Gresham lecturer talks universal design

An architect who designs a building that includes steps to the entrance but provides an alternative entry with a ramp on the side for people with disabilities, is thinking narrowly about accessibility.

An architect who designs a building but includes one main entrance for everyone with no steps is practicing the more inclusive concept of universal design.

In architectural design, the understanding of how places are accessed and used by all individuals, regardless of ability, is crucial. Edward Steinfeld, SUNY Distinguished Professor, School of Architecture and Planning, explained universal design and how its concepts have evolved in architecture at the 18th Glen E. Gresham/RESNA Colin McLaurin Distinguished Lecture.

“Although accessibility has come a long way, architects still have a lot to learn about designing for people — and especially people with disabilities,” Steinfeld said.

Steinfeld is internationally known for his research and publications on accessibility and universal design. He has written or edited 10 books, including “Universal Design: Creating Inclusive Environments,” the first textbook on the subject.

While accessibility focuses on generating solutions that accommodate individuals with disabilities, universal design goes beyond disability-specific adaptations, aiming to produce inclusive environments and products that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability, age or other factors.

“Accessibility is actually a compensatory strategy. It’s implemented as a top-down activity to adjust a world that is designed to exclude the disabled body. Universal design, on the other hand, is a bottoms-up activity that seeks to change the consciousness of designers so that they will take diverse bodies and abilities into account in all their work,” Steinfeld said.

He explained that universal design’s foundational period began in the 1980s after advocates lobbied for improved accessibility standards. It has continued to evolve until the present day, where Steinfeld believes it has started to penetrate mainstream society.

“At this point, we think the movement has to focus on recruiting and educating a critical mass of early adopters,” he said.

He also believes in engaging other disciplines and professions that may see the benefits of universal design, including the audience of rehabilitation science students, faculty and community members attending the lecture.

“We need to engage other disciplines and professions. It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to do this presentation,” he said.

The Gresham Visiting Professorship in Rehabilitation Science was endowed by the late Albert Rekate and his wife, Linda, and is presented by the Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions. This lecture was co-sponsored by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). RESNA’s president is Jim Lenker, associate professor in UB’s Department of Rehabilitation Science.