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By Barbara Knecht

 

The Seven Principles of Universal Design The Principles of Universal Design were developed and copyrighted in 1997 by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University in collaboration with a consortium of universal design researchers and practitioners. Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. Provides the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible, equivalent when not; avoids segregating or stigmatizing any user; makes provisions for privacy, security, and safety equally available to all users; makes the design appealing to all users. Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Provides choice in methods of use; accommodates left- or right-handed access and use; facilitates the user’s accuracy and precision; provides adaptability to the user’s pace. Simple and Intuitive: The use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. Eliminates unnecessary complexity; is consistent with the user’s expectations and intuition; accommodates a wide range of literacy and language skills; arranges information consistent with its importance; provides effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion. Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities. Uses different modes for redundant presentation of essential information; maximizes legibility of essential information; differentiates elements in ways that can be described; provides compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitation. Tolerance for Errors: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. Arranges elements to minimize hazards and errors: The most used elements are the most accessible; hazardous elements are eliminated, isolated or shielded; provides warnings of hazards and errors; provides fail-safe features; discourages unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue; allows the user to maintain a neutral body position; uses reasonable operating forces; minimizes repetitive actions; minimizes sustained physical effort. Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use; provides a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user; makes the reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user; accommodates variations in hand and grip size; provides adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.