James,
You have the right idea -- now extend it. The standard number keypad and the standard alpha keyboard aren't just a boon for people with disabilities. They provide a level of comfort and familiarity for everyone. You can sit down at the keyboard of any computer, even one you have never seen before, and know where to find the keys to type a message. THAT is the beauty of Universal Design.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
The products/systems I use every day that are good examples of Universal Design are my IPOD to listen to music and checking my mail, check on the internet, and watching videos, The Number keypad for someone who is blind, and the large keyboard for someone who is blind.
Erin,
Those are good architectural examples of Universal Design. I'll bet you also open doors with a lever handle and use a remote control to change the channels on your TV. GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Every day, I use the following:
a ramp from the parking lot- simple and intuitive use
an elevator- low physical effort
Brent,
And you seem to have that idea! GRIN
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Cut out curbs, closed captioning, adjustable desk heights, adjusted electrical outlets, wider doors, adjusted door openings, adjusted storage spaces, individualized lighting or volume controls. I could go on but this is the idea.
I'm not sure I would buy that as an example of universal design, Butch. The fact that you are presenting information suited to folks with different learning styles is a good strategy from a teaching standpoint, but it has little t do with full access. How do blind students get access to the visual material, and how to deaf students get access to the auditory material?
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I use power point in my class. This can assist in the universal access concept of providing visual and auditory material to the course.
Nicholas,
YES! Apple/MAC products have always been more user friendly -- and in this case that often translates to universally designed, and therefore more accessible to people with disabilities. You have just identified a great example of universal design of technology that benefits ALL users in such a way that it isn't thought of as unique or an add on -- but that has the effect of including everyone from the beginning. THAT is what it is all about
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I am a recent convert to Mac products, and find them to be replete with examples of universal design. For example, the multitouch trackpad that I am using at this very moment allows me to quickly move between tasks and applications, and is a real time-saver. I would think that similar benefits could be realized by my disabled students and/or colleagues with limited hand mobility. Another example would be the increased use and sophistication of dictation translation software. I have used Dragon Naturally Speaking for years to transcribe verbal notes taken at conferences or while traveling. The benefits to the disabled are self-evident.
Good examples. Here's another common one -- universal signage in public buildings (for everything from bathrooms to telephones). Those little icons that we all know and recognize without thinking about it are actually an outgrowth of Universal Design.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
Sidewalks that have curb cuts in them so you have easier access for wheelchairs, strollers, etc. Lever door handles make it easier for people that have poor hand strength.
Ashley ,
You are right -- that IS a good example of a universally designed technology... but for a lot more reasons than just its multiple functions. Smart phones use standard icons (everyone uses the same thing to mean "mail", for example), and there are some standard functions that are set up in a like manner on pretty much every smart phone (like clocks, alarms, etc.). Those common features are part of what suggests Universal Design.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
My smart phone is a good example of UD that I use daily. It alows me to surf the web, text, call etc.
KELLY,
You have gotten the idea, for sure. Designing things so that everyone can use them often has unexpected benefits for the nondisabled folks in the environment. That's what it is all about!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
We encounter universal design in our every day life. I watch closed caption TV, enter a mall with a ground level entry, possibly visit a museum that offers an audio tour in conjunction with the visual signs and markers. I recently noticed that the knobs were removed from my daughter's school and lever handles installed.
I love the thought "access" not "success". That simple line explained a lot to me.
I teach at a school but work at a spa also. The spa has a shower which can be accessed without having to step up or over anything. It also has a pull down chair that can be used if the client is unable to stay standing while showering.
Melissa,
That's terrific. You have really gotten the hang of the concept -- provide multiple means of exposure to the same information, so that students have the best shot at understanding, regardless of their preferred learning mode. Sounds like you are a great teacher!
Dr. Jane Jarrow
I usually include a variety of delivery models when introducing a topic. I provide notes to students to correspond with lecture, utilize the book illustrations because it provides great summaries and try to incorporate a life connection and video. I know it sounds like a lot but from my experience, the students tell me it keeps them interested and gives them multiple perspectives from which to view new material. It also keeps me from getting bored with the same old material. I look for new and fresh material to bring in all the time.
TYSHON,
That's not a very good example, and not everyone CAN use a standard drinking fountain. What if the individual is a little person (and cannot reach), or is in a wheelchair (and cannot get close enough), or has limited coordination and cannot hold down the push pad or turn the knob? Something that is universally designed is something that has alternative use built into it.
Dr. Jane Jarrow
