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ACCESSIBLITY and
UNIVERSAL DESIGN:
What, Why and When
By Lim Kah Cheng
Talk for PWD Rights’ Awareness Roadshow
MCR 25 June 2011
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CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is Accessibility
What is Universal Design
Why do we need Access and
Universal Design
Why an Inclusive Society
When?
The need for a paradigm shift
What each of us can do
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ACCESSIBILITY
An accessible product or service is one
which can be used by all its intended
users, taking into account their differing
capabilities. A user's ability …… may be
impaired. This can be either permanent
or temporary and may be due to various
physical, mental or environmental
conditions.
http://www.universaldesign.ie/
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ACCESSIBILITY
Accessibility barriers occur when the design
of the technology fails to allow for the
variations in users' abilities. This can be as
simple as failing to shield a cash dispenser
display from sunlight. Or it could be
something more fundamental to the design,
such as a poor choice for the colour and
size of buttons.
http://www.universaldesign.ie/
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Failure o consider the gradient of
the ramp
Non Universal Design= Inaccessible
Universal Design
Universal Design is the design and
composition of an environment so
that it can be accessed,
understood and used to the
greatest extent possible by all
people regardless of their age,
size, ability or disability.
http://www.universaldesign.ie/
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Universal Design
An environment (or any building, product, or
service …) should be designed to meet the needs
of all people who wish to use it. ……It is a
fundamental condition of good design.
If an environment is accessible, usable,
convenient and a pleasure to use, everyone
benefits. By considering the diverse needs and
abilities of all throughout the design process,
Universal Design creates products, services and
environments that meet peoples' needs.
http://www.universaldesign.ie/
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7 Principles of Universal Design

Principle 1: Equitable Use> The design is useful and
marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Principle 2: Flexibility in Use.

Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use> easy to
understand, regardless of the user's experience,
knowledge, language skills, or current concentration
level.
Principle 4: Perceptible Information> communicates
necessary information effectively to the user, regardless
of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.

Copyright © 1997 NC State University, The Center for Universal Design.
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7 Principles of Universal Design

Principle 5: Tolerance for Error> minimizes
hazards and the adverse consequences of
accidental or unintended actions.

Principle 6: Low Physical Effort> can be
used efficiently and comfortably and with a
minimum of fatigue.

Principle 7: 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.
Copyright © 1997 NC State University, The Center for Universal Design.
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Poor Design and Non Enforcement
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Universal Design without Enforcement = Inaccessible
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Poor Maintenance= Inaccessible
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Why we need Access and
Universal Design
My Vision of a Society I
wish for my family and
everyone else
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Vision:

Free from Want-food and water security,
a home for every family

Free from Violence-Safety from crimes,
from domestic abuse

Free from discrimination-equality (not
sameness)
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Vision:

Supremacy of the Rule of Law-BUT
Free from Oppressive Laws such as
the ISA

Sustainable Development

Good Health Care System

Freedom of Expression

Inclusive
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Inclusive: What Is
Every
person is entitled to full
participation in the community
Removal
of physical and social
barriers which prevent their
integration.
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Inclusive: What Is
 Children
and Persons with Disabilities
are not excluded, segregated and
marginalized. Forms of exclusion
range from institutionalization to
denial.
 Each
person has control over her/his
life and not be deprived of her/his
rights.
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Inclusive: Why
 The
Needs of PWDs are the
Same as everyone else:
 Need
to grow to fullest
potentials
 Receive
quality education
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Inclusive: Why
 Need
to earn incomes
 Need
for leisure activities
 Raise
families
 Go
shopping, go to the Banks,
to vote, to pay bills, etc
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Inclusive: Why
What is good for PWDs is
good/beneficial for all Others in
the Community
Universal design eg. ramps, lifts,
bigger toilets, signages, larger
print, disabled friendly public
transport
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Inclusive: Why
Being Inclusive is Cost Effective :
 Additional
human resource and talent
 Productive/less
 Less
dependency
need for welfare
 Alleviate
poverty and hardship
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Inclusive: When?
YESTERDAY!!!
and How?
With
a PARADIGM
SHIFT
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…..When and How
What is a Paradigm Shift?
“…….. a change from one way of
thinking to another. It's a
revolution, a transformation, a
sort of metamorphosis. It just
does not happen, but rather it is
driven by agents of change.”
www.taketheleap.com/define.html 23
Old paradigm - welfare/
medical approach
Sees
PWDs as objects,
sick, unable to care for
themselves need to be put
in institutions need
welfare/charity
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New paradigm -social model/
rights base approach
PWDs are seen as PERSONS
first and foremost
with rights, capable of claiming
those rights and making
decisions for their lives as well
as being active members of
society
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New Paradigm
 Require
universal recognition
to the dignity of persons with
disabilities.
 Already
disadvantaged by
impairments: should not be
further disadvantaged by
obstacles to access
opportunities: Eg. Education,
physical access, transport, etc
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Persons with Disabilities Act 2008
embodies this Paradigm Shift
An Act to provide for the registration,
protection, rehabilitation, development
and wellbeing of PWD
Recognizes Disability as an evolving concept
and results from interaction between
PWD and attitudinal and environmental
barriers that hinders their full and effective
participation on equal basis with persons
without disabilities
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Persons with Disabilities Act 2008

Values existing and potential
contributions by PWD

Recognizes importance of accessibility
to physical, social, economic and
cultural environment, to health and
education and information and
communication in enabling PWD to fully
participate in society

Entitlement to equal opportunities ….
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Persons with Disabilities Act 2008
Part IV: Promotion/Devt of Quality of Life

Cl. 26: provide PWD right to access of public facilities

Cl. 27: access to public transport, amenities and services

Cl. 28: inclusion of PWD in education system and a duty on
educational provider to provide reasonable accommodation
suitable with requirements of PWD

Cl. 29: right of access to employment on equal basis. Requires
employer to protect of PWD to just and favourable conditions
of work and Co.’s role in promoting employment of PWD

Cl. 30: provides PWD with right of access to information,
communication and technology.

Cl. 31: provides PWD right of access to cultural life and to
develop artistic potential.

Cl. 32: right to participate in recreational, leisure and sporting
activities.
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Persons with Disabilities Act 2008

Cl. 33: requires GOVT/ private healthcare take effective
steps to enable PWD attain max independence, full
physical, mental, social and vocational ability and full
participation in all aspects of life

Cl. 34: Govt/ private sector to ensure PWD access to inhome, residential/ other community services including
personal assistance to support living and inclusion in
community

Cl. 38 n 39: Govt to provide lifelong protection and
social support for persons with severe disabilities.
Incentives to NGOs/private sector for this.

Cl.40: ensures PWD full assistance in situations of risk and
humanitarian emergencies
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By-Law 34A of the Uniform
Building By-Laws 1991
In force since 1993
The amendment, makes it compulsory
for buildings to provide access to enable
disabled persons to get into, out of and
within the buildings. Buildings already
built before the commencement of this
by-law must be altered to comply with
the by-law within 3 years from the date
of commencement.
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By-Law 34A of the Uniform Building By-Laws 1991
(6) ….. this by-law shall apply to any of the following
buildings or any part thereof –
(a) offices, banks, post offices, shops, department stores,
supermarkets and other administrative anti commercial
buildings. except shop-houses existing, at the
commencement of this by-law;
(b) rail, road, sea ad air travel buildings and associated
concourses, car parking, buildings and factories;
(c) hospitals, medical centers, clinic, and other health and
welfare buildings;
(d) restaurants, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, conference
buildings, community buildings, swimming pools, sports
buildings and other refreshment, entertainment and
recreation buildings;
(e)
religious buildings;
(f) schools, colleges, universities, zoos, museums, art galleries,
libraries, exhibition buildings and other educational, cultural
and scientific buildings; and
(g) hostels, hotels and other residential buildings other than
single family private dwelling houses.
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By-Law 34A of the Uniform Building By-Laws 1991
(4)
Notwithstanding paragraph (3) the local authority may where it
is satisfied that it is justifiable to do so(a)
allow an extension or further extensions of the period within
which the requirements of this by-law are to be complied
with: or
(b)
allow, variations, deviations, or exemptions as it may
specify from any provisions of: this by-law.
(5)
Any persons aggrieved by the decision of the local authority
under paragraph (4) may within 30 days of the receipt of the
decision appeal in writing to the State Authority whose decisions
shall be final.
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For Full Accessibility with
Universal Designs there should be
implemented a No-Gap Policy
Needs an interconnected network of actors to
reach this goal. Example:
In order for PWD using wheelchair to access
decent work, the person needs to be able:
◦ to physically move in and out of his or her
home
◦ to access the public space and transportation
◦ to access the work facilities (both the built
environment and its information and
communications systems)
If any one element of the network fails in this
obligation, we will not able to reap the benefit
from the other elements, especially in
employment.
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There are only 2 categories
of people in Society:
The Disabled and
The Not Yet Disabled
You and your love ones
will need all the rights and
access the PWDs are
fighting for.
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