ADA & Universial Design

bySavannah Dodge/September 1, 2020

ADA & Universal Design

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was created as a civil rights law in 1990 and updated by the Justice Department in 2010 for today’s design standards. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) creates guidelines for individuals that may have a form of disability. ADA & Universal Design reaches across a wide array of platforms from architecture, graphic, and product design to fight against discrimination in the workplace. Creating an all-encompassing world that accepts and acknowledges those with a disability.

However, disabilities can take form in a variety of ways and the ADA aims to assist all those within it. As stated in July.2020 by Upcounsel;

“The ADA defines a physical impairment as a physiological disorder or condition, anatomical loss, or cosmetic disfigurement that impacts one or more of these body systems:

Neurological
Special-sense organs
Musculoskeletal
Digestive
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Reproductive
Hemic and Lymphatic
Endocrine
Skin
Genitourinary

The ADA did include examples of covered mental and physical impairments. Some of these impairments include:

Wheelchair users
Orthopedia, Speech and Hearing Impairments
Visual Impairments
Heart Disease
Epilepsy
Cerebral Palsy
Intellectual Disabilities
Drug Addiction
HIV
SPecific Learning DIsabilities
Diabetes
Aging Individuals
Para/Tetra/Quadriplegics
Muscular dystrophy”

So how does this affect Architecture & Design?

The way we design spaces, both exterior and interior, has a direct effect on the individuals using them. There are three common design principles used; accessible, usable and universal design. They all aim to create spaces and/or products that allow a greater group of individuals to experience them, however, each achieves a different outcome.

Accessible Design = persons with disabilities are specifically considered within the design process.

Useable Design = the design process focuses on ease and efficiency of use for the general public.

Universal design = ALL people are considered in the design process.

As stated in 2019 by DO-IT ,“They benefit people with disabilities, parents with baby strollers, delivery workers, and others. Human characteristics considered in universal designs may include age, gender, stature, race/ethnicity, culture, native language and learning preference”.

Watch ARTiculations talk about the concepts behind Accessible & Universal Design here:

Typical methods used to achieve universal design:

Ample floor space for maneuvering
Door & hallway clearances
Specific ramp, elevator, stair and handrail design
Clear wayfinding through signage
Brail
Plumbing fixtures & grab bars

So how does Tiny House living intertwine with accessible design?

Just like large public spaces, tiny homes need to be accessible for their users. While the square footage is significantly minimized in comparison to regular single-family homes, tiny homes are just as easily made into accessible spaces. Utilizing the multi-functionality that is already so prominent in the tiny house community designers are able to create seamless transitions for their users.

At B&B Micro Manufacturing our designers are able to utilize universal design principles to achieve a unique one of kind space for each client. Here are some tiny home accessible design solutions: