Before we jump into the idea of co-designing or collaboration, let's do a little universal design refresher. If you haven't checked out our course on The State of Accessible Housing in the US, that is a great place to start to get some additional background on our breakdown of the definition of universal design, as well as its application to the accessible housing market. 

The official definition from Ron Mace is, 

"Universal design is the process of designing something that is usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design."

Many of you have probably run into universal design features at home and in the community, and not even realized it. When universal design is done well, it's almost invisible, because the design just works for everyone. Why? Because there aren't any barriers and people can take care of the tasks they need and want to do without frustration. 

UD can be applied in many places, like the use of an adjustable desk, but our organization focuses on the home because it's where many of us spend most of our time.

Some common universal design features in the home that you may not be aware of, or may be aware of: A rocker light switch. These are easier to manipulate than traditional switches. Lever handles are easier to use than round knobs. And one of my favorites, kitchen cabinet pullout drawers, instead of kitchen cabinets that require bending over and reaching far back under the counter for all of your dishes or pots and pans. These features are only a few UD elements we recommend, but they do show how their benefits actually extend to everyone.

As this course continues, we will get into some more scenarios that demonstrate the wide reaching impact and value of incorporating UD into the entire home versus some functional features here and there.

To build upon that, once people understand the benefit of universal design features to a wide range of people, we hope to see a shift in the way professionals work together to design communities that are beneficial for everyone.

Up next, I want to specifically explain what a universally accessible home looks like and how it provides successful outcomes for those that live and visit there.