Universal Design/Accessibility Standards Resources
Information on international accessibility standards for buildings, electronics and media
RESOURCES FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN / ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS
There are many resources in the United States and abroad for information on accessibility standards for buildings, also known as universal design. The following organizations offer publications and/or technical assistance on accessibility. Some of these organizations base their standards on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the Americans with Disabilities Act is a U.S. law, accessibility standards produced under this law are suitable for use by any organization seeking to ensure the accessibility of their facilities.
Access Board
1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004-1111 USA
Tel: (800) USA-ABLE (800-872-2253) or (202) 272-5434 (for technical assistance)
TTY: (800) 993-2822 or 202-272-5449 Fax: (202) 272-5447
E-mail: info@access-board.gov or ta@access-board.gov (technical assistance questions)
Web: www.access-board.gov
Access Board is a federal agency that develops minimum guidelines and requirements for standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). It provides technical assistance on those guidelines and standards, including the accessibility of buildings, transportation vehicles and telecommunications. It also provides enforcement of the Architectural Barriers Act, investigating complaints under the ABA. Access Board does not enforce the ADA, which is generally the responsibility of the Department of Justice. Access Board produces a number of publications, including Access Currents, a newsletter, and ADA Accessibility Guidelines, which provides detailed information on accessibility standards (This publication is also on its website at: www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm).
NOTE: Technical assistance questions sent by fax or e-mail should include a telephone number, and a good time to call. Responses to technical assistance questions can be sent via e-mail, however, technical assistance service is sometimes best provided vocally.
Adaptive Environments Center
374 Congress Street, Suite 301
Boston, MA 02210 USA
Tel: (617) 695-1225 Fax: (617) 482-8099
E-mail: info@adaptiveenvironments.org Web: www.adaptenv.org
Adaptive Environments Center provides information and technical assistance regarding architectural accessibility and universal design standards. Their website includes links to other resources related to universal design.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
25 W. 43rd Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10036 USA
Tel: (212) 642-4900 Fax: (212) 389-0023
E-mail: info@ansi.org Web: www.ansi.org
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provides information on accessibility standards related to architecture.
Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE)
70 South Lambeth Road
London SW8 1RL UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: (44) 020 7840-0125 Fax: (44) 020 7540-5811
E-mail: info@cae.org.uk Web: www.cae.org.uk
Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) is a technical information, training and consultancy resource committed to the provision of buildings and spaces that are accessible to all users, and to the enhancement of quality in design.
Center for Applied Special Technology
40 Harvard Mills Square, Suite 3
Wakefield, MA 01880-3233 USA
TEL (781) 245-2212
E-mail: cast@cast.org Web: www.cast.org
CAST is a nonprofit organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals, especially those with disabilities, through the research and development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies.
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access
378 Hayes Hall - School of Architecture and Planning
University at Buffalo
3435 Main St
Buffalo, NY 14214-3087 USA
Tel: (716) 829-3485 ext. 329 Fax: (716) 829-3861
TTY: (716) 829-3758
E-mail: idea@ap.buffalo.edu Web: www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA) provides resources and technical expertise in architecture, product design, facilities management and the social and behavioral sciences to a broad range of people, including people with disabilities.
Center for Universal Design
NC State University
College of Design
Campus Box 8613
Raleigh, NC 27695-8613 USA
InfoLine: (800) 647-6777
Tel/TTY: (919) 515-8951 Fax: (919) 515-7330
E-mail: cud@ncsu.edu Web: www.design.ncsu.edu/cud
Center for Universal Design’s mission is to improve the built environment and related products for all users by impacting change in policies and procedures through research, information, training and design assistance.
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs)
Tel: (800) 949-4232 Web: www.adata.org
Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) provide information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act. There are 10 regional offices. Regional DBTACs can be reached automatically by dialing the national toll free number, or you may visit the website.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
2212 Sixth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710 USA
Tel/TTY: (510) 644-2555 Fax: (510) 841-8645
E-mail: dredf@dredf.org Web: www.dredf.org
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is another resource to learn more about standards for accessible buildings. DREDF is a national, nonprofit law and policy center, dedicated to furthering the civil rights of people with disabilities. DREDF provides technical assistance, information and referral, and training to individuals and organizations on disability-rights laws and policies; provides legal representation directly and as co-counsel and amicus in cases of disability-based discrimination; educates people with disabilities; and trains law students through the Disability Clinical Legal Education Program. DREDF was key to the effort to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act and continues to provide expert training to individuals, businesses, etc. on that law.
The European Institute for Design and Disability
via Sumpiazzo 9
23865 Oliveto Lario (LC) ITALY
Tel. (39) 031-968025 Fax: (39) 031-969855
e-mail: pkercher@libero.it Web: www.design-for-all.org
EIDD was founded in Dublin in 1993 with the aim of promoting better design for people with disabilities.
National Institute for Urban School Improvement
Mary Lou Fulton College of Education
PO Box 872011
Farmer Bldg #140
Tempe, AZ 85287-2011
Tel: (480) 965-0391 Fax: (480) 727-7012
Email: Elizabeth.Kozleski@asu.edu Web: http://www.urbanschools.org/professional/module_4.html
A new professional learning module on Universal Designs for Learning (UDL) leads participants through UDL activities and short informational presentations on applying UDL across the curriculum, designing inclusive classroom learning environments, assessing students’ ongoing progress, adjusting instruction, and addressing legislation that impacts curricula and assessment utilized in schools.
Project Action
700 13th Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005 USA
Tel: (202) 247-3066 or (800) 659-6428 Fax: (202) 347-4157 or (202) 737-7914
E-mail: project_action@easter-seals.org Web: www.projectaction.org
Project Action is administered by Easter Seals and funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Project Action provides technical assistance and disseminates information regarding accessible transportation in the United States. Through the National Institute for Accessible Transportation (NIAT), a resource center and publications clearinghouse, they offer materials to the public free of charge. An online database of accessible transport in the United States is available on their website.
World Wide Web Consortium
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
E-mail: wai@w3.org Web: www.w3.org/WAI
World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), in coordination with organizations around the world, pursues accessibility of the Web through five primary areas of work: technology, guidelines, tools, education and outreach, and research and development.
PUBLICATIONS:
Inclusive Design: Designing and Developing Accessible Environments
by Rob Imrie and Peter Hall
Paperback - 208 pages (October 2001)
E & F N Spon; ISBN: 0419256202
Inclusive Design is a documentation of the attitudes, values and practices of property professionals, including developers, surveyors and architects, in responding to the building needs of disabled people. It looks at the way in which pressure for accessible building design is influencing the policies and practices of property companies and professionals, with a primary focus on commercial developments in the United Kingdom. The book also provides comments on, and references to, other countries, particularly the United States, Sweden and New Zealand.
For more Universal Design publications see:
http://print.google.com/print?q=Universal+Design&oi=print
WEBSITES:
Accessibility for the Disabled has an online manual "A Design Manual for a Barrier Free Environment" prepared by the Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut Central District in cooperation with the United Nations and the Ministry of Social Affairs National Committee for the Disabled. The manual addresses urban and architectural design considerations for Beirut, and it may be useful for similar cities and countries.
Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI) has a listserv on accessible technology and offers online course on universal design.
The Independent Living online library lists and links to hundreds of universal design resources.
Inclusive Education Initiative (IEI) provides information on universal design for people with developmental disabilities in inclusive educational settings.
National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) is a research and development facility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
Universal Design Education Online supports educators and students in their study of unviersal design.
Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE. Please advise NCDE of any inaccuracies you may find.
