The Challenges in Universal Design

This book is aimed at an international audience in business, education, design and engineering. The other contributors are academics or practitioners from the Nordic region, UK and USA. Gheerawo co-wrote the introductory chapter with Vavik, the book editor. In Scandinavia, the terms ‘universal design’ (US origin) and ‘inclusive design’ (European origin) are both widely used. The chapter sets out a series of challenges facing inclusive design as it evolves from academic theory into a practical methodology that designers and business organisations can use. It outlines the context and benefits of the approach, and gives guidance to inclusive design practitioners. The research drew together US and European approaches to outline a common history of inclusive design over the past 40 years. It addresses significant topics, including the current move towards co-creation, contemporary design for social inclusion and inclusive design as a global agent of change. As Gheerawo and Vavik establish in their Preface, the book looks at how different design disciplines, including the emerging discipline of service design, can adopt an inclusive approach. It responds to the Norwegian Government’s Action Plan of 2009, which focuses on inclusive design. Although from an academic press, it is aimed at business, providing knowledge, methods and case studies encouraging best practice, and supported by the Norwegian State Housing Bank. Gheerawo used the chapter to consolidate his thinking on the barriers and opportunities facing business organisations in adopting inclusive design. A number of conference publications resulted from the work, including: 'Social sustainability: The challenges facing universal design' (3rd International Conference for Universal Design, Hamamatsu, Japan, 2010); and 'Inclusive Norway – building an approach through design innovation with industry' (Include 2009, London, UK, 2009). Gheerawo was also invited to give a keynote address at the 4th International Conference for Universal Design, Fukuoka, Japan (2012)

The 2008 flexAbility Toolkit

The flexAbility manual contains almost 200 pages of resources developed specifically to support Oregon employers. The key chapters include:* Introduction* A matter of respect* Employment strategies* Vocational rehabilitation* Financial incentives and Oregon Programs* Workplace accommodations* Real people, real jobs: Situations and solutions* Disability legislation* Small Business Guide: The ADA* Glossary of commonly used terms* Employer resource guid

Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual For High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs - Edition 4.1

Ever since it was first published, Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual for High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs has served as a vital resource in the chemistry classroom and laboratory to students with disabilities as well as their parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. The comprehensive 4th edition was last updated in 2001, so the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD) thought it prudent to update such a valuable text at this time. In a changing time of technology, rapid access to information, accessibility tools for individuals with disabilities, and publishing, Edition 4.1 is being published digitally/online as an Open Access text. Having Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual for High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs in this format will allow for widespread dissemination and access by maximum numbers of readers at no cost- and will allow the text to remain economically sustainable.https://scholarworks.rit.edu/ritbooks/1001/thumbnail.jp

Creating a Virtual Tour Design Guide for Museums

This project, completed with the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE), involved the creation of a guidebook that assists museums in the United Kingdom in creating a virtual tour, to enhance their accessibility and the educational experiences they provide. Through on-site research and interviews with professionals of museum access and virtual tour design, we developed a low cost process for small museums with limited resources. This project assists CAE in their mission to enhance accessibility through the use of inclusive design

Report on the Challenges of Air Transportation Experienced by People with Disabilities

Boarding an airplane is difficult for persons with mobility impairments and increases the risk of injury to both passengers and employees. Airplane seats are uncomfortable and lack the necessary support for many individuals with disabilities. Additionally, airplane restrooms can be inaccessible to wheelchair users. Potential solutions for these issues include the use of detachable plane seats or personal wheelchairs on board and an airplane redesign to provide additional restroom space. The number of service and emotional support animals being brought on airplanes have also increased substantially over the past few years. Passengers that travel with their service animals must contend with having to follow different rules for different airlines carriers and not having sufficient space for animals to be safe and comfortable

Assistive Technology Guidelines for Higher Education Disability Support Staff

With the changing laws and effective integration of assistive technology into the classroom environment, students can have the provision of multiple means to complete their work with greater independence. In post secondary education, any student who discloses a sensory, cognitive, or physical disability is eligible to request and receive assistive technology and other services. When used correctly, assistive technology can help students with reading, writing, math, and communication skills. With a possible influx of students, disability support staff must be prepared and willing to meet the needs and address issues relating to students with disabilities. If their needs are not met, this student population may be left to face accessibility challenges that will hinder their academic success. The goal was to make the college experience positive for all students by producing a resource guide for Disability Support Staff (DSS). This was accomplished by conducting an extensive literature review along with collecting data from DSS professionals from various community colleges within North Carolina. Analysis of the data resulted in recommendations on topics including, specific assistive technology solutions according to disability, training for students and faculty along with various outreach activities that can be used to increase awareness of services and accommodations provided by DSS