In general, buildings and cities aren't made with disabilities in mind, however when buildings are made for everyone, everyone benefits. This article discusses a range of scenarios in college campuses where inclusive design benefits everyone and ensures that people with disabilities feel included.
While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) came into force in the US in 1990, we are still a long way from buildings being accessible and usable for all. We have an ever-increasing number of people with disabilities and therefore universal design is more critical than ever, creating spaces where we all belong and enjoy.
Next time you are walking through a building, be it an office, shop or campus - take a few minutes to look at how the space has been designed to be inclusive and think about what would make it more inclusive.
“At its core,” said Legat’s Adam Quigley, “universal design has to do with making buildings accessible but also making them beneficial to all students regardless of disability. The goal is to give the same experience to everyone.”