Access by Design

Access by Design George A. Covington Bruce Hannah Every day 48 million Americans with disabilities face man-made barriers that turn disabilities into handicaps. These barriers are as obvious as a flight of stairs or as subtle as 8-point type, all barriers that could be eliminated through Universal Design. Access By Design explores the why and how of Universal Design and presents an inspiring collection of products, spaces, and services for virtually every area of life: home, office, school, sports, communications, travel, entertainment, computers, and recreation. Itself an example of Universal Design, the book features design of products, spaces, and services that can be used by the widest possible range of individuals, from a child of eight to an adult of eighty. Universally designed products and services are actually used everyday by people who are both abled and disabled simply because they are the easiest and safest products available. At its best, Universal Design is seamless and invisible. We shouldn't look at a Universally Designed product and think, "This was designed for people with disabilities." Whether you're a designer, a facilities manager, a government agent, or a manufacturer-if you want to create or purchase products that everyone can use, you'll want to read this book. Written by the former Special Assistant for Disability to the Vice President of the United States and an award-winning industrial designer, Access By Design asks and answers some thought-provoking questions, while setting the standard for design of the future. After you read this book, you'll never look at design the same way again.