Universal Design and Home Modification

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Universal Design and Home Modification

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• Tammy Richmond MS OTRL
• Tammyric_at_sbcglobal.net
• 310-612-1908

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Definitions

• Universal Design The design of products and
  environments to be usable by all people, to the
  greatest extent possible, without the need for
  adaptation or specialized design
• Home Modification Adaptations to products and
  environments that enhance comfort, safety,
  accessibility to increase functional independence
  and quality of life and decrease potential injury
  and safety hazards to all people w/UD principles
• The Center for Universal Design NC State
  University

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Historical Impact Factors

• Aging in Place
• Lifespan has increased to 76
• 40 million people over age 65 by 2010
• 8.6 million people have difficulty with one or
  more ADLS (activities of daily living)
• 4.1 million need personal assistance
• People want to stay in home/community
• Legislative Changes
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
• Mandated all buildings be designed, constructed,
  altered or leased w/federal funds be accessible
• Section 504 of the Rehab Act of 1973
• Illegal to discriminate on basis of disability to
  all institutions or activities receiving fed
  funds

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Factors continued

• Education for Handicapped Children Act of 1975
• Now called IDEA guaranteed a free, appropriate
  education for all children w/disabilities
• Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
• Required accessible units be created in all new
  multi-family housing w/4 unit both
  public/private regardless of funding source
• Americans w/Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Uniform nationwide mandate to ensure
  accessibility ADA Standards for Accessible
  Design
• Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Mandates that telecom. services, equipment and
  customer premises be accessible I.e. assistive
  technologies

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Factors continued

• Adaptive, ugly, expensive vs. attractive and
  marketable (Good Grips for kitchen ware)
• Advances in Rehabilitation engineering and
  Assistive Technology (OT)
• Demands of integration into mainstream by
  individuals (aging, physically challenged)
• Globalization of marketplace
• Therapeutic adaptations to Bill Gates house
• Products readily available OTC vs specialty
• Image vs function

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7 Universal Design Principles

• Equitable Use
• Provide the same means of use for all people
• Provisions for safety, security and privacy
• Design appealing to all users
• Flexibility in Use
• Provide choice of methods in use
• Accommodate left/right, accuracy, users pace
• Simple and Intuitive
• Eliminate complexity
• Consistent w/users expectations
• Accommodate diverse literacy/language
• Provide prompting/feedback

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Principles continued

• Perceptible Information
• Design communicates necessary information
  effectively to the user, regardless or ambient
  conditions or the users sensory abilities
• Tolerance for Error
• Minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of
  accidental or unintended actions
• Low Physical Effort
• Design can be used efficiently and comfortably
  and w/minimum fatigue
• Size and Space for Approach and Use
• Appropriate size and space is provided for
  approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless
  of users body size, posture, or mobility

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Home Modifications Guidelines

• Integration of the UD principles and features
• Goals maintain independence, privacy and control
  over environments
• Safety, comfort, prevent injuries, facilitate
  access to community and social activities and
  services
• Structural and non-structural
• Both external and internal features
• Assess, Modify and Resource

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Implementation

• Professionals
• Architects, contractors, designers, planners,
  agencies/organizations, health care providers,
  policymakers
• Agencies/Organizations
• AARP www.aarp.org
• National Research Center on Supportive Housing
  and Home Modifications www.homemods.org
• Rebuilding Together www.rebuildingtogether.org
• The Center for Unversal Design NC State
  University www.design.ncsu.edu/cud

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UD/HM Assessments

• UD Performance Measures for Products
• See Handout of UD
• Occupational Therapy
• OT Evaluation
• Home Assessment for UD
• Home Safety
• Written Report w/recommendations
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Modifications or add-ins of non-structural
  features
• Therapy ther-ex, balance, low vision, assistive
  technologies, community integration
• Resource to professional services
• Resource to support services

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UD/HM Application

• Safety, user friendly, therapeutic
• Entrance/doors
• Interior circulation
• Vertical circulation
• Hardware
• Home Automation
• Light and Color
• Switches and Control
• Room by Room

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Overall Features

• Home automation
• Motion detection lights
• Remote controls for appliances, etc.
• Doorbell intercoms connected to phones
• Alarm systems that have sound/light
• Hardware
• Lever door handles
• Loop handles on drawers/cabinets
• Touch latches/magnetic latches
• Push plates
• Switches/controls
• Light switches 44-48 easy touch rocker or hands
  free
• Electrical outlets at bed and desks 18 min
• Display
• High contrast graphics, redundant signals, alarms

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Overall Features

• Light/Color
• Color contrast between floor surfaces and trim.
  No glossy.
• Color contrast between stair treads and risers
• Color contrast between countertops, front edges
• Lighting at key risk areas
• Use of yellow or blue
• Careful w/over stimulation
• Color coding
• Entrance/Interior
• Accessibility of walkways, entrances, handrails,
  slopes, lighting, stops
• Circulation routes of 40
• Non slip floors, low pile
• Storage adjustable, lights, shelving
• No clutter, area rugs, level thresholds, safe
  textures

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Specific Features

• Kitchen (common area of injury)
• UD Clear knee space
• UD Variable height work surfaces
• Contrasting borders
• Continuous countertops
• Adjustable shelving
• Full ext/pull out drawers, shelves and racks,
  lazy susans
• Front mounted controls
• Cooktop/range w/staggered burners
• Glare free lighting
• Side by side refrigerator w/pull-outs/bev
  dispenser
• Built in oven w/knee space
• Single lever water controls at all plumbing
  fixtures/faucets
• OT dycem, special utensils and dinnerware,
  special cutting utensils/board, added grips and
  safety items

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Specific Features

• Bathroom (common area of falling)
• Extra wide entry
• Curbless roll-in shower (5x3) or transfer shower
  w/seat (3x3)
• Grab bars where needed in shower, tub, toilet
  areas
• Easy reach controls
• Hand held showers w/60 adjustable
• Anti scald valves
• Non slip bottoms
• Toilet space (3x5) 18 from others
• Toilet bowl height (18) or raised seat
• 30x48 free area in frt of bathroom fixtures
• Tilted and/or extended mirrors
• 32 sink height w/knee space
• Extra lighting/night lights
• Phone
• Emergency pull cords

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Resources

• See handout
• OTs www.otaconline.com
• USC Nat. Research Cntr
• www.homemods.org cert. Classes
• California Dept of Aging
• www.aging.ca.gov
• State Independent Living Council
• www.calsilc.org
• The Center of Universal Design
• www.design.ncsu.edu/cud