Universal design is 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.
–Ron Mace
1: Principle One: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
GUIDELINES
- Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible;
equivalent when not. - Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
- Provisions for privacy, security, and safety should be equally available to all users.
- Make the design appealing to all users.
2: Principle Two: Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
GUIDELINES
- Provide choice in methods of use.
- Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
- Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision.
- Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
3: Principle Three: simple and intuitive
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
GUIDELINES
- Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
- Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
- Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
- Arrange information consistent with its importance.
- Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.
4: Principle Four: Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
GUIDELINES
- Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
- Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
- Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
- Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
- Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.
5: Principle Five: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
GUIDELINES
- Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded.
- Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
- Provide fail safe features.
- Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.
6: Principle Six: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
GUIDELINES
- Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
- Use reasonable operating forces.
- Minimize repetitive actions.
- Minimize sustained physical effort
7: Principle Seven: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.
UNIVERSAL KITCHEN GUIDELINES
1. Concentrate the work centers or triangle: limits needless steps.
2. Consider clear floor space and traffic flow when planning island or peninsula.
3. Use "easily accessed" storage of all supplies and utensils.
4. Use non-glare finishes, especially for older eyes.
5. Provide good, adaptable and adjustable lighting throughout the space to make area comfortable for younger and older eyes.
6. Use lower wall cabinets or pull down storage to bring more storage into the 15-48" universal reach range.
7. Choose lighter colors on cabinets, counters, floors and wall coverings to benefit eyes that are aging or impaired.
8. Plan lower windows to allow more people to see outside, including children and people using wheelchairs.
9. Plan pull-out work counters placed at lower than 36" counter height to accommodate people who are shorter or who sit to work.
10. Choose non-skid floors - check slip resistance and rating.
11. Design contrasting or raised countertop edges to cue people with visual impairments.
12. Hinge cabinet doors to make access easier, and eliminate them when appropriate.
13. Use vertical pull-outs in cabinets for better access.
14. Consider adjustable height cabinets to bring storage into the universal reach range (15-48").
15. Plan drawers, roll-outs, lazy susan or corner swing out shelves, etc. to provide greater base cabinet access.
16. Plan heavy objects at countertop height, using tambour or other appliance garages to enhance storage.[] Use full extension drawer glides for maximum accessibility.
17. Use glare-free task lights.
18. Design for long spans of continuous countertop to allow for sliding items on counter as opposed to carrying them from work center to center.
19. Install timers to insure that any appliance that should not be running will be automatically shut off.
20. Limit cabinet door sizes to 18" and consider bi-fold doors to lessen interference with clear floor space.
21. Use tilt down fronts or angled plug molding to access switches or plugs that would otherwise be difficult to reach.
22. Use current switching technology, such as pressure pad-operated doors and voice or motion activated lights to free up hands.
23. Keep room and appliance controls, outlets and switches at the front of base cabinetry or low enough to be reachable, within the universal reach range (15”-48” a.f.f.).
24. Consider touch latch cabinet doors to eliminate the need to grasp knobs or pulls.
25. Use wire or architectural pull in lieu of knobs.
26. Use adjustable (hydraulic) office type chair to create flexibility in the working height while seated.
27. Design a back or garage loading pantry and recycling center to eliminate the need to carry bulky items great distances.
28. Design a recycling center that has bins that are easy to remove without great lifting.
29. Use rolling carts to transport many items at one time.
30. Use pneumatic legs on the table to raise and lower it to accommodate potential usage.
31. Use lighted interiors on cabinets to aid in visibility.
32. Install repairable counter surfaces.
33. Use drawers in lieu of doors to make easier access.
34. Install hot water dispenser within reach of seated or shorter users.
35. Install standard wall cabinets at a lower height when feasible.
36. Provide a variety of countertop heights: 30", 36" and 42" provide comfortable work surfaces for people of varied heights.
37. Reinforce base cabinet bottom drawer with solid platform and full extension locking drawer glides to create a step to reach upper cabinets or a microwave.
38. Provide an easily-accessed step stool to reach upper cabinets.
39. Models available with or without railings, for installation in the toe-kick, on the inside of cabinet doors, or collapsible for easy storage.
40. Use shallow pantry cabinets or roll-out shelves to increase accessibility.
41. Store heavy objects at the safest and most convenient height.
42. Consider a built-in ironing board in base cabinet drawer or wall recess for easy access.
43. Store dishes/glasses in wall cabinets placed on the floor with an added toe kick, or in base cabinets fitted to facilitate their storage to make access easy and convenient for everyone.
44. Design projects so that they do not look institutional.
45. Use levers or touch controls and avoid smooth round control knobs.
46. Test a control to see if it can be operated with a closed fist.
47. For greatest accuracy plan controls close to the body at elbow height.
48. Suggest a vinyl jar opener or a vinyl knob cover to improve grip on knobs.
49. Choose controls that do not require sustained holding.
50. Be aware of simple assistive devices:
51. A wall mounted holder to help open jar lids.
52. A potato peeler with a clamp requires just one hand for use.
53. Pan holders keep the pan from turning while stirring.
54. A pan drainer allows one to drain off hot liquids with one hand.
55. A gripper to add to silverware, small objects and handles.
56. Select small appliances on a basis of weight, balance and control.
57. Ask manufacturers for Braille or oversized raised print (overlays) on appliance controls.
58. Keep guard rails around burners of gas and electric appliances.
59. Try to choose switches and controls that are audible, large print and easy to read.
Cooking/Range/Oven Center Tips
1. Consider electric or induction surface cooking over gas for safety where a user has cognitive or physical disabilities.
2. Consider magnetic induction, more accessible because no direct heat is used, the surface is easier to clean (no burned on spills) and meals can be cooked in same vessel they will be eaten in to eliminate clean up chores.
3. Consider side-hinged oven doors for easier approach and access in some applications, keeping in mind that a drop down oven provides its own shelf, if it is built to do so.
4. Lower cook top for seated and shorter cooks, keeping in mind the risk for small children.
5. Install angled mirror above cook top to aid in seeing contents of cooking vessels.
6. Use cook tops that have staggered or single-file parallel burners and specify front or side (or remote) controls to eliminate the need to reach over a hot element.
7. Consider the addition of a single burner at the right height for a seated or shorter cook.
8. Consider lock out covers or program lock out systems to prevent operating of cooking units unless a responsible cook is present.
9. Use back lit range controls to make them easier to read.
10. Consider installing a second switch in the front of the cabinet adjacent to the range to put the hood switch within the universal reach range.
11. Install knobs that are at least 1 1/2" in diameter for easy grasping, preferably with a lever design, or use touch pads.
12. Use Braille control overlays or raised letter indicators that can be seen and felt.
13. Use bright running lights so that people with visual impairments will notice that the range top is on.
14. Mount ovens so that the bottom rack is close in height to adjacent transfer surface.
15. Install a kill switch: a switch that would shut unit off if pot boils dry or is not properly set on burner.
16. Recommend lightweight cookware, and store it near the height at which it will be used.
17. Plan a heatproof shelf under or counter within reach of the oven to allow for easy transfer of hot pans.
18. Plan heatproof surfaces adjacent to cooking surfaces to cut down on the need to lift hot pots. A smooth cooking surface allows the cook to slide those pots onto adjacent heatproof surfaces.
Refrigerator/Preparation Center Tips
1. Give preference to side-by-side or French door refrigerators since they place both refrigerated and frozen sections at an easily accessible height.
2. Consider quick access doors to eliminate having to open the unit entirely making it easier to access most used items.
3. Choose icing water dispensers in the door as they require less hand strength and coordination.
4. Consider refrigerator drawers in multiple locations, placing more storage within the reach of most cooks.
5. Install a built-in jar opener for people with arthritis or less strength in their hands.
6. Install plug strips at a convenient location to eliminate a potential long reach for those with limited mobility.
7. Block out base cabinets to increase counter depth and keep most used items on counter, in tambours at the back to create easy access.
8. Vary work counter heights, or include a pull out work surface at a lower height.
9. Plan an open knee space or a lowered pull-out work surface next to the refrigerator for seated users (better to plan this across from a side by side or French door model).
10. Use a minimum 180 degree door swing for best access.
Sink/Clean-Up Center Tips
1. Consult with the manufacturer and when possible, raise the dishwasher up 6" to 16" for better access, or select single drawers mounted on wither side of the sink.
2. Choose faucet handles that require minimum grip to use. Cross handles work, blade handles are better, and single lever, scald-control fittings are the most universal.
3. Consider faucets with retractable heads, particularly in limited reach applications.
4. Plan soap dispensers for easier access, requiring less movement and less hand strength and coordination.
5. Mount soap dispensers, instant hot water dispensers and faucets on the side for easier reach.
6. Consider auxiliary foot pad control or motion activation for the faucet.
7. Create a knee space option by planning rolling waste container units under the ink.
8. If area under sink is left open for wheelchair and seated access: insulate water pipes and sink bottom to eliminate burns or cuts.
9. Use rear drain location to provide maximum space in front.
10. Position dishwasher to be used from either side, paying attention to clear floor space.
11. Provide casters for trash unit to take to table, workspace or garage.
12. Install integral or under-mounted sink to aid in easy cleanup.
13. Plan adaptable or flexible knee space at the sink to allow for occasional or future desire to sit while working.
14. Use GFCI outlets.
15. Consider inverting the sink base with the drawer on the bottom to be used as a step for children or for people of shorter stature.
16. Consider automatic faucets that are activated by sensors with pre-set temperatures.
17. Install pull-out accessories under sink for easy access.
18. Choose sinks that allow the user to reach the bottom (max 62" depth for seated or users of shorter stature).
19. Use pop-up drains and sinks that feature work covers to aid in access.
Sources:
1. Residential Interior Design: A Guide to Planning Spaces
By Maureen Mitton, Courtney Nystuen
John Wiley & Sons Inc. Hoboken, NJ
2. http://www.design.ncsu.edu
3. http://www.geappliances.com
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