What Is Inclusive Design
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Sensory Trust define Inclusive Design as the design of products, information and environments that can be used by all people, to the greatest extent possible.
Inclusive design is not a new school or style of design. Inclusive design does not necessarily cost more. Inclusive design is not necessarily design aimed specifically at people with disabilities.
Everyone can benefit from inclusive design.
Inclusive design principles:
Integration, not segregation.
Working with, not for, people. Too often facilities and designs have been developed on assumed preferences and needs. Involvement of an inclusive range of users in site planning and development is essential in avoiding costly mistakes and maximising the success of environmental design and management.
The right to choose. It is important that people are sufficiently well-informed about what is on offer if they are to be able to make their own choices. This should not be limited to sites that are regarded as fully accessible sites that contain features that are barriers to some people will be accessible to others. Sufficient information is crucial.
Motivating by example. Good practice is more successfully encouraged by highlighting examples of success and illustrating the possibilities. Practitioners benefit from seeing examples of positive design and solutions to common challenges.
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. The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities.
In Europe the term "design for all" has a similar meaning to "universal design". However the term "inclusive design" also includes the concept of "reasonable" in the definition. The most commonly used definition for inclusive design is "The design of mainstream products and/or services that are accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible on a global basis, in a wide variety of situations and to the greatest extent possible without the need for special adaptation or specialised design".
People with special needs can include:
Children (< 16 years) 20%
Older people (> 65 years) 15%
People with disabilities 10%
Left handed 10%