CPACC Quick Reference
Universal Design
Universal design produces environments and products that work for as many people as possible, regardless of age, size, or ability, without needing special adaptations. The seven principles below give designers a concrete checklist for achieving this.
The design must be useful and appealing to people with a wide range of abilities, providing the same means of use for everyone where possible, and equivalent means where identical use is not achievable.
A building entrance with only steps at the front forces wheelchair users to find a separate side entrance. A ramped entrance that everyone uses is equitable; a hidden rear ramp is not.
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities, including choice in methods of use and adaptability to the user's pace.
Scissors designed to work with either the left or right hand, and usable at a range of speeds, serve far more people than a standard right-handed pair.
The design is easy to understand regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current level of concentration.
A washing machine with a single dial that shows wash cycles as simple icons works for a new user, an elderly user, or someone reading in a second language, because the design does not depend on technical knowledge or fluency.
The design communicates necessary information to the user effectively, using multiple formats — pictorial, verbal, and tactile — so that it works for people with different sensory abilities.
A pedestrian crossing that uses both an audible tone and a tactile strip on the ground communicates the same "safe to cross" message to users who cannot see the green light and users who cannot hear the tone.
The design minimises hazards and the harmful consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
A power saw that requires the user to hold down two buttons simultaneously before the blade activates prevents accidental starts, protecting users who may have reduced hand coordination or slower reaction times.
The design can be used comfortably and with minimal fatigue, keeping the body in a neutral position and reducing the need for repetitive or sustained effort.
A lever door handle that opens with a light downward push requires far less grip strength and wrist effort than a round knob, making it easier for users with arthritis, limited hand strength, or full hands.
The design provides appropriate size and space for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.
A ticket machine with a screen angled toward both standing and seated users, and enough floor space for a wheelchair to pull up alongside it, works for far more people than a machine designed only for a standing adult of average height.