build upon R-2000's technical and building advances by emphasizing the quality of the building's design. The R-2020 Program will utilize the best design skills from across the country and the latest concepts of sustainable design to formulate new standards for sustainable homes based on a balanced, nurturing, and holistic approach. The Design Exchange and EnerQuality, which currently runs the R-2000 program, have been funded by Natural Resources Canada to re-conceptualize and restructure the current program to meet the new demand for sustainable homes and communities.

For more information, contact Ilena Messina at <ilena@dx.org> or see: <http://www.dxnet.net/dxdesignchallenges/>.

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MEXICO

International Congress of Disabled People United

The 4th International Congress of Disabled People United will be held at the World Trade Center in Mexico City from March 13 to 15, 2002. This year the Congress will have plenary sessions on:

1. Social conscience and cultural rights.
2. The use of humanist technology.
3. Toward an inclusive society.

At the same time there will be a cultural exposition of institutions, organizations and enterprises that relate to people with disabilities.

The Congress will be enriched with two new activities:

1. Workshops on accessible tourism, integration to the work force, review of the national and international legal framework.
2. Forum: The Youth Speak Out, where younger people with disabilities will talk about different topics.

The invitation notes, 'In the Congress tradition we guarantee participants an incredible interactive experience with families, disabled people, specialists - all sharing the latest and most advanced methods and experiences for the integration of people with disabilities.'

For further information please contact Mariano Pacheco at (01+55) 5554-4016. 55544838, 55544737, 5554448 or see <http://discapacidad.hypermart.net> (available in Spanish only).

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EUROPE

Workshop on Network for European Curriculum in Design for All

The European Commission is organising a workshop in Brussels (Centre A. Borschette - Rue Froissart-36) on the 7th of March to prepare the organisation of a European Network of Centres of Excellence in Design for All. Following the e-Europe 2002 action plan, under the action line 2c, 'Participation for all in the knowledge-based economy', there is a target that aims at:

'Ensure the establishment and networking of national centres of excellence in design-for-all and create recommendations for a European curriculum for designers and engineers.' To be carried out by European Commission and the Member States until end 2002.

The aim of the workshop is to inform of the progress achieved in this target and to invite all interested actors to participate in the network, explaining the selection and nomination process proposed.

In particular there will be discussions and presentations on:

• The aim of e-Europe in Design for All
• Characteristics of the Design for All centres, including disciplines and expertise
• Examples of existing initiatives and presentations of well-known experts will be provided to stimulate the discussions. The aim of the presentation is to bring together the various aspects and approaches of Design for All, presenting a broad perspective.
• Role and profiles of centres that could be candidates to participate in the network
• Information about existing courses that could be useful for the creation of the European curriculum
• Suggestions for the implementation of the centres and networks.

The European network will involve all Member States; there will be one National Contact Centre (NCC) in each country and National Networks connected to the European one.

Design for all is understood in its broader sense, as designing mainstream products and services to be accessible by as broad a range of users as possible. Although Design for All could cover a very wide range of products, the work under e-Europe will focus mainly on Information society products and services. This does not prevent the centres or experts from having a wider complementary expertise.

The centres of excellence should be existing organisations working and mainly having knowledge and experience in the Design for All field itself or any related discipline where aspects or elements of Design for All have been consider.

The expertise of the centres of excellence can be distributed and be complementary to each other, it does not need to attempt to replicate the same expertise in every Member State.

Further information and the forms needed to express interest in participating in the Network will soon be available under:

<http://www.egroups.com/group/eeurope-pwd/>

<http://europa.eu.int/comm/information_society/eeurope/index_en.htm>

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UNITED KINGDOM

Salford University Begins Distance Learning Certificate Program

SURFACE, which is a Centre of Excellence within the School of Construction and Property Management at Salford University, has recently launched a program that is primarily conducted through distance learning. It will award certification and degrees in Accessibility and Inclusive Design. Marcus Ormerod, Team Director, notes that there will be an opportunity for potential students to try out the distance-learning mode within the next month. The website that introduces SURFACE and their programmes is at: http://www.scpm.salford.ac.uk/surface/. The Online News will provide updates in future issues.

The aims of the programmes are for SURFACE to:

• Develop and deliver a world-leading course in accessibility and inclusive design and for students and practitioners to:
• Bridge the gap between theory and practice in accessible environments
• Produce strategies for effective design solutions to meet the needs of all building users

The programmes respond to the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA, 1995) and more specifically the requirements to be introduced in 2004. The DDA has raised the profile of access issues and has highlighted the need for inclusive environments that all people, including people with physical, sensory and cognitive impairments, can use safely and independently.

Today, there is an increased awareness of the need to adopt a more holistic approach to design, whereby buildings, external environments, transport systems, products, and so on, are designed to take into account the needs of all users at the outset.

In planning the program, SURFACE used the results of their research that included a questionnaire survey sent to 2100 designers from which 916 responses were received. The analysis showed that designers and construction industry professionals have little understanding of disability and access issues and that there are significant knowledge gaps in their training and education. Also the questionnaire demonstrated that designers are keen to design inclusively, but at present they do not know how to do it. The proposed programme of study would address these education and training needs.

Potential students are building control officers, planners, architects, technicians, building surveyors, access officers, health authority managers, product manufacturers, voluntary sector, local access group members, charity employees, DDA enforcers, Disability Forum members.

Their website notes: 'For further information, if you want to find out more, or discuss anything further, we would be pleased to hear from you. You can contact us in a variety of ways: Email Rita Newton on <r.newton@salford.ac.uk>. Phone: 44 (0) 161 295 4600; Textphone: 44 (0) 161 295 5405; Fax: 44 (0) 161 295 5011 or write to: Rita Newton, SURFACE, School of Construction and Property Management, The University of Salford, Bridgewater Building, Salford. M7 9NU.'

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UNITED STATES

EASI Workshop: Business Benefits of Accessible IT Design

Steve Jacobs of NCR is the instructor for this online workshop. It workshop targets MIS, marketing, engineering and business professionals who wish to understand and implement IT design techniques that are accessible to as many consumers as technically possible and economically feasible without the need for adaptation or specialized design. Accessible IT design concepts support the development of products that can accommodate consumers who:

• Live within low-bandwidth information infrastructures (5 billion worldwide);
• Are 65 years of age and older (486 million worldwide);
• Never learned to read (1.6 billion worldwide);
• Only speak, write and/or understand English as a Second Language (300+ million worldwide);
• Interpret the cultural meaning of certain colors variously (every culture is slightly different) or are, to some degree, colorblind (230 million worldwide); and,
• Consumers with disabilities (500 - 700 million worldwide.

The workshop will be delivered by e-mail for regular interaction, and the content will be available from the web. Our goal is to help participants discover Internet resources that will let them remain current with rapidly emerging design methods and technologies.

Everyone who completes the course will receive an EASI certificate of completion. Those requesting it will receive 3 continuing education units for doing the course work..

Finally, this course is an optional course for those working for the EASI/USM Certificate In accessible Information Technology.

For more information, see: http://easi.cc/workshops/bbaitsyl.htm>

EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) has a wide range of courses on accessible information technology, see: <http://easi.cc/workshop.htm>.

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RESNA Conference Highlights Universal Design

The State of the Science of Universal Design Research is the topic of the 8th Annual Research Symposium on Saturday June 29 during the annual RESNA conference, June 27 to July 1, 2002 in Minneapolis, MN. Universal design is a growing component at RESNA, and numerous sessions related to universal design are scheduled in addition to the research symposium at this well-attended annual event. The symposium and many of the universal design events have been organized and will be hosted by the two Centers on Universal Design funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research - the RERC on Universal Design, University at Buffalo and the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University.

The day-long symposium combines large and smaller group presentations and facilitated discussions, concluding with discussion results and research agendas for three topic areas: Human Factors, Product, and Environment.

Human factors research will include presentations on anthropometrics from the RERC, University at Buffalo; biomechanics from the RERC, University of Michigan; and perception and cognition, Trace Center, University of Wisconsin.

Product and environmental research and related knowledge utilization will be addressed by presentations from the RERCs, including a consumer perspective. Paivi Tahkokallio, President of European Institute for Design and Disability and Satoshi Kose, Director of Housing and Urban Planning Department at the Building Research Institute, Japan will present international perspectives.

Instructional courses with universal design content include: Home Modifications, two half-day sessions, introductory and advanced on June 27 and Assessing the UD Performance of Assistive Products, half day on June 28. Concurrent sessions on June 30 and July 1 include: Visitability; Post Secondary UD Education; and Current Trends in Universal Housing. Posters include the Universal Design Exemplars, Next Generation Universal Home, and UD Principles in Outdoor Recreation.

Full conference details and registration information can be found at: http://www.resna.org/conferences/2002/index.html. It is possible to register for one day, to attend the symposium or other conference sessions. Note that these rates increase after May 27, 2002. The instructional courses require a separate registration per session.

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Trace Center Date Correction

The full-day tutorial at the Computers and Human Interface 2002 conference titled: "Flexible, Accessible Interfaces, More Usable by Everyone will be on April 22, 2002 and NOT as noted previously, May 5, 2002.

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US Access Board Works to Advance Standards on Classroom Acoustics

The following overview of the Access Board work on acoustics is an excerpt from Access Currents, Nov/Dec 01 issue, at <http://www.access-board.gov/>.

The quality of acoustics is an important consideration in the design of classrooms. Research indicates that high levels of background noise, much of it from heating and cooling systems, adversely effect learning environments, particularly for young children, who require optimal conditions for hearing and comprehension. At particular risk are children with mild to moderate hearing loss, including those who use hearing aids, since classroom noise and reverberation compromise the effectiveness of such aids. Children with temporary hearing loss, who may comprise up to 15% of the school age population according to the Center for Disease control, are also significantly affected, as are children with speech impairments or learning disabilities.

For the past several years, the Board has worked with the private sector in the development of classroom acoustic standards as an alternative to rulemaking of its own. In 1999, the Board partnered with the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on the development of a new standard for acoustics in classrooms that takes into account children who are hard of hearing. ASA had previously established a special working group for this purpose. The Board helped sponsor the work of this group and expanded its membership through the addition of representatives from disability groups, school systems, designers, and government agencies. At the Board's urging, ASA committed to a two-year time frame for the completion of standards. The working group has now completed work on the standards, which set specific criteria for maximum background noise (35 decibels) and reverberation (0.6 to 0.7 seconds for unoccupied classrooms). These and other specifications are consistent with long-standing recommendations for good practice in acoustical design. The working group has submitted the new criteria for adoption as an ANSI standard. ANSI standards, by themselves, are voluntary, unless referenced by a code, statute, or regulation. School systems can require compliance with the new specifications in their construction documents for new schools.

The Board believes that these standards should be incorporated into the acoustical requirements of the model building codes and is working toward this goal. In November, the Board submitted a proposal to the International Code Council (ICC) for the incorporation of key provisions of the new standards into the next edition of the International Building Code (section 1210). The IBC is a cooperative effort on the part of national model code organizations to bring uniformity to building codes. Ultimately, if adopted, the classroom acoustical requirements would become mandatory as part of the building code in those states and jurisdictions that use the IBC or its member codes. As a result, the requirements would be enforced locally through the building codes. The ICC will hold hearings on proposed code changes this April in Pittsburgh.

This is not the first time that the Board has worked to enhance access requirements through the model building codes. Previously, the Board, with support from various organizations, pushed successfully for the inclusion of requirements for unisex restrooms in various types of facilities into the model building codes. The Board is involved with a variety of organizations reponsible for codes and voluntary consensus standards. Coordination with such entities enables the Board to enhance the coverage of accessibility through codes and industry standards, while helping it make its guidelines more consistent with such documents.

Resources on Acoustics

The ASA has prepared a helpful bulletin, 'Classroom Acoustics: A Resource for Creating Environments with Desirable Listening Conditions,' which provides a general overview of the problems and solutions concerning classroom acoustics. This 16-page guide, which is available from ASA, offers a supplemental resource for architects, educators, and school planners for use in new construction or renovation of existing learning spaces. See ordering information at: <http://asa.aip.org/classroom.html>.

Numerous other resources on acoustics can be found on the Access Board website at: <http://www.access-board.gov/publications/acoustic-factsheet.htm>

Access Currents is a free newsletter issued by the Access Board every other month by mail and e-mail. Send questions or comments to news@access-board.gov.

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Global Universal Design Educator's Network e-mail list

The Trace Research and Development Center is the host of the educator’s email list. Note that the email list and the Online News are two distinct features. The list is interactive, unlike the Online News that you receive monthly. If you want to be part of an interactive e-mail exchange with other people who are interested in teaching and learning about universal design education, you must subscribe as explained below. Once you subscribe you will receive directions for how to use the list.

To subscribe send an email message to <listproc@trace.wisc.edu>, and include the following in the body of the message: 

• subscribe UNIVERSALDESIGN-ED 

• your first name 

• your last name.

The purpose of the list is explained more fully at this link:

<http://trace.wisc.edu:8080/guest/info/UNIVERSALDESIGN-ED>  

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CALENDAR

March 7-9, 2002: Universal Design Summit, St. Louis, Missouri. Sponsored by The Accessible Housing Clearinghouse, Paraquad, Inc.; Maryville University; City of St. Louis; and East-West Gateway Coordinating Council. For more information contact Michael Stathopulos of Paraquad at 314-567-1559.

March 8-10, 2002: American Foundation for the Blind's (AFB) Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute conference: "Facing the Future: Learning from Legends, Preparing New Leaders." Washington Marriott, Washington, DC. For more information, please call 212-502-7654, e-mail gsmith@afb.net, or visit AFB's website <http://www.afb.org>.

March 18-23, 2002: CSUN 17th Annual International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, Los Angeles, CA. Sponsored by California State University at Northridge. See <http://www.csun.edu/cod>.

March 31, 2002: Abstracts due for participation in International Conference for Universal Design in Yokohama, Japan. See http://www.ud2002.org/index-e.html.

April 22, 2002: 'Flexible, Accessible Interfaces, More Usable by Everyone,' one day tutorial at the Computer and Human Interface conference in Minneapolis. Gregg Vanderheiden and Shawn Lawton Henry are co-instructors. More details will be available on the conference web site: <http://www.acm.org/sigchi/chi2002/>.

May 15, 2002: Student entries for the IDSA/ Library of Congress National Library Service are due at the IDSA offices by 5:00 p.m. EST. See: <http://www.idsa.org> and click on Digital Talking Book Playback Machine Competition.

June 17-18, 2002: Tampere, Finland. 'Easytex' - 1st International Conference on Clothing and Textiles for Disabled and Elderly People. Good looking, functional clothing and other textile products make daily life easier for disabled and elderly people and help in their integration in society. See: <http://www.vtt.fi/ket/new/easytex_2002.htm>.

June 27- July 2, 2002: Minneapolis, MN. RESNA annual meeting includes Universal Design Research Symposium on 29th June, numerous sessions on universal design. See: <http://www.resna.org/>.

July 22 - 25, 2002: 'Designing for Usability, Flexibility, & Accessibility,' in Madison, Wisconsin. See: <http://trace.wisc.edu/training/>.

September 5-7, 2002: Common Ground: Design Research Society International Conference at Brunel University's Design campus at Runnymede, London, near Heathrow Airport. Sponsored by: European Academy of Design; Japanese Society for the Science of Design; Korean Society of Design Studies; Brunel University; and Staffordshire University. See: <http://www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/des/drs/>

October 19-20, 2002: Universal Design on the Web, at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Providence, RI. Co-sponsored by RISD and Adaptive Environments. For more information, Lenie Kuit, <lkuit@adaptenv.org>.

October 27-30, 2002: 6th Global Conference on Maturity Matters, Perth, Western Australia. Sponsored by the International Federation on Ageing. Contact <IFA@congresswest.com.au>.

November 9-12, 2002: International Society for Gerontechnology's 4th International Conference on Gerontechnology at the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. Local committee includes Florida State University; University of Miami; and Georgia Institute of Technology. See <http://psy.fsu.edu/~isg/>.

November 30 - December 4, 2002: International Conference for Universal Design in Yokohama, Japan. See <http://www.ud2002.org/index-e.html>.

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Adding your information, questions to the Online News: