| "Playing house" is one of most children's favorite | | | | such as the following into your home: |
| pastimes, especially when the weather is perfect | | | | Installing front loading washers, dryers, and pull out |
| enough to spend hours at a time in an outdoor | | | | dishwashers reduces strain and increases accessibility. |
| playhouse. All the neighborhood children gather and | | | | Add efficient lighting: pathways, dedicated task spaces, |
| want to play except for one of the children. This child | | | | nightlights, touch lights or rocker switches. Create a |
| is confined to a wheelchair and simply can't fit inside | | | | safe sloping walkway allowing seamless movement |
| the tiny plastic playhouse. Instead we have to play | | | | from the driveway to the interior of a home without |
| "house" on the patio or play other games. Although we | | | | the need to take a step. Make entrance spaces at |
| try to accommodate this friend's wheelchair, it is | | | | least 5'x 5' and doors 36-inch wide for uninhibited |
| bothersome that this friend could not share my special | | | | movement. Purchase and install fire alarms/smoke |
| playhouse. | | | | detectors that flash, as well as sound, to ensure |
| Over a decade later, the confined spaces of | | | | awareness regardless of sight or hearing abilities. |
| playhouses everywhere are giving way to universally | | | | Lever handles on doors or faucets and 'D' and 'C' |
| designed playgrounds and spaces. Universal Design | | | | shaped handles on drawers/pull-outs increase |
| (UD) is largely defined as the process of creating | | | | manageability. Walk-in tubs and barrier free shower |
| products that are usable by people with the widest | | | | floors are safer and expand usability. Grab bars can |
| possible range of abilities. Simply put, it is moving | | | | be located anywhere in the home without detracting |
| beyond making specific things adequately accessible. | | | | from the decor. Knee spaces under counters |
| Now barriers are being removed completely and | | | | increases comfort and convenience when attending to |
| seamlessly by creating flowing spaces that can be | | | | tasks. |
| utilized by any person with or without assistance | | | | Adjustable heights for any household items (ex: closet |
| regardless of age or ability. It is making life simpler and | | | | rods, counter tops, shower heads). High color |
| more enjoyable for everyone. | | | | contrasting increases visibility (ex: counter tops from |
| Having evolved from the Accessible Design | | | | counter edges). Ovens and cooktops with front |
| Movement of the 1970's to The Americans with | | | | controls prevent the need to reach over hot surfaces |
| Disabilities Act of 1990, the Universal Design of today | | | | during use. |
| has moved beyond public spaces and into the ranch | | | | These are just a few of the many Universal Design |
| style home plans of the average homeowner. It is not | | | | concepts readily available for home use. After |
| necessarily a movement, science, or a unique lifestyle, | | | | reviewing these ideas and evaluating your home, you |
| though those are popular ways of defining UD, rather it | | | | may want to speak with your contractor about |
| is a constantly evolving awareness of the need to | | | | incorporating Universal Design. Your design |
| provide usability to a greater extent. The average | | | | professional may have further suggestions and can |
| home in the United States is best suited for a a6'2" | | | | help you contact a User-Expert Designer. A Universal |
| male around 25 years of age. Because of that, people | | | | Design User-Expert is someone who is well |
| have adapted themselves to these ill-fitting | | | | acquainted with Universal Design and can discuss with |
| environments. However, Universal Design is better able | | | | you what concepts would likely benefit your lifestyle |
| to equip our homes to our needs. With life | | | | the most. User-Experts consult regularly with parents |
| expectancies increasing world wide, now more than | | | | of small children, those living with disabilities of varying |
| ever, people have the desire to age gracefully in their | | | | degrees, elderly involved with the Independent Living |
| homes. Additionally, the average homeowner wants | | | | Movement, or anyone who uses and benefits from |
| greater convenience, time efficiency and features that | | | | Universal Design. User-Experts continually working for |
| will integrate comfort and security. | | | | the advancement of Universal Design into standard |
| Integrating Universal Design into your colonial home plan | | | | craftsman style home plans and can be extremely |
| is not difficult. Start by simply reevaluating your home | | | | beneficial to your design process. |
| environment. Think about your every day tasks and | | | | Flexibility is the most important aspect of Universal |
| what would make them easier for your family. Do you | | | | Design. Remember that technologies are always |
| have a bad back that revolts every time the | | | | evolving and your lifestyle is similarly inclined to change |
| dishwasher needs emptying? What about when you | | | | at a moment's notice. Universal Design allows your |
| trip on the front stoop every time you come home | | | | home to transition with you as life happens rather than |
| after dark? There are solutions to these common | | | | forcing you to work around frustrating barriers. |
| frustrations. Try incorporating slight design alterations | | | | |