Universal

Design Handbook
Building Accessible and
Inclusive Environments
Advisory Committee on Accessibility (ACA)
Access Design Subcommittee
calgary.ca | call 3-1-1
Publishing information
Author: The City of Calgary
Community & Neighbourhood Services (CNS) Social Policy & Planning Division
Printing date: 2010
Downloadable copies (PDF):
calgary.ca/cns
(Click on “Publications, Guides & Directories”)
To have print copies mailed and/or translated to Braille,
email socialresearch@calgary.ca or phone 403-268-5122
For more information on Access & Disability at The City
of Calgary, contact Leanne Squair, Issue Strategist Email: leanne.squair@calgary.ca
Work: 403-268-1352
TTY: 403-268-1379
For more information:
City of Calgary
3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca
www.gov.calgary.ab.ca
Edited and designed by: Creative Services
Table of Contents
Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1 Backgrounder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.1 MuNiCiPal CoMMiTTEES SuPPorTiNG uNivErSal DESiGN 4
1.1.1 access Design Subcommittee 4
1.1.2 accessible Transportation
Subcommittee 4
2 Universal design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1 uNivErSal DESiGN CoNCEPT 5
2.2 uNivErSal DESiGN aND
iTS iNNovaTor 5
2.3 CENTEr for uNivErSal DESiGN 6
2 .4 UnIvErSAL DESIgn
PrInCIPLES CHECkLIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.5 HoW DESiGN ProfESSioNalS CaN BENEfiT froM uNivErSal DESiGN 10
2.5.1 Enhanced creativity 10
2.5.2 increased earning potential 10
2.5.3 Building better buildings
(the three Bs) 11
2.5.4 lowered costs 11
2.5.5 aesthetics 12
2.6 uSErS of uNivErSal DESiGN 12
2.6.1 People with disabilities 12
2.6.2 People without disabilities 12
2.6.3 older adults 14
2.7 CriME PrEvENTioN THrouGH ENviroNMENTal DESiGN (CPTED) 15
2.8 EaSiNG CoNCErNS aBouT uNivErSal
DESiGN CHallENGES 15
3 Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
3.1 uNDErSTaNDiNG DiSaBiliTY 18
3.2 DiSaBiliTY: aN iNCrEaSiNG rEaliTY 19
3.3 TYPES of DiSaBiliTY 21
3.3.1 Physical disabilities 21
3.3.2 Sensory disabilities 22
3.3.3 Cognitive disabilities 24
3.3.4 acquired Brain injury (aBi) 26
3.4 aGiNG 26
3.4.1 The 65+ age group 27
3.4.2 Boomers – an emerging reality 28
3 .5 TyPES oF DISABILITy CHECkLIST . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.6 TYPES of BarriErS 34
3.6.1 Physical barriers 34
3.6.2 attitudinal barriers 35
3.6.3 financial barriers 37
3.6.4 Systemic barriers 37
4 Accessibility = Inclusion . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.1 aN iNCluSivE ENviroNMENT 39
4.1.1 Making a case for accessibility 39
4.2 iNCluDED iN EMPloYMENT 40
4.2.1 Employment policies 42
4.3 aCCESS To HouSiNG 42
4.3.1 local case studies 43
4.3.2 international case studies 45
4.3.3 visitability 45
4.4 uSiNG PuBliC BuilDiNGS 46
4 .5 UnIvErSAL DESIgn CHECkLIST . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5 Policies supporting universal design . . .74
5.1 iNTErNaTioNal aND fuNDaMENTal HuMaN riGHTS PoliCiES 74
5.2 CaNaDiaN HuMaN
riGHTS PoliCY 75
5.2.1 The Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms states 75
5.2.2 The Canadian Human rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights act. . . 76
5.3 SECTioN 3.8 of THE alBErTa
BuilDiNG CoDE 76
5.4 THE CiTY of CalGarY CorPoraTE
iNiTiaTivES 76
5.4.1 access Design Standards 77
5.4.2 Calgary Corporate
accessibility Policy 77
5.4.3 The City of Calgary’s Triple
Bottom line (TBl) Policy 77
5.4.4 fair Calgary Policy 78
5.4.5 Sustainable Environmental & Ethical . . . . . Procurement Policy (SEEPP) 79
6 The future of universal design is here . 81
6.1 urBaN BraillE SYSTEM 81
6.1.1 National initiatives 81
6.1.2 Calgary initiatives 82
6.2 aCCESSiBlE WEBSiTES 82
6.2.1 research 83
6.2.2 Media 83
6.2.3 World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) Guidelines 84
6.2.4 Web accessibility checklist 85
7 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Executive summary
“in the past, design
professionals may not have realized that when a disability meets a barrier, it c
a handicap.” – George Covington
Each human being is different. We come in all
different sizes, have different abilities, develop different preferences and continue to change throughout our lives. Co
Built environments take on a whole new meaning.
In the past, built environments referred to physical
spaces only.
A paradigm shift has occurred for those professionals
involved in creating spaces where people live, work and
play.
Now universal design principles can be applied to
virtual environments as well.

Good design has the ability to adapt to all

users and enable them to function successfully with – or within – it. and that’s why, every time they initiate a new pr
indeed, why not?
universal design is the best practice for
designing new environments today because it embodies two simple – yet critically relevant – tenets: it’s sustainable
Making a building accessible from the beginning
is easier and more cost-effective than retrofitting an existing building. universally designed projects are built with eve
This handbook introduces the concept of
universal design, as well as the impacts that standard and traditional design projects have on people with disabilities
into perspective.
one objective of this handbook is to encourage
design professionals – be they designers, architects, developers or planners – and the public to participate in univers
providing equal access, social inclusion and a
level playing field for all.
*Throughout this handbook, the term “older adults” refers to persons
aged 65 or older, or those approaching this age range.

1 Backgrounder
1.1 MuniCipal CoMMiTTEEs
supporTing univErsal dEsign
in May 1999, Calgary City Council approved the establishment of the advisory Committee on accessibility (aCa) as pa
The primary purpose of the aCa is to focus
on broad policy issues and advise Calgary City Council on the accessibility of municipal properties, information and s
1 .1 .1 Access Design Subcommittee
The access Design Subcommittee reviews and makes recommendations on plans
and/or issues relating to accessibility for people with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to, the review of m
level of accessibility for people with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities
(The City of Calgary, 2005).
1 .1 .2 Accessible Transportation
Subcommittee
The accessible Transportation Subcommittee reviews and makes recommendations on transportation services for pe
Mission statement of the ACA
To provide access, recommendations and advice to Calgary
City Council on the rights and service needs of Calgarians with
disabilities (The City of Calgary, 2005).

2 universal design
2.1 univErsal dEsign ConCEpT
Jack Smart, volunteer chairperson of The City of Calgary’s advisory Committee on accessibility (2009), has lived with
for 20 years. He considers disability to be part of the human condition. “We will all be disabled at some point in our
“Whether through a temporary event such as a broken leg, a permanent event such as a tragic accident, or simply ag
To be frank, most able-bodied people don’t think about disabilities at all. at best, when confronted with a person wit
This is why the practice of universal design is so important in this day and age. The Centre for universal Design (200
be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or
specialized design.”
universal design: products
and environments created to be usable by all people, to the
greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized desig
Throughout this handbook, the term universal design is distinguished from “accessible design.” The reasons for this
of New York in Buffalo. He notes a growing interest in universal design as an alternative to “accessible design.”
accessible design is described as design that promotes accessibility for individuals with disabilities. universal design,
2.2 univErsal dEsign and iTs innovaTor
although the term universal design was first coined in 1985 by architect ron Mace, the design practice has yet to be
ron Mace, an american institute of architecture
fellow, was an architect who used a wheelchair and personally experienced the stigma associated with a disability. H
2.3 CEnTEr for univErsal dEsign
The Center for universal Design was established in 1989 at raleigh’s North Carolina State university. The Center is a n
The Center’s mission is to improve the built
environment and related products for all users by impacting change in policies and procedures through research, inf
a successful program of assembling and disseminating existing information and creates
new, landmark materials on accessible housing.
2.4 univErsal dEsign prinCiplEs ChECklisT
universal design principles, as outlined below, provide the best possible framework for design professionals to envisi
Principles Details

Principle 1: Equitable use The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities .

1a Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible;
equivalent when not.

1b avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.

1c Provisions for privacy, security and safety should be equally available to all
users.

1d Make the design appealing to all users.

Principle 2: Flexibility in use The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities .

2a Provide choice in methods of use.

2b accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.

2c facilitate the user’s accuracy and precision.

2d Provide adaptability to the user’s pace.
Principle 3: Simple and Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowl
intuitive use language skills or current concentration level .

3a Eliminate unnecessary complexity.

3b Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.

3c accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.

3d Prioritize based on importance.

3e Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.

Principles Details
Principle 4: Perceptible The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless
information conditions or the user’s sensory abilities .

4a use different modes of communication (pictorial, verbal, tactile) to present

essential information.

4b Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.

4c Maximize legibility of essential information.

4d Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e. make it easy to give
instructions or directions).

4e Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people

with sensory limitations.

Principle 5: Tolerance for error The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unint
actions .

5a arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most
accessible, hazardous elements eliminated, isolated or shielded.

5b Provide warnings of hazards and errors.

5c Provide fail-safe features.

5d Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

Principle 6: The design can be used efficiently, comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue .
Low physical effort

6a allow user to maintain a neutral body position.

6b use reasonable operating forces.

6c Minimize repetitive actions.

6d Minimize sustained physical effort.

Principles Details

Principle 7: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation and use,
Size and space for approach user’s body size, posture or mobility .
and use

7a Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing
user.
 7b Make the reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.

7c accommodate variations in hand and grip size.

7d Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

The result for the design professional? Enhanced

creativity, increased earning potential, better built buildings (the three Bs) – all without losing focus on aesthetics.
2 .5 .1 Enhanced creativity
universal design provides an excellent opportunity to exercise creativity in a field that will see increased demand in c
a more challenging task than designing for a small group, universal design enhances the opportunity for creative ele
identifying how a project can benefit everyone.
Universal design in practice
Gottschalk + Ash (G+A) is
an example of an international company focused on
universal design through environmental graphics –
specifically, way- finding. One of the major projects
designed by G+A is the Calgary International Airport.
G+A planned and implemented all facets of airport
way-finding, from passenger terminal
areas, to electronic visual information displays.

2.5 how dEsign profEssionals

Can BEnEfiT froM univErsal dEsign
universal design is becoming ever more popular as mainstream projects are headed by well-known practitioners, an
This section dispels the myth that universal design is an unmarketable, idealistic design approach. it seeks to show d
Driving factors behind an increased interest in universal design are the potential purchasing power of people with di
The market for universal design is unlimited
because the focus is on better designs for everyone, not just an accessible design for people with disabilities. (The di
2 .5 .2 Increased earning potential
one way a designer can increase their earning potential is to widen their target audience.
Many designers, developers, architects and planners have a specific group in mind for whom they are designing. Wit
with the scope of work.
Globalization has links to this increased earning
potential and the concept of universal design. as we move towards a more integrated society by including people, te
2 .5 .3 Building better buildings (the three Bs)
longevity is one area of focus in every design project. once money is invested, the
assumption is that the project is built to function for years and will leave a lasting impression.
The assumption of longevity means these may be the same buildings the designers, architects, developers and plann
to the main entrance. Thirty years later, this
same architect develops a medical condition for which a cane is needed. When visiting the museum, she/he struggle
2 .5 .4 Lowered costs
Generally, it’s more cost effective to build new homes and buildings that are accessible to a wide range of people th
it is to build homes and buildings that don’t include some foresight, or are inappropriate to our changing needs. fort
universally designed projects are more marketable because they address the needs of a more diverse population.
2 .5 .5 Aesthetics
There is some stigma attached to the concept of universal design. People often believe that to be fully accessible, a d
or modifications to accommodate a greater number of users. By applying universal design principles at the front-end
well as its marketability.
2.6 usErs of univErsal dEsign
often, it’s not a person’s disability that causes exclusion, but the way in which built environments are designed (Grea
includes people with permanent loss of function
– as well as people who have temporary injuries. universal design is also useful for parents with strollers, people who
2 .6 .1 People with disabilities
People with disabilities are the most obvious beneficiaries of universal design. The greatest advantage of these princ
see Section 3.
2 .6 .2 People without disabilities
Most people experience some level of disability in their lifetime. Whether it’s an injured arm,
a migraine headache, laser eye surgery or the flu, at some point all of us rely on the built
environment to compensate for our abilities.
Universal design in practice
Living in a time where individuals are more conscious
about hygiene, germs and passing “something” on to
others,
the provision of touchless, sensor-operated faucets in
washrooms or kitchens assists people who have
difficulty grasping knobs and provides
others with a hygienic alternative.

a significant feature of universal design is the

everyday benefits for everyone. Designers who currently use the concept ask, “Why make a special device for one gr
universal design raises the standard of design. regardless of ability, universal design improves the quality of life for e
Personal encounter
Hundreds of people go through Movie Place Cinemas
doors every day. When planning the facility, the
architect designed a set of stairs and an access ramp to
the building. Now Lucas, who uses a wheelchair, can go
to the movies with his friends. Azmeena uses the ramp
entrance to push her children in the stroller, and Gavin
uses it with his crutches.

• Person entering a building carrying a

large box.
• Person using a shower with a slippery floor.
• Germ-conscious person turning taps in a public washroom.
• Shorter person reaching for an item in a kitchen cabinet.
• Taller person working at a standard height counter.
• Person entering a dark home late at night.
• Person wearing mittens, turning a round knob.
• Person using a mobility device visiting a friend or family’s home (visitability is discussed in Section 4.3).
These examples are neither rare nor extraordinary. They do, however, point to the benefits of universal design. altho
of course, accessibility is not only about
supporting people with physical disabilities. Wheelchair ramps are far more commonly used by parents with stroller
Take, for example, sidewalk curb cuts. These were originally intended for people using a mobility device. Now, city-w
2 .6 .3 older adults
The benefits of universal design for older adults are extensive. a universally designed environment adapts to the cha
a universally designed setting gives older
adults the option of continuing to live in their homes and communities despite changing abilities. This concept of “ag
most comfortable, rather than moving into
institutional care, which might otherwise have been their only option. The adaptability of a universally designed env
as they age and experience changes in
personal mobility.
2.7 CriME prEvEnTion Through
EnvironMEnTal dEsign (CpTEd)
The concept of “Crime Prevention through Environmental Design” (CPTED) was originally conceived by criminologist
His famous book of the same name was published in 1971, and became the foundation for research on limiting crim
safe environments.
Specifically, CPTED allows people to see and be seen continuously. Without blind spots such as dark corners or obstr
Consequently, their fears are reduced.
furthermore, when an individual’s sense of security in their community is increased, they are encouraged to take con
2.8 Easing ConCErns aBouT
univErsal dEsign ChallEngEs
foresight and understanding are necessary prerequisites for universal design to be practised effectively and efficientl
Therefore, it’s useful for design professionals to examine some of the assumptions associated with the practice of un
it is important to note that as the principles of universal design are more readily applied in our environment over tim
Challenge: profitability.
Solution: research into upcoming demographic changes.
Many design professionals are attracted to clients with extensive project proposals. in the past, designing for margin
Section 3.4 for more details.)
Challenge: resistance to change.
Solution: leadership.
Bureaucracies are notorious for placing constraints in the path of design professionals, and financial constraints mos
Challenge: polarization.
Solution: collaboration.
in order to achieve universality, collaboration is paramount. although design professionals have a vested interest in p
etc. (e.g. social scientists, population health researchers, market researchers, gerontologists and others), in order to
universal design and avoid retrofit.
Challenge: lack of understanding.
Solution: education.
armed with research about what consumers really want from their products – and
with an openness to collaboration – today’s design professionals are finding themselves at the forefront of an excitin
universally designed environments.
Bui lding Accessible and I nclusive Envi ronments 17
3 disability
So far, this handbook has presented universal
design as the best practice for creating accessible environments for all users, regardless of their ability. With this in m
When disability is wholly understood, true accessibility follows.
3.1 undErsTanding disaBiliTy Many disabilities aren’t easily classified. Each is unique in its cause, the way it is e
the individual and its potential design solutions.
for example, some disabilities derive from birth, whether through heredity (such as muscular dystrophy) or complica
that the individual will experience throughout
their lives.
Disabilities such as paraplegia, vision loss or
stroke, on the other hand, may be acquired later in life, due to an accident or illness or the process of aging, and ma
to cognitive.
Despite the difficulties associated with classification, this handbook attempts to define the different types of disabili
this section describes increasing disability rates among different age groups and regions in Canada, and explains how
related to population aging. as well, a means of distinguishing different types of disability
is provided in the attached checklist in
Section 3.3.4.
Fast fact
It’s estimated that one in seven Canadians has a
disability.

3.2 disaBiliTy: an
inCrEasing rEaliTy
The World Health organization (WHo) has developed a broad definition for disability as “any restriction or lack of an
Population projections for The City of Calgary
demonstrate that disability rates among Calgarians are increasing significantly. While it is commonly accepted that in
in Calgary, this age group shows an estimated
increase of 27 per cent (see figure 1).
Figure 1. Number of Persons with Disabilities in Calgary,
 2006-2013 (by age group)
■ 2006 ■ 2013 (projected)       Projected increase 2006 – 2013
###
###
27%
48%
60%
50%
###
###
###
###
###
41%
4%
18%
4%
21%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0 0%
0–4 5 – 14 15 – 24 25 – 44 45 – 64 65 – 74 75+
AGE CATEGORIES
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006g & 2006h; The City of Calgary 2008b
When compared against the 2001 and 2006
federal censuses, which reveal a 17 per cent increase in 2001 and an 18 per cent increase in 2006 (see figure 2), one
Many factors contribute to the increase in disability rates, three being:
• More people are diagnosed because of increased education and awareness.
• More people survive difficult births, accidents and diseases because of medical technology, therefore more people
• In general, life expectancy is increasing. In 2004, life expectancy in Canada for both genders surpassed 80 years for
a disability rights model describes accessibility
as a societal responsibility to ensure people with disabilities get the support they need to participate and contribute
Therefore, 30 years from now, disability will likely be treated differently than it is today. People with disabilities are n
Figure 2. Disability Rate for Canadians in 2001 and 2006 (by age group)
■ 2001 ■ 2006
60 56
###
###
###
###
###
###
20 17 18
###
2 2 4

###
7 8
5 4 5
24 25 – 44 45 – 64 65 – 74 75+
AGE CATEGORIES
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006b
3.3 TypEs of disaBiliTy
Many know the saying, “no two snowflakes are alike.” The same can be said about people with disabilities, who may
disabilities look like able-bodied individuals, but their disabilities are hidden.
in 2006, alberta was more-or-less on par with national statistics regarding disability type, with mobility (9.4 per cent
The following paragraphs describe the different
types of disabilities including physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities, and provide general design considerations f
3 .3 .1 Physical disabilities
There are two types of physical disabilities: agility and mobility. Many able-bodied people associate a physical disabi
Figure 3. Prevalence of Disabilities in 2006 (by type)
10 ■ Canada ■ Alberta
###
###
###
###
###
TYPE OF DISABILITY
Source: Statistics Canada, 2006d
Personal encounter
Eva’s arthritis was restricting her daily living more and more.
Opening cupboards was difficult if the handles had little
surface to
grab. When she bought a new home she requested the builder
install D handles on all cupboards so
she could open the doors with little effort.

A. Agility
agility is the loss of dexterity, co-ordination and/ or sensation which can affect a person’s ability to function in the ar
When designing for this population, consider
that people who have problems with their sense of touch and dexterity may have trouble distinguishing textures and
B. Mobility
Mobility limitations pertain to the ability to walk, move from room to room, carry
an object for 10 metres or more, and stand for long periods of time (Waugh, 1997). long-term mobility challenges m
sprain (Waugh, 1997).
People with reduced strength and range of
motion may be unable to stand or carry objects. They may be unable to lift, push or pull objects. They may be unable
3 .3 .2 Sensory disabilities
Physical disabilities are usually easy for people to notice, but not all disabilities are visible. Two types of disabilities, w
Personal encounter
Damien – who has some hearing loss
– has been instrumental in securing a visual fire alarm in
his office building.
When the alarm sounds and flashes one afternoon, Damien
heads toward the nearest exit. He notices one of his co-
workers still hunkered over
his desk and taps him on the shoulder to get his attention.
When the co-worker looks up and removes his headphones,
he is alerted to the alarm and immediately gets up to leave
the building.
On the way out, Damien shares how it’s possible to be
disabled by one’s surroundings, even if one doesn’t have a
“disability.”

A. Auditory
Hearing loss varies in degree from mild (almost unnoticeable hearing loss) to the total inability to hear and understa
Hearing loss is the largest disability within the
sensory disability category affecting Canadians. Projections are that the number of people living with hearing loss wi
When designing for individuals with auditory loss, remember that people with a hearing loss vary in the range of sou
Therefore, it’s important to consider acoustics
when designing spaces (Johnson et al., 1999).
Projections are that the number
of people living with hearing loss will increase at a faster rate than the total ra
B. Vision
Many people will experience various types of vision loss at some point in their lives. Some will gradually lose their ab
a person who has vision loss may have limited ability to read regular-sized print, or can only see someone four metre
at the other extreme, a person who is blind has less than 10 per cent vision with corrective lenses. a person with this
This category can be further subdivided into long-term visual disabilities such as cataracts or glaucoma, and short-te
accident or illness (Waugh, 1997).
Things to consider when designing for people
with vision loss include understanding that they may have difficulty distinguishing small details in their environment
3 .3 .3 Cognitive disabilities
Cognition is the act of knowing, which includes one’s ability to pay attention, to perceive, to memorize, to reason, to
Persons with a cognitive disability, on the other hand, may find it persistently difficult to concentrate and organize th
Personal encounter
Since his brain injury, Daniel finds it challenging to recall
simple information. He finds parking lots particularly
frustrating. He usually ends up wandering the lot for a
while before he spots his car. He finds it easier to recall
colours than numbers, so when parking lot section signs
vary in colour, he finds his car quicker.

B. Learning disabilities
it has been estimated that learning disabilities affects one in 10 people and inhibits their ability to either interpret w
There are two types of cognitive disability:
developmental (previously referred to as intellectual) and learning. Both affect one’s ability to acquire knowledge, bu
A. Developmental
There are many causes to this disability, ranging from maternal illness or damage to the brain during labour, to gene
approximately three per cent of the population is considered to be affected, the vast majority (80 per cent) having a
than able-bodied individuals. Examples of developmental disabilities include autism and
Down’s syndrome (Waugh, 1997).
learning disabilities – of which attention Deficit
Disorder (aDD), attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (aDHD), dyslexia and dysgraphia are but a few – arise from p
the individual to be seen as “different.” To accurately diagnose individuals with learning disabilities, professionals rul
Chapter, 2004).
3.4 aging
The various types of permanent disability examined so far have their common root in heredity, illness or accident. of
So, unlike some of the disabilities previously discussed, disabilities brought on by aging may
be cumulative, as well as intensified over time.
Personal encounter
Saira likes to walk to the local market to buy her
groceries. She takes a small cart with wheels to carry
her purchases. One day, while she struggles to get her
cart over the curb, the cart tips and all her items fall
onto the street.
From now on, Saira detours several blocks to use the
curb cuts there; to pull her cart more easily onto the
sidewalk.

3 .3 .4 Acquired brain injury (ABI)

The brain is a very complex organ and various parts of it are responsible for certain functions. Therefore, injury to on
all the body functions listed above: physical, sensory and cognitive. for this reason it’s been given its own category.
aBi refers to damage caused by a traumatic, chronic or pathological injury, and is not related to a congenital disorder
in all cases, traumatic injuries to the brain result
in bruising, tearing, or bleeding into soft brain tissues – or, as in “non-traumatic” brain injuries (e.g. near-drowning, c
it is frustrating for some older adults to balance
what they want to do with what they are capable of doing. independence is often their greatest loss and the built en
it’s imperative to keep this in mind when designing for an aging population. The built environment should enable acti
in addition to changes in the social, economic
and technological environments, some older adults must also grapple with stereotypes about the roles and abilities
These may make them feel vulnerable and less valued as a person, which can contribute to suspicion and resistance
Designers have a unique opportunity to decrease the level of apprehension people may have about aging. according
independence, lessen the impact of diminishing ability and its associated costs to society, and add immensely to the
aging population.
3 .4 .1 The 65+ age group
We know disability tends to increase with age. forty-four per cent of alberta seniors report a disability, slightly highe
18.5 per cent (see figure 4).
Figure 4. Percentage of Calgarians comprised of persons aged 65 or older,
1936 to 2036
20%
###
15%
###
10%
5%
###
8.2 8.5
6.7 6.5 6.9
###
###
###
0%
1936 1946 1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016 2026 2036
Source: Statistics Canada 2006e, Censuses of Canada; City of Calgary 2006d, Corporate Economics
3 .4 .2 Boomers – an emerging reality
Baby boomers are the generation born between 1946 and 1964, and the first wave of them is set to retire in 2011. a
Figure 5. Number of persons 0 – 14 vs. 65 and older,
Calgary, 2006 to 2036
0 – 14 years old 65 years and older
###
###
###
###
###
###
###
###
2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 2036
Source: City of Calgary 2006d, Corporate Economics; Statistics Canada 2006e
3.5 TypEs of disaBiliTy ChECklisT
The following checklist provides an overview of the diverse types of disabilities – from those acquired through geneti
readers will also find common terms that help demonstrate what it’s like to live with a disability and
lastly, this checklist includes various assistive devices/measures that people with disabilities use/need to help them
Disability type Physical: agility/mobility

Common terms Ambulatory: able or strong enough to walk.

Semi-ambulatory: able to walk short distances with small steps.

non-ambulatory: unable to walk.

Fractures: the breaking of bones and cartilage (note: persons confined to wheelchairs have m
brittle bones and are more susceptible
to fractures).

Paraplegia: a break or lumbar injury causing total or partial paralysis of the lower limbs, whi
may be spastic or flaccid.

Quadriplegia: total or partial paralysis of all four limbs and the torso.

Amputation: loss or removal of limb.

Prosthetic: an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part.

 Spinal cord injury: causes damage to white matter, or myelinated fiber tracts that carry signa
and from the brain. it also damages gray matter in the central part of the spine causing segm
losses of interneurons and motorneurons. Spinal cord injury can occur in many ways, includi
accidents, tumours (cancer), developmental disorders (spina bifida), inflammation (stroke) a
vascular malformations (aneurysm).

Disability type Physical: agility/mobility (continued)

Assistive devices Wheelchair: average manual chair measures 92 cm height to handles; 76 cm height to armre
66 cm width; 106 cm length. (Power chair dimensions vary greatly and are not included here

Cane: used by people who may experience lack of stability or balance. The foot of the cane m
vary according to its application (see tripod and quadripod below).

Crutch: underarm (wooden and aluminum); primary use for people with a temporary disabi

Canadian Crutch: underarm rest accompanied with full arm or forearm handle; for use by pe
with a permanent injury.

Tripod: cane with three prongs at its foot.

Quadripod: cane with four prongs at its foot.

Walker: used like crutches, with enhanced stability advantage. (Walkers equipped with whe
castors are extremely unstable on inclines.)

Disability type Sensory: auditory/vision

Common terms: Conductive hearing loss: usually caused by disease or destruction in the middle ear, and
auditory loss generally not severe.

Sensorineural hearing loss or nerve deafness: damage to the sensory hair cells or nerve fibe
the inner ear. This loss can range from mild to severe deafness.

Acquired hearing loss: the sudden or slow loss of hearing in adulthood. The primary mode o
communication for persons with this type of hearing loss is the spoken language.

Congenital hearing loss: occurs at birth or at a very early age. if profound, the most common
mode of communication is sign language.

Disability type Sensory: auditory/vision (continued)

Assistive devices: Hearing aid: miniature audio amplifier that increases (all) sound within its range, including
auditory loss background noise. user must learn to adjust the volume to suit their needs in relationship to
ambient noise.

Assistive listening device (ALD): used in addition to, or instead of hearing aids (some older a
prefer it to a hearing aid). alDs use infrared light wave; fM radio wave and magnetic loop
induction transmissions which helps reduce the effects of background noise and reverberati

Captioning (open, closed, real-time): used primarily in courts, during government proceedin
and by the broadcast industry. This subtitling service is performed by a trained typist in exce
225 w.p.m., with a 99 per cent accuracy level. To view it, one’s television must be equipped w
an internal or external decoder chip.

Telecommunication device for the deaf (commonly referred to as TTy): portable telephone
amplifier, which is added on to an existing telephone, enabling the listener to type and read
messages over phone lines.

Hearing ear dog: companion dogs trained to alert their master to noise – usually identified b
orange collar and leash.

Sign language interpreters: dedicated person to translate conversation (not participate in it)
trained to maintain confidentiality and discretion at all times.

oral facilitator: dedicated person to take spoken words and make them more visible for thos
who are lip-reading.

Common terms: vision visual acuity: this represents the eye’s ability to perceive detail – more specifically, to
loss differentiate between two close points.

visual field: the entire range the eye can see, extending to 180°, which is much larger than t
any optical instrument.

Macula: the specialized portion of the retina responsible for colours and small details, readi
and differentiating between faces.

Deaf-blind: people with a dual disability who communicate by finger spelling on the palm of
hands. usually accompanied by an attendant and/or interpreter.

Disability type Sensory: auditory/vision (continued)

Assistive devices: Cane (rigid or collapsible): white, long and fitted to the individual’s height and walking style
vision loss
Assistive devices:
vision loss

Service dog: individual preference for animal or cane, not related to degree of vision loss.

Braille: tactile system of raised dots representing letters of the alphabet for reading purpose

Sighted guide: a person who offers their relaxed arm to the visually- impaired person to gras
and then leads by announcing such upcoming features as handrails, doors, stairs, or slopes i
flooring, always allowing the visually-impaired person time to interpret and react.

Disability type Cognitive: developmental and learning

Assistive Be sure to have the attention of the person while communicating (i.e. maintain eye contact,
communication bold signage, etc.).

Keep sentences short and clear, and simplify vocabulary as necessary.

Persons with a cognitive disability often confuse up with down, right with lef, back with fro
etc. Combine words with images to help clarify messaging.

Be prepared to repeat and rephrase (i.e. provide adequate destination signage throughout o
path of travel).

Pilot test any or all communications endeavors with a focus group, such as signage or
interpretation. Never assume that your intention will be understood without testing it first.

Disability type Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Common terms Traumatic brain injury: an assault to the brain resulting from a number of causes including,
not limited to, a motor vehicle accident, a fall, a sports injury or a job-related accident.

Chronic brain injury: occurs as a result of substance abuse, including the inhalation of toxic
substances or chronic alcoholism.

Pathological brain injury: may involve a viral infection (for example, Encephalitis), cerebral
vascular disease (e.g. a stroke), tumours, cysts or metabolic disorders (for example, liver or k
disease).

Assistive devices Consider all of the above (the entire checklist) as potential aids to persons with aBi.
and/or communication

3.6 TypEs of BarriErs

a barrier is an obstacle that makes it difficult for people to get where they need to go in life. in other words, environm
subsection details those barriers – from tangible, to behavioural – that prevent people from
moving forward.
in his book, High Access Home, Charles
riley iii sums up the toll that built environments have on people with disabilities when he quotes George Covington,
the numbers are tiny or artistically hidden, i am ‘visually impaired.’ if a friend of mine in a wheelchair blocks the nar
Barriers can be classified into four categories: physical, attitudinal, financial and systemic and are important consider
3 .6 .1 Physical barriers
a physical barrier pertains to accessing public and private spaces within the built environment. This notion means m
for instance, buildings may appear to be
accessible at first glance – such as having a designated area for wheelchair seating – but not every person using a wh
3 .6 .2 Attitudinal barriers
People with disabilities face many barriers every day, from physical obstacles in buildings, to systemic barriers in emp
often the most difficult barriers to overcome are attitudes other people have regarding people with disabilities. Whe
a disability can achieve. The most pervasive negative attitude is focusing on a person’s disability rather than ability.
People do not go where they feel uncomfortable, unwelcome and excluded (Waugh, 1997). attitudes influence peop
The following are different types and explanations of attitudinal barriers provided by the National Collaborative on W
Inferiority
Because a person may be impaired in one area, some people believe they are a
second-class citizen. However, most people with disabilities have skills making the impairment moot.
Pity
People feel sorry for the person with a disability, which can lead to patronizing attitudes. People with disabilities gen
Hero worship
People consider someone who lives independently, or pursues a profession while having a disability to be brave. But
is there: the individual has learned to adapt by using their skills and knowledge, just as
everybody adapts to features such as being tall, short, strong, fast, easy-going, bald or shy.
Ignorance
People with quadriplegia drive cars and have children. People who are blind tell time on a watch and visit museums.
However, if physical barriers are in place because someone overlooked their significance, then many of these people
life has to offer.
The Spread effect
People often assume that an individual’s disability negatively affects other senses, abilities or personality traits, or th
Stereotypes
The other side of the spread effect is the positive and negative generalizations people form about disabilities. for exa
Backlash
Many people believe people with disabilities are given unfair advantages such as easier work requirements. Employ
Denial
Many disabilities such as learning disabilities, mental illnesses, epilepsy, cancer, arthritis and heart conditions are hid
understanding their needs, design professionals help individuals with these types of disabilities enjoy more opportu
Fear
Many people are afraid they will do or say the wrong thing around someone with a disability. Therefore, they avert t
3 .6 .3 Financial barriers
one way to look at financial barriers is to understand the ways they impede innovation. if funding is limited, the chan
3 .6 .4 Systemic barriers
The term systemic barrier refers to situations, policies and/or practices that unfairly exclude members of designated
many people face systemic barriers and these
will be discussed in Section 4.
The latter two obstacles to universal design,
financial and systemic, apply to both clients – who may have their quality of life affected by these barriers – and desi
38 Building Accessible and Inclusive Environments
4 accessibility = inclusion
4.1 an inClusivE EnvironMEnT
Whether or not one has a disability, access is the determining factor whether an individual is included or excluded in
accessibility is the umbrella term that examines the ways people participate in the world around them – and enjoy t
as able-bodied persons.
When a design professional assesses how the environment can be adapted to meet the
needs of its users, it’s important to understand those needs. as mentioned in Section 3.3 Types of Disability – people
activities are fully understood, the environment
can be modified accordingly.
This section discusses the importance of
accessibility, the impact of employment on people with disabilities, the availability of accessible, affordable housing,
as well, an abridged checklist for building
modifications based on the 2010 access Design Standards, published by The City of Calgary’s advisory Committee on
4 .1 .1 Making a case for accessibility
accessibility is more than meeting minimum building codes. it’s creating an atmosphere where every person is enab
Designing with accessibility in mind improves people’s ability to participate safely, independently and with dignity. T
Social inclusion: people with disabilities are included in mainstream society when they are not denied access.
right to access: all people have a basic right to access. People with disabilities are not second-class citizens.
Usability: access is important. However, it must go a step further and be practical to use.
Figure 6: Interconnectivity model
Activity
Environment Person
4.2 inCludEd in EMployMEnT
When you create appropriate physical environments in the workplace, from workstations and transportation, to ease
more accessible, a higher representation of people with disabilities would be found
in the workplace.
Bearing this in mind, many employers are now
recognizing that the work environment has the potential to be an unsafe, hazardous place.
They are taking steps to remedy this for all of
their employees.
People with a disability are frequently denied
the opportunity to work due to discriminatory attitudes by employers, inaccessible working environments, lack of ac
information and support, and assumptions that work is not a suitable place for the disabled.
To ensure people with disabilities are fully included in working life, new developments – including office space and o
london authority, 2004).
Universal design in practice
Employers, including The City of Calgary, have provided
ergonomically
supported workstations for their employees since 1999.
Ergonomics, the science of designing the job, equipment and
workplace to fit the worker, is as proactive in preventing a
chronic disability as it is in compensating for existing
disabilities. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to
prevent repetitive strain injuries from worsening over
time and developing into long-term disabilities.

Figure 7. Median income for Canadians with and without a disability (2001)
###
###

$22,600
###
###
###
###
Person with disability Person without a disability
Source: Statistics Canada, Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, 2001
4 .2 .1 Employment policies
once policies are written to include people with disabilities in the workplace (see Section 5.4, The City of Calgary Co
Fast fact
In 1990, a U.S. survey by DuPont de Nemours revealed that
86
per cent of employees with disabilities were rated average
or above for attendance. DuPont’s 30-year analysis also
showed that Americans with disabilities have equal or
higher performance ratings, less absenteeism and better
retention rates. The result was reduced costs associated
with turnover (DuPont, 1996).

This duty, further explained in Section 5.2.2, is

the obligation of the employer to meaningfully incorporate diversity into the workplace.
This policy involves eliminating or changing rules, policies, practices and behaviours that discriminate against person
rights Commission, 2004).
4.3 aCCEss To housing
Statistics Canada defines the Presence of Disability in the Household (PDiH) as at least one person in the household
This section focuses on local and international
examples of universally designed homes, and introduces some success stories of affordable housing in Calgary.
4 .3 .1 Local case studies
Crestwood
in 2006, a $13.2 million, 60-unit affordable housing development in Millican-ogden,
a community in southeast Calgary, took an important step forward. The Crestwood
affordable Housing Development was created to help working families and persons with
a disability in Calgary access below-market housing, with money remaining to meet other basic quality-of-life require
Calgary, 2006b).
The building includes seven one-bedroom and
three two-bedroom wheelchair accessible units. other features include balconies and courtyard patios, underground
The development uses sustainable leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (lEED™) features to reduce energ
High quality construction materials further the
development’s long-term sustainability.
Universal Home for Safe Living
The universal Home for Safe living pilot project featured a house built for accessibility and safety. This house was cre
of Calgary Planning & Building department, Homes by avi, and linnie Tse, a local
environmental designer.
Designed for people with varying disabilities,
the home maintains décor while remaining user-friendly and crime-resistant (The City of Calgary, 2007e). it features
wheelchair access, textured paint, reinforced walls, rounded corners, indirect lighting, movable cabinets, surveillanc
laser-triggered light switches and much more. as such, it addresses the safety and crime prevention needs of people
City of Calgary, 2007e).
furthermore, the universal Home for Safe
living included green initiatives such as low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-emitting paint and adhesives, efficient lightin
lEEDTM certified. The universal Home for Safe living was awarded the alberta Home Builders association 2000 award
Personal encounter
Camika is invited to be the guest speaker at an awards
luncheon. Knowing that she requires accessible facilities,
the organizer calls the conference facility where the
function is being held and asks if the facilities are
accessible.
“Absolutely,” replies the manager. Camika is pleased to
find automatic doors entering the facility and a ramp onto
the platform where she can deliver her address.
After speaking, Camika goes to use the washroom and is
extremely disappointed to find that although there is an
“accessible” washroom, it is nearly impossible to use. Her
mobility device barely fits into the stall and the door
doesn’t
close. The toilet paper dispenser is placed too high and
behind the toilet on the adjacent wall. Seeing this, Camika
leaves the washroom and heads straight to the manager.
She brings him into
the washroom and shows him the problems. He promises to
have the alterations done immediately.

4 .3 .2 International case studies

Lifetime Homes
an example of a universally designed home is lifetime Homes, based in london, England. This development company
lifetime Homes includes 16 design features to ensure a new house is flexible enough to meet the existing and chang
most households. lifetime Homes include a number of attractive features to help make homes universal in their app
application, yet do not substantially increase the construction costs (lifetime Homes, 2007).
Because lifetime Homes builds structures/ homes suitable for older people (the
vast majority of which have a disability) they have a wide market of potential buyers and residents, thus increasing t
context of an aging population.
4 .3 .3 visitability
When envisioning an accessible home, many believe only people with disabilities reside
in these types of homes. actually, accessible homes also refer to residences a person with a disability may visit (e.g. a
Disability Studies (CCDS) defines visitability as:
“…a movement, as well as a policy and a technical strategy, to change home construction practices so that virtually a
The three minimum standards for a visitable home are: 1) a zero-step entrance at the front, back or side entrance (lo
4.4 using puBliC Buildings
The Mayor’s awards for accessibility recognizes buildings in Calgary that significantly exceed the minimum requirem
The alberta Children’s Hospital was designed
by Kasian architecture interior Design and Planning limited. Every area of the facility is accessible by wheelchairs, inc
low-sloped floors for easier wheelchair and stroller travel, motion-sensored sliding
doors, lowered counters at nurse stations and reception desks, and low-placed windows and aquariums (760 mm ab
to ensure small children, including those in
wheelchairs, can see the view.
4.5 univErsal dEsign ChECklisT
This checklist for building modifications is based on the Access Design Standards published by The City of Calgary’s D
construction developments throughout Calgary. a full set of these standards (along with diagrams,
as indicated by the symbol ) can be found online at calgary .ca/dba.
A* Exterior Barrier-free Path of Travel

Category requirement Detail

A .3 .1 Surfaces and textures proper drainage

slip-resistant
stable and even texture • brick and cobblestone to be laid
“firm base”

consistent tactile qualities

A .3 .2 general path • 1,500 – 2,400 mm wide
sidewalk joint • 13 mm width
rest areas • every 30 m
• 2,400 x 2,400 mm

A .3 .3 obstructions horizontally projecting obstructions • to extend within 200 mm aff for

detectability

sidewalk/electrical vault gratings • placed outside path of trav

• opening 13 mm max.
• 20 mm x 90 mm max. space betw
bars

parked vehicles and vegetation • out of path of travel

street furniture • out of path of travel
temporary signs • out of path of travel
 guy-wires • clearly marked to 1,980 mm with
barrier under or outside path of tra

*in the interest of clarity, categories “i” and “o” have been deliberately omitted from the following tables.
A* Exterior Barrier-free Path of Travel

Category requirement Detail

A .3 .4 Curb ramps (designed location • ramps on both sides of median
to City of Calgary • perpendicular to vehicular
standards) traffic flow

specifications • 1,500 mm wide, min.

• slope 1:15 to 1:12 max.
• level surface behind ramp (1,500
min.)
• both ramps reduced and levelled
equally if median is
less than 3.6 m wide

indirect placement on corner • offset from main flow of pedestr

traffic

clearly defined • cane detectable

• curved edges
• contrasting raised texture

surfaces • slip-resistant
• proper drainage

A .3 .5 Snow removal unimpeded travel • snowbank-free

• wind buffer set back from sidewa

B Interior Barrier-free Path of Travel

Category requirement Detail

B .3 .1 general corridors wide enough for two wheelchairs • 1,525 mm wide for public corrido
to pass • 920 mm wide, min., for private co
 include footrest in turning radius for • 1,525 mm x 1,525 mm space whe
doorways and corners corridors make 90° turn

consistency of materials and colours

materials to promote balanced sound

attenuation

B .3 .2 obstructions staircases • avoid cantilever or provide barrie

under
• avoid free-standing or provide ba
under

signage • 2,100 m min. overhead clearance

protrusions • cane detectable (200 mm aff)

B .3 .3 Floor surfaces unimpeded pedestrian movement • 1:2 carpet/trim slope max

• low pile and firm underlay
• fastened securely
• bevelled edges

slip-resistant • coefficient of friction at lea

0.5 when wet or dry

unimpeded perception • low glare

• no distortion

B Interior Barrier-free Path of Travel

Category requirement Detail

B .3 .4 Wall surfaces smooth surfaces • avoid rough or uneven coverings

• avoid sharp angles
B .3 .4 Wall surfaces

unimpeded perception • minimized visual distortion

• low-glare
• if glass or mirror, include a warni
strip 150 mm
wide and 1,350 mm above
the floor

unimpeded pedestrian movement • recessed wall fixtures

C vehicular Access

Category requirement Detail

C .3 .1 Lay-bys close to main entrance • 3,700 mm wide x 7,600 mm long

curb separation • 1:12 ramp slope, max.

• rolled curbs
cover adjacent entrance • canopy 3,000 mm high, m
C .3 .2 Layout of parking areas safe, clear path of travel
differentiated pedestrian routes • contrasting colour and texture
• allow for sufficient wheelchair
clearance between wheel stops
• wheel stops set back

gravel lots • include hard surface for walkway

accessible stalls

subdivide large lots with vegetation • conform to CPTED principl

C vehicular Access

Category requirement Detail

C .3 .3 on-site road parking accessible stalls at both ends of block • 4,000 mm wide
• length as per Land use Bylaw
• 2,000 mm access aisle

near sidewalk and ramps

 parking meters/machines that do not • 900 mm – 1,100 mm high
require twisting or pinching action to • unobstructed, well-lit
operate

C .3 .4 Parking stalls individual parallel stalls • 4,000 mm wide

• length as per Land use Bylaw

two or more adjacent stalls • 7,400 mm wide with a 2,000 mm

access isle
• aisle clearly marked with
hatched lines

C .3 .5 Signage international symbols • used for paving surface

• words “permit required” on sign
• paint symbol only on pavin
surface

C .3 .6 Parkades accessible stalls on each level • adjacent to elevators

• at grade if no elevators
• 3,000 mm vertical clearance, min

D Illumination and Acoustics

Category requirement Detail

D .3 .1 Illumination control glare • direct light to control glare

• windows designed and located to
reduce glare

enhance illumination at critical locations • illuminated signs 200 lx, m

• other signs illuminated to 100 lx,

controls and operating mechanisms • illuminated to 100 lx, min.

enhanced level of illumination outdoors

D .3 .2 Acoustics sound-absorbing materials • used on floors and walls in appro

spaces
D .3 .2 Acoustics

switches to turn off noisy devices

loud speakers away from crucial areas of

communication

E Location of Controls, Dispensers and receptacles

Category requirement Detail

E .3 .1 general requirements operation • to function with one hand and on

motion

E .3 .2 Safety and emergency placement • height 1,200 mm, max.

controls

E .3 .3 Lighting fixtures light switches • 1,000 mm from floor, max

rocker switches preferred
E .3 .4 Electrical outlets placement • height 600 mm
E .3 .5 Faucets water taps • automatic or lever-type
F Building Entrances, Doors and Doorways

Category requirement Detail

F .3 .1 Entrances distinguishable facade
consideration of weather effects • clear of wind and snow, proper
drainage and a wind screen when
necessary
• indoor rugs with non-slip
underpadding to absorb water or sn
brought in from the outside
• door mats 13-mm
height, max.

good lighting and signage

sliding doors
F .3 .2 Specifications for transition space • well lit
people with vision loss
door push plates • contrasting colour or value
marked glass doors
 people with vision loss

numbers on doors • shall be raised and located at eye

exit doors opening into high traffic areas

shall be recessed

F .3 .3 Door openers and opening doors • automatic or power assisted

hardware mechanisms

door-release hardware • mounted between 800 mm and

mm off floor

handles • clearance of 50 mm between han

and door

security • audio and visual alert if door is o

remotely

smooth kickplate • 300 mm in height

F Building Entrances, Doors and Doorways

Category requirement Detail

F .3 .4 Doors and gates door opening • alternate between right and left-
operation

door width • without door: 850 mm wide, min

• with door: 920 mm min.

revolving door or turnstile • automatic door control placed

immediately to one side

timing • held open at 70° to 90° for eight

seconds, with master control to ope
door when blocked

g ramps

Category requirement Detail

g .3 .1 general requirements locate on private property, outside of road

right-of-way

slopes • between 1:25 and 1:20

g .3 .1 general requirements

width • 950 mm, min., between handrail

wheelchair passing • widen ramp and/or rest area to 1

mm

landings • 1,500 mm in length at top and bo

and wherever there are changes in
direction

for people with vision loss • provide visual cues and non-slip
textures

cross slope • 1:50 mm, max.

g .3 .2 Exterior ramps weather • protect from precipitation (prope
drainage)
• cleared of snow and ice

H Stairs

Category requirement Detail

H .3 .1 general requirements location • avoid isolated steps
• include a barrier to prevent acce
underside of an overhung staircase

dimensions • uniform
• no open risers
illumination • minimize glare from lights
nosing • projecting undersides of nosing
bevelled less than 60°
• use contrasting colour on nosing
max. 25-mm
extension, longer if bevelled

H .3 .2 Interior stairs do not use heavily patterned carpet

H .3 .3 Exterior stairs weather • protect from climactic conditions

• maintain clear of snow
and ice
 J Handrails and guards

Category requirement Detail

J .3 Handrails located on both sides of a ramp or stairway • 30 mm to 43 mm max. diameter

tactile cues and arrows on handrail at top

and bottom of stairs and ramps

handrails to contrast with surrounding

surfaces

leave space between handrail and wall • 50 mm, min.

k Elevators

Category requirement Detail

k .3 .1 general requirements all elevators to be accessible • verbal identification of floor leve

direction of travel
follow alberta Building Code
k .3 .2 Elevator lobbies elevator doors • space in front: 1,500 mm min.
• doors open for eight secon

call buttons • easy to see and use

• no obstructions placed undernea

signage • tactile numerals for each floor

• 1,200 mm above floor
• audio and visual cues for car arri

k .3 .3 Floor registration inside elevator • raised buttons

buttons • tactile signage including Braille
• contrasting colour from
background
k .3 .4 Exterior elevators weather • oriented away from wind/ rain/d
• sheltered and positive
drainage

security • well lit

• glass walls for increased visibility

L Public Washrooms

Category requirement Detail

L .3 .1 Entrances avoid vestibules with two doors • L-shaped entries to have 1,200-m
turning space

L .3 .2 Stalls clear opening • 800 mm wide

L .3 .3 Fixtures toilet paper dispensers • operable part not less than 460 m
4800 mm from adjacent wall

soap dispensers • 900-mm height

• 500-mm forward-grasp reach

hand towels/dryers • 1,100 mm to 1,200 mm in height

toilet seat cover dispenser • 900 mm to 1,000 mm in height

waste receptacles • 900 mm to 1,000 mm in height

L .3 .4 knee space “P” traps offset horizontally • minimum of 280 mm clear space
front of counter to face of “P” trap
• 735 mm to 800 mm from
top of floor to underside of counter

L .3 .5 Universal washrooms easily accessible

located on main floor near main entry
L .3 .5 Universal washrooms

call buttons in buildings with security

personnel

M recreational and Cultural Centres

Category requirement Detail

M .3 .1 Swimming pools ramp and stairs with handrails • on both sides at shallow e
• stairs as opposed to ladders whe
possible

power hoist

signage • contrasting colour for pool depth

M .3 .2 Ice rinks and exercise plexiglas for sledge hockey viewing

areas

player and penalty boxes • two 910-mm wide doors

seating and handrails • near entrances and exits of rink

raised platforms for stretching

wheelchair access to some exercise

equipment

tactile signage • raised tactile signage to identify

equipment

M recreational and Cultural

Centres
Category requirement Detail

M .3 .3 Exhibits more than one method of presentation • audio-visual

• tactile

display cases • 1,000 mm to 1,200 mm from floo

• 1,200 mm to 1,500 mm
if wall-mounted

signage • tilt labels

• tactile
• illuminate with reduced glare or
reflections
M .3 .4 Drinking fountains placement • extend 200 mm above floo
• with the front panel sloped 50 m
90 mm inwards

controls • height of waterspout 780 mm to

mm
• push button or lever contr

M .3 .5 Shower fixtures diverter mechanism

storage shelf • 850 mm above floor

M .3 .6 Common showers bevelled threshold • less than 13 mm
flexible hand-held sprayer

1:20 slope for drainage

M .3 .7 Individual space for family member and caregivers

change/shower room

elevated change platform • 1,500 mm wide, 1,800 mm long

480 mm high

turning radius • 1,500 mm clear

grab bars, coat hooks and shelving • 1,000 mm above floor

n Public Facilities

Category requirement

n .3 .1 Counters service counters/work surfaces • clear floor space at least

750 mm x 1,200 mm in front
• cane detectable
• non-glare

knee space • 720 mm to 800 mm high for wor

surfaces

speaker system for two-way • when service personnel is behind

communication partition

n .3 .2 Cafeterias counter • height 865 mm, max.

liquid dispensers • max. distance within wheelchair
unless help always available
 location of food • 450 mm max. from edge of coun

n .3 .3 Assembly seating in chairs • removable (when required) to pr

public facilities maximum flexibility

sightlines • equal to those provided to the m

of the audience
• meeting rooms designed so all u
can see the speaker
• where the speaker is not i
front of a window

level spaces for wheelchairs

accessible seating space • wide enough to maneuver with a
mobility device
• spread seating over different are
venue
• increase minimum number of sp
required
• location accessible to an
emergency exit

n Public Facilities
Category requirement Detail

n .3 .4 Permanent barriers removable posts • at least one with international sig

affixed, otherwise gate or similar pr

pedestrian flow barriers • height of 600 mm, with 1,200 mm

clearance between
• contrasting colour

avoid use of cables, chains or ropes • if necessary, height of 150 mm to

mm from ground

P Parks, Pathways and Playgrounds

Category requirement Detail

P .3 .1 general considerations parks to be accessible from other • include continuous pathwa

communities
P .3 .1 general considerations

fences, earth berms, etc. • 1,000 mm, max.

signage • raised characters
• contrasting colours 1,000 mm to
mm high
• tilted and well lit

rest areas • every 30 m

• closer together as slope increase
• heated as appropriate

layout • readily comprehensible for cogn

mapping

weather • landscaping to form a wind barri

• prune as required

P Parks, Pathways and Playgrounds

Category requirement Detail

P .3 .2 Pathways surfaces • hard packed

• joints less than 13 mm

flow • follow the contour of the land

• clearly defined edges
• well lit

weather • positive drainage

• cleared of snow and ice

P .3 .3 Posts and maze gates posts • 1,200-mm min. clearance

maze gates • 1,200-mm offset, 1,500 mm spac

P .3 .4 Benches seat and armrest • seat height 450 mm to 500 mm f

ground
• arm rest 200 mm above seat pan
• adjacent firm ground surfa
at least 850 mm x 1,200 mm
 include heel space

weather • seats pitched to shed water away

walking surface
• seat and armrest designed
reduce snow accumulation

use contrasting colour

adjacent to accessible routes

P .3 .5 Picnic tables location • adjacent to an accessible route

knee space • 750 mm wide x 500 mm deep x 7

mm high

weather • table and seat to shed wa

• kept free of snow and deb

P Parks, Pathways and Playgrounds

Category requirement Detail

P .3 .6 Trash containers location • adjacent to but not obstructing t

walkway

operation • operable by one hand

• opening height of 900 mm, max.

weather • shed rain and snow

P .3 .7 Children’s play spaces designed in accordance with CaN/CSa –
Z614-07, annex H

Q Patios

Category requirement Detail

Q .3 general considerations width of entry and exits • see Sections A and B

clear turning radius • 1,500 mm, min.
at least one eating surface • underside height of 720 mm to 8
mm
• depth of 350 mm min. kne
space under table
 surfaces • slip-resistant
• wood planks perpendicular to pa
travel, spacing of 13 mm, max.

decor • hanging plants not lower than 1,

mm

r Emergency Egress, Alarms and Warning Surfaces

Category requirement Detail

r .3 .1 Emergency evacuation exits and pull stations easily located • clear procedures
• tactile strip near door handle ma
exit doors

r .3 .2 visual fire alarm devices visual and auditory signal • signal to repeat at a rate of 1 Hz
• synchronized signals

r .3 .3 Detectable warning consistent use of tactile surface

surfaces
detectible warning strips on walking • at every emergency exit on the g
surfaces • at least 900 mm in length
• detectable by both cane and foo

r .3 .4 Areas of refuge stairwell safest place • available on every floor with a st

• 0.5 m2 min. per ambulatory occu
1.9 m2 min. per non-ambulatory oc

fire rated
served by an exit or firefighter elevator

obstruction • unobstructed egress for others

• no door encroachment

two-way voice communication system

 directional and identification signs

S Communications

Category requirement Detail

S .3 .1 Telephones availability • at least one accessible

• volume control
• international symbol of access
• space provided for TDD

location • cane detectable

specifications • 1,000-mm cord length
• 800-mm clear space for knees
• bench or swing away
• minimum 200 lx illuminati

weather (for exterior phones) • protect from prevailing winds an

ambient noise

S .3 .2 Transactions require both audio and text messaging • induction loops

• clear signage

automatic teller machines • at least one dedicated for wheelc

access
• 1,100 mm max. height for contro
• not less than 700 mm high and 5
mm deep for knee
space

S .3 .3 . FM radio frequency in large public facilities such as airports • provide clearly marked listening
systems • include all important
announcements

S .3 .4 Infrared systems contain in enclosed space

block interference with solid barriers

shield from sun

 S Communications

Category requirement Detail

S .3 .5 Signage simple and consistent, symbols preferable • ensure legibility (font size, contra
to words colours, plain background)
• use recommended font, 25 mm f
general information, 37 mm for
directional signage

washrooms • internationally accepted s

public buildings • internationally accepted s
preferably both auditory and visual
information presented

S .3 .6 Lettering and numbers raised letters 1,350 mm from floor, max., • 60 mm in height and raise
with separated characters and standard 0.70 mm, min.
location • width-to-height ratio of 3:5 to 1:
• stroke-to-width-to-height ratio o
1:10
• simple font
• contrasting colours

S .3 .7 Location of signs directional signs at focal points on main • refer to Sections A and B for susp
traffic routes and at destination signs and sandwich board signs

S .3 .8 Building directional tactile maps • 1,200 mm in height

maps • tilted
• raised characters, lines and symb

audio maps • identify location

• enable users to get a sense of dir
and distance

S .3 .9 Intelligent navigation encouraged where warranted

System

T Plus 15 System
 Category requirement Detail

T .2 general requirements width • 4,500 mm, min.

• 6,000 mm in high-traffic pedestr
locations

See also Land elevators

Use Bylaw accessible bridges, walkways and lane links
1P2007 +15
Policy for
more details hard flooring surfaces
on these stairs
requirements sliding doors
U Light rail Transit (LrT)

Category requirement Detail

U .3 .1 ramps weather • clear of ice and snow

U .3 .2 Handrails and guards circumference • reduced in diameter

U .3 .3 Communication and pay telephone • universal signage

security • cane detectable
• emergency button
• glass walls

U .3 .4 Elevators refer to Section K

U .3 .5 Announcements announcements of delays and • visual and audible
emergencies

U .3 .6 Platforms ground surfaces • slip-resistant flooring

• warning strips
• third handrail if bridge is wider th
1,650 mm

U .3 .7 Benches benches • 450 mm to 500 mm in hei

U .3 .8 Transit shelters decal around glass panels • 1,350 mm in height
• 150 mm in width

placement of shelter • set back to allow for pedestrian

clearance

v Pedestrian Traffic Signals

Category requirement Detail

Contact also the Advisory Committee on Accessibility (ACA) for regulations governing audible pedestrian cignals .

v .3 .1 Pedestrian push tactile directional arrows

buttons
audible and visual signals • 1,000 mm to 1,100 mm in height
side parallel to sidewalk

v .3 .2 Audible signals to be heard above ambient noise

located in high-traffic areas

unified constant tone for duration of
crossing

signal posts to emit a low slow sound

distinct tones • one for east-west direction

• one for north-south directi

W Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Category requirement Detail

For more information, or to receive a CPTED review of designs, please also contact: Calgary Police Services .

W .3 .1 general requirements surveillance (compensate for lack of • placement of windows

expensive human resources with to allow for awareness of outside/ins
adequate design elements) activity
• adequate lighting
• landscaping for unobstructed view

walkways/transitions from public to semi- • create clear border/barrier definiti

public to private spaces • improve communication via emer
phones, pathways, etc.
 public gathering areas • in places with natural (or perceive
natural) surveillance and access cont

scheduling • provide effective and critical inten

uses

X Universal Dwelling Units

Category requirement Detail

For more information on these requirements, see the Alberta Building Code 2006, 9 .5 .2 .2, STAnDATA 06-BCI-010
Canadian Institute for the Blind (CnIB), CAn/CSA-B651-04, and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (C

X .3 .1 general considerations turning spaces • 1,500-mm diameter

doors • 920-mm width, min.
• 850-mm clearance for swinging o
sliding

handles • lever on doors

• D-shaped on cabinets and drawer
• lever or automatic faucets
• easy to manipulate on windows

light switches • 1,000 mm above finished floor

breaker panel • 1,200 mm above finished floor

plumbing under sink • insulated

• protected with face panel
• offset to the rear

electrical outlets • 600 mm above finished floor (to c

line)
wall thermostats • 1,200 mm above finished floor

sliding shelves
cabinetry • 760-mm width, 485-mm depth, 6
mm to 865-mm height
 walls • reinforced to support grab bars w
needed
baseboards • colour contrast
thresholds • not more than 13 mm higher tha
finished floor, or bevelled
X Universal Dwelling Units

Category requirement Detail

X .3 .2 Entrances closets • D-shaped handles
• 1,200-mm height for closet rods

X .3 .3 Living spaces shelves • 150-mm to 450-mm depth

X .3 .4 kitchen countertops/sinks/work surfaces • capable of being adjusted to sam
• from 765 mm to 850 mm high, 6
deep
• lever type or automatic
faucets

drawers • full extension

• 150-mm to 450-mm depth
• D-shaped handles

X .3 .5 Washrooms toilet • elongated seat

• 400 mm to 460 mm high

X .3 .6 Laundry room in-suite laundry room • work surface 600 mm deep x 765
to 850 mm high

common laundry room • work surface 600 mm deep x 765

to 850 mm high
• washer and dryer with front mou
controls
• doors swing 180°

X Universal Dwelling Units

Category requirement Detail

X .3 .7 Bedroom telephone jack • 450 mm to 1,200 mm AFF

X .3 .7 Bedroom
closets • 1,200 mm high
• 810-mm clear opening
• 1,500-mm clear turning radius in
• D-shaped handle

clearance • 920 mm on both sides of bed

X .3 .8 visual emergency and visual signal devices • security and gate entrance
non- emergency alarms • door bells

5 policies supporting universal design

“The object of universal
design is to create a building or a product that can be used by both someone
– George Covington
Basic human rights legislation forms the backbone to how accessibility and social inclusion are practised in regards t
citizens to re-think accessibility rights for people
with disabilities.
legislative directives ensure there are the means
of enforcing such policies. Most importantly, this section asks design professionals not to be limited to what is outlin
5.1 inTErnaTional and fundaMEnTal huMan righTs poliCiEs
Proclaimed in 1948 by the united Nations (uN), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
“…recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and unalienable rights of all members of the human family is
(united Nations, 2008a).
Many policy makers use the uN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a foundation to develop or enhance poli
“Parties recognize the right of persons with
disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including
adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the
continuous improvement of living conditions, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realizati
5.2 Canadian huMan
righTs poliCy
5 .2 .1 The Canadian Charter of rights and Freedoms states:
“Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal
protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on ra
and freedoms, 2004).
 The cornerstone of many government policies
and legislation is the fact that all people are considered equal under the law. However, many of these laws may not b
5 .2 .2 The Canadian Human rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Act
article 28 (1) of the uN’s Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection (see Section 5.1) provides a solid founda
access to services and facilities for people with disabilities. The act (and the Commission itself, by its very existence)
although accessibility is embedded in the Canadian Human Rights Act, it is the
responsibility of the community and design professionals to ensure access is provided to people with disabilities. usi
province-specific building codes.
5.3 sECTion 3.8 of ThE alBErTa
Building CodE
The alberta Building Code (2006) governs design professionals on minimally acceptable levels of safety for a project.
Section 3.8, Barrier-free Design can be found at: www.safetycodes.ab.ca.
5.4 ThE CiTy of Calgary CorporaTE iniTiaTivEs
in keeping with The City of Calgary’s corporate vision, “Working together to create and sustain a vibrant, healthy, saf
five important City of Calgary policies: (1) Access Design Standards, (2) Calgary Corporate Accessibility Policy, (3) Th
5 .4 .1 Access Design Standards
The Access Design Standards were developed by The City of Calgary’s advisory Committee on accessibility access De
use of the Access Design Standards as a reference guide increases awareness of the needs of people with disabilitie
5 .4 .2 Calgary Corporate Accessibility Policy
This policy acknowledges that in order to create accessible environments, the process needs to start with City of Cal
“. . . work towards the reduction and elimination of barriers to the physical access of City-owned and operated build
its services and communication access in the form of interpretive
services” (The City of Calgary, 2005).
5 .4 .3 The City of Calgary’s Triple
Bottom Line (TBL) Policy
The City of Calgary’s Triple Bottom line (2005) is an approach to decision-making that considers economic, social and
• An inclusive city: “The City of Calgary values and promotes independence and is a vital partner in creating an inclu
all Calgarians have the opportunity to take an active part in the social, economic and cultural life of the community.
To accomplish this, The City of Calgary seeks to ensure equitable access to City services and amenities regardless of a
• A safe city: “The City of Calgary seeks to ensure a safe environment for individuals and families through the provis
*Calgary Emergency Medical Services transferred to the
Province of alberta april 1, 2009, and now operates under alberta Health Services.

• A cultural city: “The City of Calgary seeks

to promote and maintain a high quality of life through the provision and support of opportunities for recreation, leis
both initiates and supports projects aimed to enhance and support diverse cultures
and traditions.”
• An active city: “The City of Calgary strives to create and sustain a healthy community by promoting active living th
• A city of strong neighbourhoods: “The City of Calgary promotes strong neighbourhoods through the development
of integrated communities with a varied social composition and a strong sense of place. Working in partnership with
respond to the needs of a diverse population.
a high quality of life in neighbourhoods is
maintained through planning approaches that promote privacy, safety and quiet within residential areas, with easy a
and amenities.
5 .4 .4 Fair Calgary Policy
The City of Calgary’s fair Calgary Policy (2006) supports outcomes that directly relate to universal design principles by
social cohesion, healthy living, social integration and security.
• Social cohesion is enhanced by strengthening connections, interactions and accessibility – and allowing for opport
• Healthy living occurs when the urban system contributes to an individual’s physical, social, economic, emotional a
psychological well-being, as well as providing for aesthetic enjoyment, recreation and
personal development.
• Social integration is fostered and supported
by The City’s contribution to a harmonious and diverse community, where mutual respect is the basis for everyone e
• Security is what happens when a city, along with its corresponding neighbourhoods, is dedicated to safe, supporti
5 .4 .5 Sustainable Environmental & Ethical Procurement Policy (SEEPP)
The City of Calgary’s SEEPP (2008) process not only promotes awareness of environmental and ethical issues, it also
The City of Calgary is committed to being
good stewards of our natural and economic resources. a sustainable environmental and ethical procurement policy s
the following:
• Social and ethical aspects – working conditions.
• Environmental aspects – over the life cycle of products.
• Price, quality, availability and functionality.

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6 The future of universal design is here
6.1 urBan BraillE sysTEM
Have you ever walked through a maze and found it difficult to navigate your way? Did you find the lack of signage an
6 .1 .1 national initiatives
Hamilton, ontario is one Canadian city which has taken the lead in providing a way-finding system for people with a v
is a system of tactile information serving the needs of people with vision loss. Markings are pressed on the concrete
Hamilton is one of North america’s most accessible cities and is world-renowned for its efforts to improve accessibili
Hamilton” urban Braille system was developed through a collaborative effort between the
City of Hamilton (Planning and Public Works departments and the former City’s Pathway Committee), McMaster uni
(Tomic, 2003).
The urban Braille system is based on three
main elements: sensory channels, tactile information and orientation aids.
Sensory channels are based on our five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. once a sensory channel is limite
That being said, this system has integrated the sense of touch into their way-finding scheme as an alternative to sigh
(Tomic, 2003).
Tactile information – two types of textures (smooth and grooved) produce up to 10 distinct clues or “letters of urban
on sidewalks and other horizontal surfaces (Tomic, 2003). Tactile information is one of the most important ways to g
(Tomic, 2003).
orientation aids are another way to help all
public space users navigate their destination. The following information is communicated through the urban Braille s
6 .1 .2 Calgary initiatives
Calgary is another Canadian city that adopted and incorporated urban Braille in the plans to revitalize its Centre City.
to planning and designing the public realm. in addition to traditional accessibility-related
streetscape elements, the Calgary urban Braille System (CuBS) engages other sensory channels, from tactile to audito
CuBS is primarily intended for public areas with high volumes of pedestrian traffic. The system may also be appropria
The public realm can be thought of as the
living room of a city. it’s a place where citizens sit, watch what’s going on around them like watching television, or en
an important concept in any locale where individuals converge, live and share, but it’s expensive to construct and ma
Current demographic trends, including a rapidly aging population, challenge previous approaches to the design of pu
6.2 aCCEssiBlE wEBsiTEs
universal design is not only for those professionals who build physical environments, but also for web developers, in
Web accessibility refers to the degree a site is accessible to the largest possible range of
people (Curran et al., 2007). The Web Content accessibility Guidelines (WCaG) are established for these professional
inclusive digital society.
6 .2 .1 research
research on accessible websites is extensive and a variety of investigators are continually looking into the usability o
Karreman et al. conducted a study on how
WCaG-designed websites work for people with intellectual disabilities. The results show the adaptation of the websi
6 .2 .2 Media
Media reports on accessible websites are also becoming more and more available – predominantly from Europe. for
“European initiative on an all-inclusive Digital Society: frequently asked Questions,” noted that inclusion in the digita
can benefit from e-inclusion.
another news article found in The Times Online
headlined, “21st Century Entrepreneurs: ahead of the final of Said Business School’s 21st Century Challenge.” This ar
leading-edge technologies. for instance, one entrepreneur developed a screen that allows visually impaired users to
“…[That] disabled people face disadvantages in today’s society is sadly, nothing new. But in our increasingly compute
the blind community in particular struggles with modern technology so central to most people’s personal and workin
finalist in the Tomorrow’s People category.
Studying for a master’s degree in computer
science and psychology at the university of Central london, he spotted a gulf in the
provisions for blind was very difficult for blind people to use computer systems. Current Braille display readers just s
Hence Tactile response, the company he set up to market BrailleScreen, a revolutionary
computer screen that allows blind people to feel the icons, boxes and text, using their fingers as a mouse. Smith esti
– and will change the lives of 20 million people coping with sight loss.
“it’s been a long time coming,” he says (ford, 2007).
a third article refers to Bill 511, known as the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act, which became law in
6 .2 .3 World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) guidelines
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, as set out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web accessibility in
These guidelines cover a set of checkpoints outlined in four principles:
(1) Perceivability: information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways that aren’t invis
(2) operability: the interface cannot require an interaction that a user is unable
to perform.
(3) Understandability: the content, operation or interface cannot be beyond their understanding.
(4) robustness: content must be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user
agents as they evolve, including assistive technologies.
if any of these four principles are not inherent in a site, users with disabilities will not be able to use the Web (Web a
6 .2 .4 Web accessibility checklist
The City of Calgary – along with a number of city-wide organizations – is committed to producing an acce
guidelines Details

Principle 1: Perceivable Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in
they can perceive .

1 .1 Text alternatives Provide varying ways that non-text content can be changed to other forms p
need such as large print, Braille, speech, symbols or simpler language .

1.1.1 All non-text content is presented along with a text alternative that serves the
equivalent purpose, except for the
following situations .

1.1.2 Controls, input: if a control, or accepts user input, then it must have a descrip
name.

1.1.3 Time-based media: if moving, then text alternatives provide description.

1.1.4 Test: if a test or exercise that is invalid if presented in text, then alternatives m
provide description.

1.1.5 Sensory: if intent is a sensory experience, provide descriptive identification.

1.1.6 CAPTCHA: if to confirm that content is being assessed

by a person rather than computer, provide descriptors and alternate forms of
CaPTCHa-using output modes for different sensory perception.

1.1.7 Decoration, formatting, invisible: if pure decoration, it must be presented in a

that can be ignored by assistive technology.
guidelines Details

1 .2 Time-based media Provide alternatives for time-based media .

1.2.1 Audio-only/video-only (pre-recorded): provide
equivalent information.
1.2.2 Captions (pre-recorded): are provided for audio in
synchronized media.
1.2.3 Audio description or media alternative
(pre-recorded): alternative provided for synchronized media.

1.2.4 Captions (live): provided for all audio content in synchronized media.

1.2.5 Audio description (pre-recorded): provided for video in synchronized media.

1.2.6 Sign language (pre-recorded): interpretation provided for audio in synchronize

media.

1.2.7 Extended audio description: where pauses in foreground audio are insufficien
allow audio descriptions, extended descriptors are provided.

1.2.8 Media alternative (pre-recorded): an alternative for time-based media is prov

1.2.9 Audio-only (live): provided as equivalent information.

1 .3 Adaptable Create content that can be presented in different ways without losing inform
or structure (i .e . simpler layout) .

1.3.1 Information and relationships: where being conveyed through presentation is

programmatically determined.

1.3.2 Meaningful sequence: when meaning is affected by sequence, a correct readi

be programmatically determined.

1.3.3 Sensory characteristics: where instructions do not rely solely on sensory

characteristics such as shape, size, visual location, orientation or sound.

guidelines Details

1 .4 Distinguishable Make it easier for users to see and hear content, including separating foregro
from background .
 1.4.1 Use of colour: not used as the only visual means of conveying information, ind
action, prompting a response or distinguishing a visual element.

1.4.2 Audio control: mechanism provided to pause or stop or control volume of any
that plays automatically for more than three seconds.

1.4.3 Contrast (minimum): text and images have contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 exce
large text (3:1), incidentals or logo/brand names.

1.4.4 resize text: customized ability to resize without assistive technology up to 200
cent without loss of content or functionality.

1.4.5 Images of text: use of text before images of text, except for customizable text
when the presentation of text is essential to information.

1.4.6 Contrast (enhanced): text and images have a contrast ratio of at least 7:1, exce
large text (4.5:1), incidentals or logo/brand names.

1.4.7 Low or no background audio: for pre-recorded audio-only that contains prima
speech in the foreground, is not an audio CaPTCHa or audio logo and is not
vocalization intended to
be primarily musical (singing or rapping). at least one of the following must be
no background sounds, has a turn-off background capability and a background
least 20 decibels
lower than foreground speech.

1.4.8 visual presentation: a mechanism for blocks of text must be available where
foreground/background colours can be user- selected, width is no more than 8
characters or glyphs (40 if CJK), text is not justified, line spacing is at least spac
a-half within paragraphs and text can be re-sized without assistive technology
200 per cent without requiring user to scroll horizontally to read.

guidelines Details

1.4.9 Images of text (no exception): only used as pure decoration where text is esse
to information being conveyed.
Principle 2: operable User interface components and navigation must be operable
2 .1 keyboard accessible Make all functionality available from a keyboard .
2.1.1 keyboard: as is relates to underlying function, not simply input technique.

2.1.2 no keyboard trap: if focus can be moved to component of page using a keyboa
interface. if more than unmodified arrow or tab keys are required as standard
methods, the user must be advised.

2.1.3 keyboard (no exception): all functionality without specific timings for individu
keystrokes.

2 .2 Enough time Provide users enough time to read and use content .
2.2.1 Timing adjustable: for each limit set by content, at least one of these capacitie
be provided. Turn-off, adjust, extend, real- time exception, essential exception
20-hour exception.

2.2.2 Pause, stop, hide: for moving, blinking, scrolling or auto- updating information
must be true. Starts automatically, lasts more than five seconds and is present
parallel with other content.

2.2.3 no timing: not an essential part of event or activity presented by content, exce
non-interactive synchronized media and real-time events.

2.2.4 Interruptions: customized postponement or suppression.

2.2.5 re-authenticating: when expired, user can continue activity without loss of da

2 .3 Seizures Do not design content in a way known to cause seizures .

2.3.1 Three flashes or below threshold: no flashes that occur more than three time
any one second, or the flash is below the general flash and red flash threshold

2.3.2 Three flashes: no flashes that occur more than three times in any one second.

guidelines Details

2 .4 navigable Provide ways to help users navigate, find content and determine where they
 2.4.1 Bypass blocks: available mechanism to bypass blocks of repeated content on
multiple pages.

2.4.2 Page titled: all pages have titles that describe topic or purpose.
2.4.3 Focus order: sequentially navigated components must proceed in manner tha
preserves meaning and operability.

2.4.4 Link purpose (in context): unambiguous purpose of each link, as detailed in lin
or programmatically determined context.

2.4.5 Multiple ways: more than one available path to locate a page within a set of p

2.4.6 Heading and labels: accurately describe purpose.

2.4.7 Focus visible: interface where keyboard focus indicator is visible.

2.4.8 Location: information about the user’s location within site is available.

2.4.9 Link purpose (link only): purpose of each link is identified from link text alone

2.4.10 Section headings: used to organize content.

Principle 3: Understandable Information and the operation of user interface must be understandable .

3 .1 readable Make text content readable and understandable .

3.1.1 Language of page: default language of each page is programmatically determi

3.1.2 Language of parts: same as above, except for proper names, technical terms,
of indeterminate language and/or vernacular words and phrases.

3.1.3 Unusual words: available mechanism for defining words or phrases, idioms an
jargon.

guidelines Details

3.1.4 Abbreviations: available mechanism for expanding to reveal true meaning.

3.1.5 reading level: content not requiring more advanced reading ability than lower
secondary education level.
 3.1.6 Pronunciation: available mechanism for identifying specific pronunciation, wh
meaning of words may be hampered.

3 .2 Predictable Make web pages appear and operate in predictable ways .

3.2.1 on focus: when any component receives focus, it does not initiate a change of
context.

3.2.2 on input: where changing an interface setting does not automatically cause a c
of context, unless otherwise directed.

3.2.3 Consistent navigation: mechanisms are repeated on multiple pages and occur
same relative order.

3.2.4 Consistent identification: components with same functionality are identified

consistently.

3 .3 Input Assistance Help users avoid and correct mistakes .

3.3.1 Error identification: if automatically detected, error is identified and described
user in text.

3.3.2 Labels or instructions: provided when content requires user input.

3.3.3 Error suggestion: if automatically detected, suggestion for correction are prov

3.3.4 Error prevention (legal, financial, data): for inputs that modify or delete user-
controllable data, or submit user test responses, at least one of the following i
submissions are reversible, data is checked for input errors, a mechanism is
available for reviewing, confirming and correcting data before final submission

3.3.5 Help: context-sensitive help is available.

guidelines Details
3.3.6 Error prevention (all): at least one of the following is true: submissions are
reversible, data is checked for input errors, a mechanism is available for review
confirming and correcting data before final submission.

Principle 4: robust Content must be robust enough to be interpreted reliably by a wide variety o
agents, including assistive technologies .
4 .1 Compatible Maximize compatibility with current and future user agents, including assisti
technologies .

4.1.1 Parsing: in content using markup languages, elements must have start and end
elements are nested according to specifications, elements do not contain dupl
attributes and any iDs are unique.

4.1.2 name, role, value: for interface components (including, but not limited to form
elements, link and scripts), the name and role can be programmatically determ
states, properties and values set by user can be programmatically set and
notification of changes to these items is available to user agents.

94 Buildi ng Accessi ble and Incl usive Environments

7 Conclusion
until people find themselves in a situation
where they are disabled due to their surroundings, they cannot fully appreciate how the built and virtual environme
words, the spaces where we live, work and play are absolutely, critically and irrevocably tied to
where we go and what we do.
The concept of universal design is today’s best
practice for design professionals seeking to eliminate these obstacles. it supports the idea that the environment nee
While it’s a given that people with disabilities
and older adults benefit more directly from universally designed projects, it is important to remember there is a wid
Throughout this handbook, the concept and
practice of universal design is explained and extensive examples provided. four detailed checklists are provided to as
lastly, while this handbook is primarily intended
for design professionals, many sections also apply to the general public. We all face the challenge of building a bette
acknowledgements
The authors of this handbook would like
to acknowledge and thank the following organizations for their input and assistance with this project:
accessible Housing Society, The City of Calgary advisory Committee on accessibility, alberta amputee Sport and recre
the arthritis Society, Brain injury rehabilitation Center, Calgary access awareness association, Canadian National insti
We would also like to thank the volunteers from The City of Calgary access Design Subcommittee, the Canadian Para
in addition, our thanks to Homes by avi,
Chinook Center and Cadillac fairview for allowing pictures of their buildings.
a special appreciation to Sonny Tomic, Senior urban Designer, formerly with The City of Calgary’s land use, Planning &
legislative and Technical Services with The City of Calgary’s Development & Building approvals (DBa) staff. anna Ciarlo
finally, thank you to the various City of Calgary business units that repeatedly revised this handbook – and those Calg
references
alberta Building Code. (2006). Division B,
Section 3.8 Barrier-Free Design Requirements. Vol.2. Canada: alberta.
alberta Human rights and Citizenship Commission (2008). Duty to Accommodate. Canada available [online] www. al
association for the rehabilitation of the Brain injured (2009). available [online] www.arbi.ca.
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (2007). Visitability Definition. Canada. available [online] www.visitablehousing
Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms (2004). Equality Rights. Canada: Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms S
Canadian Human rights Commission (2003). Legislation and Policies. Government of Canada: ottawa. available [onlin
Canadian Human rights Commission (2004). Duty to Accommodate Fact Sheet. Government of Canada: ottawa. avai
Center for universal Design (2007). The
Center for Universal Design: Environments and Products for All People. raleigh, NC: Center for universal Design. avail
Curran, K., Walters, N. and robinson, D. (2007). Investigating the Problems Faced by Older Adults and People with Di
December pp. 447 – 453.
E. i. du Pont de Nemours and Company (1996).
Equal to the Task. Delaware: Wilmington.
ford, E. (2007). 21st Century Entrepreneurs. Times online. England: Times Newspapers ltd. available [online] www.bu
Greater london authority (2004). Accessible London: Achieving an Inclusive Environment. Supplementary Planning G
Green Budget (2005). Recommendations for Budget: National Energy Efficiency Strategy. ottawa: ontario. available [
Johnson, M., Duncan, a.G. and Carter, M. (1999). Home Modifications and Products for Safety and Ease of Use. ralei
Karreman, J., van der Geest, T. and Buursink, E.
(2006). Accessible Website Content Guidelines for Users with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of applied research in i
Konrad, a.M., leslie, K. and Peuramaki, D. (2007). Full Accessibility by 2025: Will your Business be Ready? ivey Busine
learning Disabilities association of alberta, Calgary Chapter (2004). Learning Disabilities. available [online] www.ldaa
lifetime Homes (2007). Welcome to Lifetime Homes. England: Habinteg Housing association. available [online] www
National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (2007). Attitudinal Barriers for People with Disabilities. Washingt
riley ii, Charles a. (1999). High Access Home: Design and Decoration for Barrier-Free Living. New York: rizzoli internati
Statistics Canada (2001). Participation and Activity Limitation Survey. ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada (2002). Population Projections
for Canada by Census Division 2002– 2026. Prepared for the Community Social Data Strategy for Calgary. ottawa: Sta
Statistics Canada (2006a). Population and Dwelling Counts for Canada, Provinces and Territories, 2006 and 2001 Cen
Statistics Canada, 2001 and 2006.
Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada (2006b). Tables 3.1 and 3.10 – Disability Rates by Sex and Age Groups. ottawa: St
Statistics Canada (2006c). “Deaths.” The Daily. Dec. 20, 2006.
Statistics Canada (2006d). Tables 6.1-1 and 5.1- 1 – Type of Disability for Adults and Children with Disabilities by Pro
Statistics Canada (2006e). Census of Canada. ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada (2006f). Census of Canada. CRO0102797: Non-Farm, Non-Reserve, Non-Band Private Househol
Household Income by Household Income (15), Tenure / Shelter Cost Ratio (9), Household Type (8), Selected Characte
Statistics Canada (2006g). Target Group Profile of the Population with Disabilities of Selected Census Divisions and C
Statistics Canada (2006h). Profile for Canada,
Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, Cat.: 94-581-
XCB2006001[1]. ottawa: Statistics Canada.
Steinfeld, E. (1994). The Concept of Universal Design. Buffalo, NY: State university of Buffalo, Center for inclusive Des
The City of Calgary (2009). Access Design Standards. Calgary: The City of Calgary, advisory Committee on accessibilit
The City of Calgary (2005a). Corporate Accessibility Policy. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourho
The City of Calgary (2005b). Fair Calgary Policy. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Service
The City of Calgary (2005c). Triple Bottom Line Policy. Calgary: The City of Calgary, land use Planning and Policy, Envir
The City of Calgary (2006a). Accessibility Audit Changes to the Municipal Building Complex.
Calgary: The City of Calgary.
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The City of Calgary (2006b). Crestwood
Affordable Housing Official Groundbreaking. Calgary: The City of Calgary available [online] www.content.calgary.ca/C
archive/2006/June+2006/Crestwood+affordable
+Housing+offical+Groundbreaking.htm.
The City of Calgary (2006c). Universal Design: Web Accessibility. Calgary: The City of Calgary available [online] www.
The City of Calgary (2007a). Calgary and Region Social Outlook 2007 – 2012. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Communit
The City of Calgary (2007b). Calgary and Region Economic Outlook 2007 – 2012. Calgary: The City of Calgary, land us
The City of Calgary (2007d). Research Summary #7: Affordable Housing for Persons with Disabilities. Calgary: The Cit
The City of Calgary (2007e). Diversity Unit: Award-Winning Home Provides Accessibility And Security. Calgary: The C
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The City of Calgary (2008a). Calgary and
region Economic outlook, 2008-2013. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Lund Use Planning and Policy.
The City of Calgary (2008). Sustainable Environmental and Ethical Procurement Policy (SEEPP). Calgary: The City of C
Tomic, S. (2003). Hamilton Urban Braille
System: Urban Design for an Aging Society. Hamilton: The City of Hamilton, Planning Department.
The Commission Europeenne (2007). European
Initiative on an All-Inclusive Digital Society: Frequently Asked Questions. available [online] www.europa.eu.int.
united Nations (2008a). Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. united Nations: New York. available [online] www.un.org/overview/rights. html.
united Nations (2008b). Article 28 – Adequate
Standard of Living and Social Protection. united Nations: New York. available [online] www. un.org/disabilities/defau
Waugh, D. (1997). Understand and Deliver
“Being Comfortable with ALL Customers,” Workshop resource Manual. Swift-r. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Parks and
Web accessibility initiative (2009). Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). W3C. available [online] www.w3.org/Wai.
Western Courier (2007). New Web Policy.
illinois, Chicago: College Publisher, Western Courier.
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calgary.ca | call 3-1-1
ility meets a barrier, it creates

e to change throughout our lives. Considering the diversity of individuals and their needs, why is the environment in which we li
hy, every time they initiate a new project, universal design practitioners ask, “Why make a special device or space for one group

y relevant – tenets: it’s sustainable and cost-effective.

designed projects are built with everyone in mind and can benefit the greatest number of people. regardless of ability, these en

cts have on people with disabilities and older adults.* it outlines what access-for-everyone entails, provides policy that support

the public to participate in universal design. By providing recommendations and examples of design that can be implemented i

mmittee on accessibility (aCa) as part of the Transportation Services for People with Disabilities review.
cipal properties, information and services. aCa is composed of appointed representatives from the community and City adminis

t is not limited to, the review of major public and private projects (e.g., properties, buildings, walkways, pathways and parks) to

ns on transportation services for people with disabilities. This committee liases closely with Calgary Transit,Transportation infras

accessibility (2009), has lived with a spinal cord injury

ll be disabled at some point in our lives,” he says,
ch as a tragic accident, or simply aging – it’s just a question of when.”
when confronted with a person with a disability, they often don’t believe it could happen to them. in reality, the number of peo
e Centre for universal Design (2007) defines the concept as “…products and environments created to

tion or specialized design.

sible design.” The reasons for this are best stated by architect Edward Steinfeld, founding Director of the Center for inclusive De
native to “accessible design.”
with disabilities. universal design, in contrast, is expected to benefit both users with and without disabilities (Steinfeld, 1994).

, the design practice has yet to be globally integrated into mainstream projects. Sometimes designers get lucky and their projec

tigma associated with a disability. He acknowledged that time is needed to change attitudes, but that a day would come when u
a State university. The Center is a national research, information and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops and pr

d procedures through research, information, training and design assistance. The Center developed

rk for design professionals to envision design possibilities that all users – people with disabilities or otherwise – benefit from.
✓
th diverse abilities .

tical whenever possible;

be equally available to all

dual preferences and abilities .

e.

ss of the user’s experience, knowledge,

n.

ge skills.

and after task completion.

✓
 effectively to the user, regardless of ambient

verbal, tactile) to present

rmation and its surroundings.

bed (i.e. make it easy to give

or devices used by people

onsequences of accidental or unintended

most used elements, most

ed or shielded.

re vigilance.

nd with a minimum of fatigue .

✓
ach, reach, manipulation and use, regardless of

s for any seated or standing

r any seated or standing user.

evices or personal assistance.

thout losing focus on aesthetics.

that will see increased demand in coming years. although designing for broader use may be
es the opportunity for creative elements. Designers have the ability to express their talent by

ed by well-known practitioners, and prominent design companies increasingly apply its principles.
esign approach. it seeks to show designers, architects, developers, planners and other professionals the benefits of adopting un
urchasing power of people with disabilities, a growing number of survivors with a disability, and increasing life spans (Steinfeld

for people with disabilities. (The distinction between accessible design and universal design is detailed in Section 2.1.) universa
d for whom they are designing. With universal design, all people are considered. Therefore, no particular group is the focus. By

ated society by including people, technology, businesses and ideas on a global level, it becomes apparent that the universal desi

impression.
rs, architects, developers and planners will use in the future. Consider the irony of an architect who designs a state-of-the-art m

siting the museum, she/he struggles to climb the stairs because no universally designed ramp was included in the blueprints.

ssible to a wide range of people than

opriate to our changing needs. fortunately, universally designed projects foresee our changing environments and are more suita
ds of a more diverse population.

elieve that to be fully accessible, a design must sacrifice aesthetics in favour of an institutional look and feel. This does not have
al design principles at the front-end of a project, these issues are already addressed. Therefore, the integrity of the project can b

t environments are designed (Greater london authority, 2004). for example, disability

r parents with strollers, people who use walkers or workers making deliveries, to provide a few examples.

e greatest advantage of these principles for people with disabilities is equitable use: they can access an environment just like an

njured arm,
hy make a special device for one group? Why not make a better device for everyone?”
gn improves the quality of life for everyone. Consider these situations and how universal design would affect each:
scussed in Section 4.3).
e benefits of universal design. although we can see the concept all around us, design professionals need to go a step further an

monly used by parents with strollers, students with bicycles and delivery people, than by people in wheelchairs. Good design is g
using a mobility device. Now, city-wide sidewalk curb cuts benefit parents pushing strollers, in-line skaters, pedestrians using rol

ned environment adapts to the changing needs of its users, and thus helps minimize the impact of aging. This is particularly imp

anging abilities. This concept of “aging in place” enables older adults to live full and productive lives well into their senior years

bility of a universally designed environment can minimize feelings of frustration some may encounter

iginally conceived by criminologist C. ray Jeffrey.

dation for research on limiting crime by building

spots such as dark corners or obstructed views, an individual is alerted to potential risks before they happen. increased visibility

ed, they are encouraged to take control of their environment and assume an ownership role. This, in turn, enables more interac

e practised effectively and efficiently.

s associated with the practice of universal design – with an eye to finding solutions, rather than simply identifying obstacles.
pplied in our environment over time, the challenges listed below will diminish accordingly. This is because new ideas often requ

s. in the past, designing for marginalized groups was rarely lucrative, but this has changed with the onset of an aging populatio

nals, and financial constraints most often stall proposed innovations. By communicating and educating clients about current po

essionals have a vested interest in promoting their profession, a synergy must develop between academic disciplines that look a
ontologists and others), in order to successfully pursue
selves at the forefront of an exciting, innovative and very lucrative market for

rdless of their ability. With this in mind, learning more about disabilities in general – and fully comprehending the hurdles peop

unique in its cause, the way it is experienced by

as muscular dystrophy) or complications during pregnancy and the birthing event (such as fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorder or ce

ess or the process of aging, and may intensify over time. and these too result in a range of challenges for the individual, from ph

efine the different types of disability for the reader, in hopes of simplifying the application of universal design principles. To sum
egions in Canada, and explains how these rates are

ity as “any restriction or lack of an ability to perform an activity in the manner, or within the range considered usual, for a huma

hile it is commonly accepted that individuals aged 65 years and older are reporting the highest incidents of disability, trends dem
ncrease in 2006 (see figure 2), one can only conclude that the number of disabled individuals in Calgary (and Canada) will conti

technology, therefore more people are living with disabilities.

oth genders surpassed 80 years for the first time, increasing from 79.9 years to 80.2 (Statistics Canada, 2006c).

need to participate and contribute to society (Konrad et al., 2007).

today. People with disabilities are not a small, insignificant group or silent minority. as people with disabilities and other membe
t people with disabilities, who may demonstrate a range of characteristics. in fact, many people with

ty type, with mobility (9.4 per cent), agility (9.0 per cent) and pain (9.3 per cent) reported as the three most prevalent (see figur

ide general design considerations for each type.

d people associate a physical disability with a person using a mobility device or who has a mobility challenge. However, some pe

erson’s ability to function in the areas of daily living activities, leisure and vocation (Waugh, 1997). The inability to bend or reac

trouble distinguishing textures and shapes, surface temperatures or substances and changes in pressure (Johnson et al., 1999).

7). long-term mobility challenges may include amputation, arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injury. Short-term mob
or pull objects. They may be unable to reach, extend their arms or bend, or to proceed easily towards their destination (Johnson

e visible. Two types of disabilities, which are sometimes not apparent, are hearing and vision loss.

total inability to hear and understand speech and other sounds. Hearing loss can be a result of age, heredity, illness or accident

f people living with hearing loss will increase at a faster rate than the total rate of population growth. Current estimates are 15
hearing loss vary in the range of sound they hear. Some people cannot hear at all. others can hear sounds only when they are ve

er rate than the total rate of population growth.

es. Some will gradually lose their ability to see objects far away. others may have problems reading small print. These types of c
 r can only see someone four metres away with corrective lenses (Waugh, 1997).
corrective lenses. a person with this condition may only be able to see the large E on the eye chart.
ataracts or glaucoma, and short-term visual disabilities such as a temporary blindness that results from an

small details in their environment. They may only see things through a blur and be sensitive to abrupt changes in lighting and g

erceive, to memorize, to reason, to judge, to imagine, to think and to speak. Many able-bodied people have experienced some
cult to concentrate and organize their thoughts in a logical manner. They may also become easily distracted and have difficulty a

ts their ability to either interpret what they hear or see, or to link information from different parts of the brain. although an ind

e’s ability to acquire knowledge, but only the first has any relationship to intelligence.

to the brain during labour, to genetic conditions.

ast majority (80 per cent) having a mild condition. a person with a developmental disability develops intellectually and socially

raphia are but a few – arise from perceptual problems leading to significant delays in important learning challenges. often, this
arning disabilities, professionals rule out other conditions first, such as a developmental disability, emotional disturbance, cultu

ot in heredity, illness or accident. of course any – or all – of them can also be attributed to aging.
 n functions. Therefore, injury to one part of the brain potentially produces specific deficits across
n it’s been given its own category.
not related to a congenital disorder or a degenerative disease such as alzheimer’s disease or multiple sclerosis.

brain injuries (e.g. near-drowning, choking or strangulation), chronic and pathological injuries resulting from interference with t

their greatest loss and the built environment may either help, or hinder this. older adults are looking for supportive environme
uilt environment should enable active community participation and independence for all ages and abilities. Most of all, like eve

types about the roles and abilities associated with aging.

tribute to suspicion and resistance to change.
e may have about aging. according to the World Health organization (WHo), an “age-friendly” city adapts its structures and serv
society, and add immensely to the quality of life for an

rs report a disability, slightly higher than the national rate of 41 per cent (The City of Calgary, 2007a). in 2006, 9.4 per cent of Ca
e Economics

ve of them is set to retire in 2011. as they age, they will continue to influence social, economic and political environments, much

from those acquired through genetic inheritance, accident, the process of aging or a combination of these – and how each carri
ith a disability and
disabilities use/need to help them move through, participate with and communicate in the built environment.
✓

steps.

ons confined to wheelchairs have more

al paralysis of the lower limbs, which

d the torso.

body part.
elinated fiber tracts that carry signals to
ntral part of the spine causing segmental
ury can occur in many ways, including
ina bifida), inflammation (stroke) and

✓
t to handles; 76 cm height to armrest;
y greatly and are not included here.)

y or balance. The foot of the cane may

d below).

for people with a temporary disability.

rm or forearm handle; for use by people

tage. (Walkers equipped with wheels or

sion ✓
struction in the middle ear, and

the sensory hair cells or nerve fibers of

fness.

in adulthood. The primary mode of

is the spoken language.

age. if profound, the most common

✓
 sound within its range, including
o suit their needs in relationship to

stead of hearing aids (some older adults

M radio wave and magnetic loop
background noise and reverberation.

urts, during government proceedings

rformed by a trained typist in excess of
one’s television must be equipped with

red to as TTy): portable telephone

abling the listener to type and read their

master to noise – usually identified by an

conversation (not participate in it),

mes.

nd make them more visible for those

detail – more specifically, to

o 180°, which is much larger than that of

for colours and small details, reading

te by finger spelling on the palm of their

preter.

✓
dividual’s height and walking style.
t related to degree of vision loss.

f the alphabet for reading purposes.

he visually- impaired person to grasp,

handrails, doors, stairs, or slopes in the
e to interpret and react.

✓
nicating (i.e. maintain eye contact, place

s necessary.

down, right with lef, back with front,

g.

e destination signage throughout one’s

us group, such as signage or

understood without testing it first.

✓
om a number of causes including, but
ury or a job-related accident.

e, including the inhalation of toxic

r example, Encephalitis), cerebral

lic disorders (for example, liver or kidney

al aids to persons with aBi.

o go in life. in other words, environments have the potential to enable, or disable, all of us. This
when he quotes George Covington, co-chair of the universal Design Task force of the President’s Committee on Employment of P
mine in a wheelchair blocks the narrow aisle in a grocery store or cannot get onto a sidewalk because there is no curb cut, my fr
ystemic and are important considerations for both users and design professionals.

environment. This notion means more than an obstructed entrance. it can have quite subtle implications, depending on one’s ty

g – but not every person using a wheelchair may wish to sit where their choices are limited. Choice is given to able-bodied indiv

uildings, to systemic barriers in employment. Yet,

arding people with disabilities. Whether born of ignorance, fear, misunderstanding or hate, these attitudes keep people from ap
son’s disability rather than ability.
gh, 1997). attitudes influence people’s involvement in the community, workplace and other social environments. Design profess
by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (2007):

e impairment moot.

ttitudes. People with disabilities generally don’t want pity and charity, just an equal opportunity to earn their own way and live in

having a disability to be brave. But most people with disabilities do not want accolades for performing day-to-day tasks. The dis

me on a watch and visit museums. People who are deaf play baseball and enjoy music. People with developmental disabilities c
ficance, then many of these people cannot enjoy what

abilities or personality traits, or that the total person is affected. for example, many people shout at someone who is blind, or d

ople form about disabilities. for example, many believe people with vision loss are great musicians, or have a keener sense of sm

easier work requirements. Employers need to hold people with disabilities to the same job standards as co-workers, although t

rthritis and heart conditions are hidden. People tend to believe these are not bona fide disabilities needing accommodation. By
of disabilities enjoy more opportunities.
 a disability. Therefore, they avert their own discomfort by avoiding the individual entirely. as with meeting a person from a diffe

ation. if funding is limited, the chance to develop universally designed projects can be constrained. also, if a person with a disab

ly exclude members of designated groups from participating in the community. Systemic barriers are often hard to detect and e

ffected by these barriers – and design professionals – who may experience challenges negotiating for them when forwarding th

ndividual is included or excluded in society. Therefore,

e world around them – and enjoy the same choices

tion 3.3 Types of Disability – people with physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities need to be included in shared spaces, and for

y of accessible, affordable housing, examples of universally designed homes and facilities and what real access to public buildin

of Calgary’s advisory Committee on accessibility (aCa) is provided. for the full set of these standards, please see appendix a (prin

sphere where every person is enabled and given opportunities to live with freedom and dignity. it’s about improving quality of l
independently and with dignity. Three areas pertaining to accessibility are as follows:
n they are not denied access.
not second-class citizens.

stations and transportation, to ease-of-use in the staff kitchen and washroom, you create successful employees. inviting, attracti
 e working environments, lack of access to education and training opportunities, lack of suitable
e disabled.
ments – including office space and other employment locations – should be fully accessible (Greater
 Section 5.4, The City of Calgary Corporate initiatives), systemic barriers are reduced. The alberta Human rights and Citizenship C

rs that discriminate against persons based on such characteristics as race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, gender

east one person in the household having long-term disabilities or activity limitations. according to 2006 federal census data, PD

affordable housing in Calgary.

et other basic quality-of-life requirements (The City of

and courtyard patios, underground bicycle and automobile parking, a child play area, laundry area, resource centre, administra
n (lEED™) features to reduce energy consumption and operation costs over the life of the building.

ility and safety. This house was created in partnership with the Calgary Police Services, The City

City of Calgary, 2007e). it features an elevator,

ting, movable cabinets, surveillance cameras,
crime prevention needs of people with various disabilities while remaining applicable to any homeowner’s needs, regardless o

paint and adhesives, efficient lighting and acoustic sound-reducing floor matting. it is
e Builders association 2000 award of Excellence in innovation and received the Mayor’s award for accessibility that same year.
ngland. This development company’s objective is to make life as easy as possible for users, for as long as possible. They build ho
ugh to meet the existing and changing needs of
make homes universal in their appeal and

ers and residents, thus increasing their value and the ease with which they are resold (lifetime Homes, 2007). These homes are

son with a disability may visit (e.g. a friend or family member’s home). The Canadian Centre on

ruction practices so that virtually all new single-family homes offer a few specific features that make the home easier for peopl
the front, back or side entrance (located on an accessible route from the street), 2) wider doorways on all main floor doors (mi
tly exceed the minimum requirements of the alberta Building Code for accessibility. The City of Calgary access Design Subcomm

ity is accessible by wheelchairs, including exam rooms, washrooms and playgrounds. other features include a playground tree h

ndows and aquariums (760 mm above floor elevation)

published by The City of Calgary’s Development & Building approvals Division in 2010. These standards are a requirement for al
g with diagrams,

Detail ✓

• brick and cobblestone to be laid on a

firm base”

• 1,500 – 2,400 mm wide

• 13 mm width
• every 30 m
• 2,400 x 2,400 mm

• to extend within 200 mm aff for cane

detectability

• placed outside path of travel

• opening 13 mm max.
• 20 mm x 90 mm max. space between
bars

• out of path of travel

• out of path of travel
• out of path of travel
• clearly marked to 1,980 mm with
barrier under or outside path of travel

Detail ✓
• ramps on both sides of median
• perpendicular to vehicular
raffic flow

• 1,500 mm wide, min.

• slope 1:15 to 1:12 max.
• level surface behind ramp (1,500 mm
min.)
• both ramps reduced and levelled
equally if median is
ess than 3.6 m wide

• offset from main flow of pedestrian

raffic

• cane detectable
• curved edges
• contrasting raised texture

• slip-resistant
• proper drainage

• snowbank-free
• wind buffer set back from sidewalk

Detail ✓

• 1,525 mm wide for public corridor

• 920 mm wide, min., for private corridor
• 1,525 mm x 1,525 mm space where
orridors make 90° turn

• avoid cantilever or provide barrier

under
• avoid free-standing or provide barrier
under

• 2,100 m min. overhead clearance

• cane detectable (200 mm aff)

• 1:2 carpet/trim slope max.

• low pile and firm underlay
• fastened securely
• bevelled edges

• coefficient of friction at least

0.5 when wet or dry

• low glare
• no distortion

Detail ✓

• avoid rough or uneven coverings

• avoid sharp angles
• minimized visual distortion
• low-glare
• if glass or mirror, include a warning
trip 150 mm
wide and 1,350 mm above
he floor

• recessed wall fixtures

Detail ✓

• 3,700 mm wide x 7,600 mm long, min.

• 1:12 ramp slope, max.

• rolled curbs

• canopy 3,000 mm high, min.

• contrasting colour and texture

• allow for sufficient wheelchair
learance between wheel stops
• wheel stops set back

• include hard surface for walkway and

accessible stalls

• conform to CPTED principles

Detail ✓

• 4,000 mm wide
• length as per Land use Bylaw
• 2,000 mm access aisle
• 900 mm – 1,100 mm high
• unobstructed, well-lit

• 4,000 mm wide
• length as per Land use Bylaw

• 7,400 mm wide with a 2,000 mm

access isle
• aisle clearly marked with
hatched lines

• used for paving surface

• words “permit required” on signs
• paint symbol only on paving
urface

• adjacent to elevators
• at grade if no elevators
• 3,000 mm vertical clearance, min.

Detail ✓

• direct light to control glare

• windows designed and located to
educe glare

• illuminated signs 200 lx, min.

• other signs illuminated to 100 lx, min.

• illuminated to 100 lx, min.

• used on floors and walls in appropriate

paces
acles

Detail ✓

• to function with one hand and one

motion

• height 1,200 mm, max.

• 1,000 mm from floor, max.

• height 600 mm
• automatic or lever-type

Detail ✓

• clear of wind and snow, proper

drainage and a wind screen when
necessary
• indoor rugs with non-slip
underpadding to absorb water or snow
brought in from the outside
• door mats 13-mm
height, max.

• well lit
• contrasting colour or value
• shall be raised and located at eye level

• automatic or power assisted

mechanisms

• mounted between 800 mm and 1,100

mm off floor

• clearance of 50 mm between handle

and door

• audio and visual alert if door is opened

emotely

• 300 mm in height
and Doorways

Detail ✓
• alternate between right and left-hand
operation

• without door: 850 mm wide, min.

• with door: 920 mm min.

• automatic door control placed

mmediately to one side

• held open at 70° to 90° for eight

econds, with master control to open
door when blocked

Detail ✓

• between 1:25 and 1:20

• 950 mm, min., between handrails

• widen ramp and/or rest area to 1,800

mm

• 1,500 mm in length at top and bottom

and wherever there are changes in
direction

• provide visual cues and non-slip

extures

• 1:50 mm, max.

• protect from precipitation (proper
drainage)
• cleared of snow and ice

Detail ✓
• avoid isolated steps
• include a barrier to prevent access to
underside of an overhung staircase

• uniform
• no open risers

• minimize glare from lights

• projecting undersides of nosing
bevelled less than 60°
• use contrasting colour on nosing with
max. 25-mm
extension, longer if bevelled

• protect from climactic conditions

• maintain clear of snow
and ice
s

Detail ✓

• 30 mm to 43 mm max. diameter

• 50 mm, min.

Detail ✓

• verbal identification of floor level and

direction of travel

• space in front: 1,500 mm min.

• doors open for eight seconds

• easy to see and use

• no obstructions placed underneath

• tactile numerals for each floor

• 1,200 mm above floor
• audio and visual cues for car arrival

• raised buttons
• tactile signage including Braille
• contrasting colour from
background
• oriented away from wind/ rain/debris
• sheltered and positive
drainage

• well lit
• glass walls for increased visibility

Detail ✓
• L-shaped entries to have 1,200-mm
urning space

• 800 mm wide
• operable part not less than 460 mm to
4800 mm from adjacent wall

• 900-mm height
• 500-mm forward-grasp reach

• 1,100 mm to 1,200 mm in height

• 900 mm to 1,000 mm in height

• 900 mm to 1,000 mm in height

• minimum of 280 mm clear space from

ront of counter to face of “P” trap
• 735 mm to 800 mm from
op of floor to underside of countertop
Detail ✓

• on both sides at shallow end

• stairs as opposed to ladders wherever
possible

• contrasting colour for pool depth

• two 910-mm wide doors

• near entrances and exits of rink

• raised tactile signage to identify

equipment

Detail ✓

• audio-visual
• tactile

• 1,000 mm to 1,200 mm from floor

• 1,200 mm to 1,500 mm
f wall-mounted

• tilt labels
• tactile
• illuminate with reduced glare or
eflections
• extend 200 mm above floor
• with the front panel sloped 50 mm to
90 mm inwards

• height of waterspout 780 mm to 915

mm
• push button or lever control

• 850 mm above floor

• less than 13 mm

• 1,500 mm wide, 1,800 mm long and

480 mm high

• 1,500 mm clear

• 1,000 mm above floor

• clear floor space at least

750 mm x 1,200 mm in front
• cane detectable
• non-glare

• 720 mm to 800 mm high for work

urfaces

• when service personnel is behind glass

partition

• height 865 mm, max.

• max. distance within wheelchair reach,
unless help always available
• 450 mm max. from edge of counter

• removable (when required) to provide

maximum flexibility

• equal to those provided to the majority

of the audience
• meeting rooms designed so all users
an see the speaker
• where the speaker is not in
ront of a window

• wide enough to maneuver with a

mobility device
• spread seating over different areas of
enue
• increase minimum number of spaces
equired
• location accessible to an
emergency exit

Detail ✓

• at least one with international sign

affixed, otherwise gate or similar provided

• height of 600 mm, with 1,200 mm min.

learance between
• contrasting colour

• if necessary, height of 150 mm to 250

mm from ground

Detail ✓

• include continuous pathways

• 1,000 mm, max.

• raised characters
• contrasting colours 1,000 mm to 1,200
mm high
• tilted and well lit

• every 30 m
• closer together as slope increases
• heated as appropriate

• readily comprehensible for cognitive

mapping

• landscaping to form a wind barrier

• prune as required

Detail ✓

• hard packed
• joints less than 13 mm

• follow the contour of the land

• clearly defined edges
• well lit

• positive drainage
• cleared of snow and ice

• 1,200-mm min. clearance

• 1,200-mm offset, 1,500 mm spacing

• seat height 450 mm to 500 mm from

ground
• arm rest 200 mm above seat pan
• adjacent firm ground surface
at least 850 mm x 1,200 mm
• seats pitched to shed water away from
walking surface
• seat and armrest designed to
educe snow accumulation

• adjacent to an accessible route

• 750 mm wide x 500 mm deep x 760

mm high

• table and seat to shed water

• kept free of snow and debris

Detail ✓

• adjacent to but not obstructing the

walkway

• operable by one hand

• opening height of 900 mm, max.

• shed rain and snow

Detail ✓

• see Sections A and B

• 1,500 mm, min.
• underside height of 720 mm to 865
mm
• depth of 350 mm min. knee
pace under table
• slip-resistant
• wood planks perpendicular to path of
ravel, spacing of 13 mm, max.

• hanging plants not lower than 1,980

mm

Detail ✓
• clear procedures
• tactile strip near door handle marking
exit doors

• signal to repeat at a rate of 1 Hz

• synchronized signals

• at every emergency exit on the ground

• at least 900 mm in length
• detectable by both cane and foot

• available on every floor with a staircase

• 0.5 m2 min. per ambulatory occupant;
1.9 m2 min. per non-ambulatory occupant

• unobstructed egress for others

• no door encroachment
unications

Detail ✓

• at least one accessible

• volume control
• international symbol of access
• space provided for TDD

• cane detectable
• 1,000-mm cord length
• 800-mm clear space for knees
• bench or swing away
• minimum 200 lx illumination

• protect from prevailing winds and

ambient noise

• induction loops
• clear signage

• at least one dedicated for wheelchair

access
• 1,100 mm max. height for controls
• not less than 700 mm high and 500
mm deep for knee
pace

• provide clearly marked listening zone

• include all important
announcements
Detail ✓

• ensure legibility (font size, contrasting

olours, plain background)
• use recommended font, 25 mm for
general information, 37 mm for
directional signage

• internationally accepted signs

• internationally accepted signs

• 60 mm in height and raised

0.70 mm, min.
• width-to-height ratio of 3:5 to 1:1
• stroke-to-width-to-height ratio of 1:5 to
1:10
• simple font
• contrasting colours

• refer to Sections A and B for suspended

igns and sandwich board signs

• 1,200 mm in height
• tilted
• raised characters, lines and symbols

• identify location
• enable users to get a sense of direction
and distance
Detail ✓

• 4,500 mm, min.

• 6,000 mm in high-traffic pedestrian
ocations

Detail ✓

• clear of ice and snow

• reduced in diameter

• universal signage
• cane detectable
• emergency button
• glass walls

• visual and audible

• slip-resistant flooring
• warning strips
• third handrail if bridge is wider than
1,650 mm

• 450 mm to 500 mm in height

• 1,350 mm in height
• 150 mm in width

• set back to allow for pedestrian

learance

als

Detail ✓
rning audible pedestrian cignals .

• 1,000 mm to 1,100 mm in height on

ide parallel to sidewalk

• one for east-west direction

• one for north-south direction

etail ✓
act: Calgary Police Services .

placement of windows
allow for awareness of outside/inside
tivity
adequate lighting
landscaping for unobstructed views

create clear border/barrier definition

improve communication via emergency
hones, pathways, etc.
 in places with natural (or perceived
atural) surveillance and access control

provide effective and critical intensity of

es

Detail ✓
6, 9 .5 .2 .2, STAnDATA 06-BCI-010, the
rtgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

• 1,500-mm diameter
• 920-mm width, min.
• 850-mm clearance for swinging or
liding

• lever on doors
• D-shaped on cabinets and drawers
• lever or automatic faucets
• easy to manipulate on windows

• 1,000 mm above finished floor

• 1,200 mm above finished floor

• insulated
• protected with face panel
• offset to the rear

• 600 mm above finished floor (to centre

ne)

• 1,200 mm above finished floor

• 760-mm width, 485-mm depth, 685-

mm to 865-mm height
• reinforced to support grab bars where
needed

• colour contrast
• not more than 13 mm higher than
finished floor, or bevelled
s

Detail ✓
• D-shaped handles
• 1,200-mm height for closet rods

• 150-mm to 450-mm depth

• capable of being adjusted to same level
• from 765 mm to 850 mm high, 600 mm
deep
• lever type or automatic
aucets

• full extension
• 150-mm to 450-mm depth
• D-shaped handles

• elongated seat
• 400 mm to 460 mm high

• work surface 600 mm deep x 765 mm

o 850 mm high

• work surface 600 mm deep x 765 mm

o 850 mm high
• washer and dryer with front mounted
ontrols
• doors swing 180°

Detail ✓

• 450 mm to 1,200 mm AFF

• 1,200 mm high
• 810-mm clear opening
• 1,500-mm clear turning radius in front
• D-shaped handle

• 920 mm on both sides of bed

• security and gate entrance

• door bells

used by both someone who is eight years old and one who is 80. By designing for as b

inclusion are practised in regards to people with disabilities. The goal of this section is to convey the various international, natio

s not to be limited to what is outlined in policy or legislation, but to exceed these minimum standards and aim to achieve the hi

an Rights states:
ll members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…”

ndation to develop or enhance policies within their own area of interest. further to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

safeguard and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability” (united Nations, 2008b).

without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability” (Canad
 ever, many of these laws may not be adopted, enforced or translated into daily life for people with disabilities.

ection 5.1) provides a solid foundation for the Canadian Human Rights Act for people with disabilities. The act supports univer
mission itself, by its very existence) recognizes that individuals with disabilities must have access to premises, services and faciliti

ided to people with disabilities. using The Canadian Human Rights Act as a base for providing access, projects need to go above

ptable levels of safety for a project. a component of this is Section 3.8, Barrier-free Design. This code provides a baseline for pro

e and sustain a vibrant, healthy, safe and caring community,” the following policies are a concrete, tangible way of accomplishing
orporate Accessibility Policy, (3) The Triple Bottom Line (TBL), (4) Fair Calgary, and (5) Sustainable Environmental and Ethical Pro

mmittee on accessibility access Design Subcommittee and exceed alberta Building Code Section 3.8 requirements. These stand
he needs of people with disabilities and older adults. The Standards also focus on hidden disabilities (for instance, sensory and

cess needs to start with City of Calgary owned and operated facilities and services. as outlined in the Calgary Corporate Access
of City-owned and operated buildings, walkways, pathways and parks, transportation access to all

hat considers economic, social and environmental issues in a comprehensive, systematic and integrated way for all Calgarians. u
s a vital partner in creating an inclusive city where
and cultural life of the community.
rvices and amenities regardless of age, income, culture or physical ability, and fosters participation by persons from diverse pop
als and families through the provision of emergency services (Police, fire and Emergency Medical Services*). The City also work

of opportunities for recreation, leisure, artistic expression and appreciation, special events, and the preservation of the city’s he

unity by promoting active living through the provision of a wide range of sustainable and accessible recreational programs, serv
urhoods through the development and support
 place. Working in partnership with other stakeholders, The City achieves this through appropriate planning and design that pro

within residential areas, with easy access to transit, community services, parks, open space

ate to universal design principles by reinforcing

essibility – and allowing for opportunities to participate in the community. as such, formal and informal supports are establishe
ical, social, economic, emotional and

respect is the basis for everyone enjoying the same rights and responsibilities, and where everyone is capable of participating
oods, is dedicated to safe, supportive and healthy environments – be they social, economic, psychological or physical.

onmental and ethical issues, it also encourages supply chain practices that have a positive impact on social, economical and env

al and ethical procurement policy supports the purchase of products and services that will protect the environment and the we
 Did you find the lack of signage and lack of orientation provided barriers in locating the exit? This is one example of what peop

y-finding system for people with a visual disability. urban Braille, developed by the City of Hamilton,
rkings are pressed on the concrete sidewalk as a way- finding and safety aid for pedestrians with a visual or physical disability. T
for its efforts to improve accessibility for all citizens (Tomic, 2003). The “Made in

athway Committee), McMaster university, and the Canadian National institute for the Blind

te. once a sensory channel is limited or diminishes, the other channels are used as an alternative. The urban Braille system reco
ng scheme as an alternative to sight and developed ways to navigate public space users more easily

10 distinct clues or “letters of urban Braille” located

ne of the most important ways to guide people with a visual disability through the built environment. The blind and visually imp

nicated through the urban Braille system: directional change (compass North, South, East and West), hierarchy of pathways (ma
he plans to revitalize its Centre City. Calgary urban Braille is a comprehensive, user-driven approach

sory channels, from tactile to auditory, to serve the needs of people with different levels of vision loss. By utilizing colour and te
. The system may also be appropriate for special public spaces, or special character areas such as riverfronts and squares, wher

hem like watching television, or engage with other citizens as one would at a dinner party. it’s
t it’s expensive to construct and maintain. The current practice – design for one season (summer) only and predominantly for a
ous approaches to the design of public realms. The Calgary urban Braille System responds to this challenge by providing a range

nts, but also for web developers, information architects, content managers, graphic designers and writers constructing websites

e established for these professionals in order to promote an

tinually looking into the usability of such sites for people with visual impairments, learning disabilities and older adults.

s show the adaptation of the website worked well for these participants. The study also showed that users without identified in

e – predominantly from Europe. for example, an article in The European Commission (The Commission Européenne, 2007) head
,” noted that inclusion in the digital society (e-inclusion) was a necessity for everyone to be actively engaged with society and th

ol’s 21st Century Challenge.” This article showcased modern day entrepreneurs developing
at allows visually impaired users to feel the content appearing on the screen by using their fingers as a mouse. The article reads
ew. But in our increasingly computer-dependent world,
most people’s personal and working lives. attempts to make computers suitable for blind people to use have been largely unsa

urrent Braille display readers just show one line at a time – it’s cumbersome and frustrating.”

heir fingers as a mouse. Smith estimates equipment will cost less than $200 (£100) to purchase – compared with current reade

ssibility Act, which became law in august 2007. The law requires illinois state agencies and universities to make their websites,
sortium (W3C) Web accessibility initiative, explain how to make web content accessible to people with visual, auditory and cogn

ble to users in ways that aren’t invisible to all of their senses.

r understanding.

not be able to use the Web (Web accessibility initiative, 2009).

committed to producing an accessible website by following the W3C checkpoints summarized below (The City of Ca
ails ✓
s must be presentable to users in ways

t can be changed to other forms people

mbols or simpler language .

h a text alternative that serves the

input, then it must have a descriptive

ernatives provide description.

sented in text, then alternatives must

rovide descriptive identification.

g assessed
descriptors and alternate forms of
sensory perception.

ecoration, it must be presented in a way

ails ✓
.
vide

udio in

chronized media.

nt in synchronized media.

for video in synchronized media.

n provided for audio in synchronized

in foreground audio are insufficient to

ors are provided.

native for time-based media is provided.

formation.
fferent ways without losing information

g conveyed through presentation is

ected by sequence, a correct reading can

do not rely solely on sensory

cation, orientation or sound.

ails ✓
ntent, including separating foreground
means of conveying information, indicating
ing a visual element.

se or stop or control volume of any audio

e seconds.

contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 except for

ames.

out assistive technology up to 200 per

y.

text, except for customizable text and

o information.

a contrast ratio of at least 7:1, except for

names.

ded audio-only that contains primarily

aPTCHa or audio logo and is not

least one of the following must be true:

ground capability and a background of at

s of text must be available where

r- selected, width is no more than 80
ustified, line spacing is at least space-and-
sized without assistive technology up to
l horizontally to read.

ails ✓
pure decoration where text is essential
 must be operable
board .
on, not simply input technique.

component of page using a keyboard

r tab keys are required as standard exit

without specific timings for individual

e content .
tent, at least one of these capacities must
time exception, essential exception and

olling or auto- updating information, all

re than five seconds and is presented

activity presented by content, except for

al-time events.

r suppression.
continue activity without loss of data.

ause seizures .
es that occur more than three times in
eneral flash and red flash thresholds.

han three times in any one second.

ails ✓
ontent and determine where they are .
ass blocks of repeated content on

be topic or purpose.
nents must proceed in manner that

rpose of each link, as detailed in link text

h to locate a page within a set of pages.

rpose.
us indicator is visible.

tion within site is available.

nk is identified from link text alone.

.
rface must be understandable .

dable .
h page is programmatically determined.

or proper names, technical terms, words

ar words and phrases.

efining words or phrases, idioms and

ails ✓
panding to reveal true meaning.

dvanced reading ability than lower

 ntifying specific pronunciation, where

edictable ways .
cus, it does not initiate a change of

ng does not automatically cause a change

eated on multiple pages and occur in

same functionality are identified

ed, error is identified and described to

ent requires user input.

suggestion for correction are provided.

inputs that modify or delete user-

nses, at least one of the following is true:
for input errors, a mechanism is
ecting data before final submission.

ails ✓
llowing is true: submissions are
a mechanism is available for reviewing,
submission.

preted reliably by a wide variety of user

uture user agents, including assistive

, elements must have start and end tags,

tions, elements do not contain duplicate

s (including, but not limited to form

ole can be programmatically determined,
n be programmatically set and
ilable to user agents.

ow the built and virtual environments can throw obstacles in their paths – and indeed, profoundly affect their quality of life. in
ocably tied to

the idea that the environment needs to be barrier-free for all groups in society, regardless of ability or age.

portant to remember there is a wide range of ability existing within groups appearing similar. The concept of universal design m

etailed checklists are provided to assist design professionals in thinking through each individual project that comes across their d

ce the challenge of building a better future as our population ages and changes. it is imperative to keep universal design at the f

ce with this project:

y, alberta amputee Sport and recreation association,
ssociation, Canadian National institute for the Blind, Canadian Paraplegic association, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, Kerby Ce
Subcommittee, the Canadian Paraplegic association, The City of Calgary and private citizens who graciously allowed their exper

ity of Calgary’s land use, Planning & Policy Services, as well as Chuck Perry, head of
ng approvals (DBa) staff. anna Ciarlo, ulrik Seward, Janel Smith and Sarah anderson provided endless support and insight.
sed this handbook – and those Calgarians who brought this project to fruition.
 Canada available [online] www. albertahumanrights.ab.ca/employment/ employer_info/accomodation/duty_to_ accommodat

able [online] www.visitablehousingcanada.com/index.html.

an Charter of rights and freedoms Schedule B, Constitution Act, 1982, s.15(1) available [online] www.solon.org/Constitutions/C
t of Canada: ottawa. available [online] www.chrc-ccdp.ca/ legislation_policies/human_rights_act-en. asp.
overnment of Canada: ottawa. available [online] www. chrc-ccdp.ca/preventing_discrimination/duty_ obligation-en.asp.

C: Center for universal Design. available [online] www. design.ncsu.edu/cud/index.htm.

by Older Adults and People with Disabilities in Online Environments. Behaviour & information Technology, vol. 26, No. 6, Novem

pers ltd. available [online] www.business.timesonline. co.uk/tol/business/entrepreneur/article2876370. ece.

onment. Supplementary Planning Guide.
trategy. ottawa: ontario. available [online] www. greenbudget.ca/2005_10.html.
cts for Safety and Ease of Use. raleigh: The Center for universal Design.

ties. Journal of applied research in intellectual Disabilities. vol 20, pp. 510 – 518.
our Business be Ready? ivey Business Journal. September/october. available [online] www. iveybusinessjournal.com/article.asp?
bilities. available [online] www.ldaa.net/.
ssociation. available [online] www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/ pages/home.html.
People with Disabilities. Washington: institute for Educational leadership. available [online] www. ncwd-youth.info/resources_
ee Living. New York: rizzoli international Publications, inc.
tistics Canada.

ata Strategy for Calgary. ottawa: Statistics Canada.

and Territories, 2006 and 2001 Censuses. ottawa:

by Sex and Age Groups. ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2001 and 2006.

nd Children with Disabilities by Province. ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2001 and 2006.

serve, Non-Band Private Households with Positive

usehold Type (8), Selected Characteristics (31), Presence of Activity Limitations or Reductions (3). ottawa: Statistics Canada.
 of Selected Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions. ottawa: Statistics Canada.

of Buffalo, Center for inclusive Design and Environmental access. available [online] www.ap.buffalo.edu/ idea/Publications/The
advisory Committee on accessibility.
gary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, Social Policy and Planning.
munity and Neighbourhood Services, Social Policy and Planning.
land use Planning and Policy, Environmental Management and Community and Neighbourhood Services.

e [online] www.content.calgary.ca/CCa/ City+Hall/office+of+the+Mayor/Press+room/

of Calgary available [online] www.calgary.ca/portal/ server.pt/gateway/PTarGS_0_0_104_0_0_35/ http%3B/ content.calgary.ca

ary: The City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, Social Policy and Planning Edition.
Calgary: The City of Calgary, land use Planning and Policy.
ns with Disabilities. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Community and Neighbourhood Services, Social Policy and Planning.
sibility And Security. Calgary: The City of Calgary, Calgary Police Service. available [online] www. calgarypolice.ca/sections/dru/c

Planning and Policy.

olicy (SEEPP). Calgary: The City of Calgary, finance and Supply Management.

ing Department.

[online] www.europa.eu.int.

ew/rights. html.

ine] www. un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=288.

gary: The City of Calgary, Parks and recreation.

abilities, and Handicaps: A Manual of Classification Relating to the Consequences of Disease. Switzerland, Geneva: World Healt
their needs, why is the environment in which we live standardized to meet the needs of the elusive “average person?”
“Why make a special device or space for one group alone? Why not make it better for everyone?”

est number of people. regardless of ability, these environments can be accessible, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

s-for-everyone entails, provides policy that supports universal design and puts the future of universal design,

and examples of design that can be implemented in public and private spaces, this handbook seeks to demonstrate the advant

ple with Disabilities review.

presentatives from the community and City administrative staff. There are two subcommittees of the aCa: access Design and acc

perties, buildings, walkways, pathways and parks) to ensure the greatest

es closely with Calgary Transit,Transportation infrastructure, access Calgary and livery Transport Services (The City of Calgary, 20

ould happen to them. in reality, the number of people with disabilities in Canada (4.4 million) outnumbers the entire populatio
environments created to

eld, founding Director of the Center for inclusive Design and Environmental access (iDEa Center) at the State university

sers with and without disabilities (Steinfeld, 1994).

cts. Sometimes designers get lucky and their projects result in functional and attractive spaces that benefit a wider audience, an

hange attitudes, but that a day would come when universal design practices would be standardized. a few years later, an academ
al assistance center that evaluates, develops and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, buildings, outdoor and u

The Center developed

ople with disabilities or otherwise – benefit from.

der use may be
ss their talent by

ly apply its principles.

and other professionals the benefits of adopting universal design into their process – and demonstrates how the practice is sus
with a disability, and increasing life spans (Steinfeld, 1994).

universal design is detailed in Section 2.1.) universal design is a concept primed for growth and optimal creativity.
red. Therefore, no particular group is the focus. By designing projects around social inclusion, the quality, value and longevity o

al level, it becomes apparent that the universal design concept is ahead of its time.

ony of an architect who designs a state-of-the-art museum with beautiful high ceilings, glass doors and slate stairs leading up

ly designed ramp was included in the blueprints.

esee our changing environments and are more suitable to the needs of future populations.

of an institutional look and feel. This does not have to be the case. aesthetics are an important part of any design. By starting w
dressed. Therefore, the integrity of the project can be maintained, as

s, to provide a few examples.

ble use: they can access an environment just like an able-bodied person. There is no stigma, no special treatment and no focus
ow universal design would affect each:
 s, design professionals need to go a step further and practise it with intention.

ple, than by people in wheelchairs. Good design is good design.

shing strollers, in-line skaters, pedestrians using rolling luggage and shoppers bringing home their grocery pull-carts.

minimize the impact of aging. This is particularly important given Calgary’s aging population.

full and productive lives well into their senior years. They can remain in the community where they are

tion some may encounter

tential risks before they happen. increased visibility is likely to deter perpetrators, because they are more easily identified and a

ownership role. This, in turn, enables more interaction with one another and the increased likelihood of intervention if and wh

utions, rather than simply identifying obstacles.

sh accordingly. This is because new ideas often require more effort in the beginning, but less so as they become normalized and

s has changed with the onset of an aging population and its corresponding increase in disability rates. (See

mmunicating and educating clients about current population trends and the higher costs of retrofitting buildings, designers, deve

t develop between academic disciplines that look at trends, user needs,

general – and fully comprehending the hurdles people with disabilities face – enables a design professional to transcend these b

event (such as fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorder or cerebral palsy). These root causes result in a range of challenges

in a range of challenges for the individual, from physical, to sensory

he application of universal design principles. To sum up,

er, or within the range considered usual, for a human being.”

orting the highest incidents of disability, trends demonstrate that an emergent population of adults between the ages of 45 and
abled individuals in Calgary (and Canada) will continue to multiply in coming years.

to 80.2 (Statistics Canada, 2006c).

nority. as people with disabilities and other members of society continue to lobby for equal opportunity, change is inevitable an
n fact, many people with

ent) reported as the three most prevalent (see figure 3).

or who has a mobility challenge. However, some people with physical disabilities do not use a device, or their immobility may n

cation (Waugh, 1997). The inability to bend or reach out, dress or undress oneself, get out of bed or a chair, use fingers to grasp

nces and changes in pressure (Johnson et al., 1999).

sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injury. Short-term mobility challenges may include a bone fracture or
 o proceed easily towards their destination (Johnson et al., 1999).

earing and vision loss.

can be a result of age, heredity, illness or accident and may inhibit communication. it is defined by its varying degrees of loss a

ate of population growth. Current estimates are 15 per cent of Canadians live with some sort of hearing loss, though many do n
at all. others can hear sounds only when they are very loud, and others have difficulty hearing certain tones.

have problems reading small print. These types of conditions are often easily treated with eyeglasses or contact lenses. visual di
 rge E on the eye chart.
blindness that results from an

and be sensitive to abrupt changes in lighting and glare. They may also have difficulty with depth perception (Johnson et al., 19

Many able-bodied people have experienced some degree of cognitive impairment during periods of high emotion (which can in
y also become easily distracted and have difficulty accomplishing certain tasks that others find easy.

n from different parts of the brain. although an individual with a learning disability will likely have an average, or above average

mental disability develops intellectually and socially at a slower rate

delays in important learning challenges. often, this condition is referred to as a “hidden disability” since few- to-no obvious exte
elopmental disability, emotional disturbance, cultural disadvantage, and sensory deprivation (learning Disabilities association o

attributed to aging.
pecific deficits across

mer’s disease or multiple sclerosis.

hological injuries resulting from interference with the oxygen supply to the brain (association for the rehabilitation of the Brain

s. older adults are looking for supportive environments to maintain their level of activity.
ndence for all ages and abilities. Most of all, like everyone else, older adults want a setting that continually enables them to be a

an “age-friendly” city adapts its structures and services to be accessible and inclusive of older people with varying needs and c

e City of Calgary, 2007a). in 2006, 9.4 per cent of Calgarians were 65 years and older. By 2036 this figure will double to
e social, economic and political environments, much as they have throughout their lifetimes. in all probability, they will become

ging or a combination of these – and how each carries its unique attributes and accessibility requirements.

municate in the built environment.

able, all of us. This
e of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities: “Most of the elements in our society that define us a
onto a sidewalk because there is no curb cut, my friend is ‘mobility impaired’….a landscape architect, a designer of furniture an

ave quite subtle implications, depending on one’s type of disability and whether or not universal design principles are applied th

ces are limited. Choice is given to able-bodied individuals and people with disabilities deserve the same degree of choice and in

anding or hate, these attitudes keep people from appreciating and experiencing the full potential a person with

place and other social environments. Design professionals are in a key position to ensure users enjoy a positive experience while

equal opportunity to earn their own way and live independently.

t accolades for performing day-to-day tasks. The disability

njoy music. People with developmental disabilities can be creative.

e, many people shout at someone who is blind, or don’t expect people using wheelchairs to have the intelligence to speak for t

ss are great musicians, or have a keener sense of smell and hearing. People who use wheelchairs compete in the Paralympics. P

o the same job standards as co-workers, although the methods for accomplishing the tasks may differ from employee to emplo

t bona fide disabilities needing accommodation. By valuing and

 idual entirely. as with meeting a person from a different culture, frequent encounters can raise the comfort level.

cts can be constrained. also, if a person with a disability cannot access, or has limited access to an environment where they wor

ity. Systemic barriers are often hard to detect and even harder to prove. again, regardless of ability,

hallenges negotiating for them when forwarding the cause of universal design.

lities need to be included in shared spaces, and for this to happen design professionals must understand the range of activities

and facilities and what real access to public buildings entails.

set of these standards, please see appendix a (print version), or the access Design Standards PDf, posted on The City of Calgary

eedom and dignity. it’s about improving quality of life.

m, you create successful employees. inviting, attractive spaces influence how well employees are recruited and retained. if these
ties, lack of suitable

ully accessible (Greater

 educed. The alberta Human rights and Citizenship Commission (2008) introduced the Duty to Accommodate policy under the r

ational or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, marital status, family status and d

mitations. according to 2006 federal census data, PDiH represents 29.3 per cent of all 383,640 households in Calgary (Statistics C
play area, laundry area, resource centre, administration office, on-site security, and a drop-off area for residents with mobility re
he life of the building.

e Services, The City

applicable to any homeowner’s needs, regardless of ability (The

he Mayor’s award for accessibility that same year.

sible for users, for as long as possible. They build homes for people of all ages to ensure anyone residing in them benefits from t

re resold (lifetime Homes, 2007). These homes are ideal in the

anadian Centre on

ecific features that make the home easier for people with a physical disability to live in and visit. visitability ensures that everyon
eet), 2) wider doorways on all main floor doors (minimum 813 mm clear door opening), and 3) a half-bath on the main floor (m
ssibility. The City of Calgary access Design Subcommittee chooses the recipient each year and in 2007, the Calgary award for ac

grounds. other features include a playground tree house with wheelchair access, a parkade with

n in 2010. These standards are a requirement for all City buildings, but are also recommended for all other buildings and
one who is 80. By designing for as broad a market as possible, it’s no longer special – s

section is to convey the various international, national, provincial and local policies in place to encourage

hese minimum standards and aim to achieve the highest standards of safe, easy and inclusive access.

eace in the world…”

ther to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the uN’s Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection, Article 28 (1):

n the basis of disability” (united Nations, 2008b).

on, sex, age or mental or physical disability” (Canadian Charter of rights

aily life for people with disabilities.

for people with disabilities. The act supports universal design on the premise that basic human rights include
es must have access to premises, services and facilities without discrimination (Canadian Human rights Commission, 2003).

base for providing access, projects need to go above and beyond

r-free Design. This code provides a baseline for providing access and safety to all building projects. Going above and beyond the

olicies are a concrete, tangible way of accomplishing The Corporation’s goals and objectives.
y, and (5) Sustainable Environmental and Ethical Procurement Policy (SEEPP), all use, as their foundation, the Universal Declara

uilding Code Section 3.8 requirements. These standards demonstrate how design professionals, the building industry, governme
us on hidden disabilities (for instance, sensory and cognitive disabilities) and look at how universal design principles may be app

rvices. as outlined in the Calgary Corporate Accessibility Policy, The City of Calgary is committed to…
portation access to all

e, systematic and integrated way for all Calgarians. universal design principles align with all five social themes which for Calgary

d fosters participation by persons from diverse populations and seeks to ensure that civic programs and services reflect and res
d Emergency Medical Services*). The City also works with the community to promote safety and prevention through programs s

special events, and the preservation of the city’s heritage. The City of Calgary is a vital partner in creating an inclusive communi

tainable and accessible recreational programs, services, facilities, and amenities. The City of Calgary provides leadership and en
s through appropriate planning and design that provides easy access to a compatible range of public and private services and am

ks, open space

s such, formal and informal supports are established and individual support networks are optimized.

es, and where everyone is capable of participating and playing an active role in their community and neighbourhood.
cial, economic, psychological or physical.

ve a positive impact on social, economical and environmental sustainability.

rvices that will protect the environment and the welfare of workers while representing the best value for The Corporation by tak
ocating the exit? This is one example of what people with a visual disability experience when walking downtown. They know w

by the City of Hamilton,

for pedestrians with a visual or physical disability. This system of markings indicates directional changes, sidewalk boundaries, a

e for the Blind

sed as an alternative. The urban Braille system recognizes that not all users of public space utilize all five senses.
pace users more easily

h the built environment. The blind and visually impaired can train to distinguish four or five materials and a variety of textures w

h, South, East and West), hierarchy of pathways (major path versus minor path), entrance to buildings, sidewalk/road boundarie
 , user-driven approach

erent levels of vision loss. By utilizing colour and texture contrast and audio devices, it provides warning signals and clues relate
aracter areas such as riverfronts and squares, where seasonal events may attract large numbers of pedestrians and users with s

a dinner party. it’s

one season (summer) only and predominantly for a young and healthy segment of population – does not provide a safe and incl
tem responds to this challenge by providing a range of low- to high- tech solutions that cater to a wide variety of users and ages

raphic designers and writers constructing websites.

ments, learning disabilities and older adults.

study also showed that users without identified intellectual disabilities were as effective with the adapted site as with the non

mmission (The Commission Européenne, 2007) headlined,

everyone to be actively engaged with society and the economy. The article goes on to discuss why e-inclusion is important, how

urs developing
by using their fingers as a mouse. The article reads:

able for blind people to use have been largely unsatisfactory, says Ethan Smith, 25, the founder of Tactile response and a

and frustrating.”

0 (£100) to purchase – compared with current readers costing more than £2,000

e agencies and universities to make their websites, systems and other information technologies accessible to people with disab
accessible to people with visual, auditory and cognitive disabilities.

heckpoints summarized below (The City of Calgary, 2006c). a more detailed list, along with instructions about when
nd indeed, profoundly affect their quality of life. in other

ety, regardless of ability or age.

ppearing similar. The concept of universal design maximizes the idea of people being able to manipulate their environment to s

ugh each individual project that comes across their desk to ensure important elements are not overlooked.

ges. it is imperative to keep universal design at the forefront of our own decision-making, be it on a personal level or in the inter

sociation, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, Kerby Centre, Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the association for the rehabilitation of
d private citizens who graciously allowed their experiences to be shared in this material.

derson provided endless support and insight.

mployer_info/accomodation/duty_to_ accommodate.asp.

) available [online] www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/ ca_1982.html.

s/human_rights_act-en. asp.
ng_discrimination/duty_ obligation-en.asp.

index.htm.
our & information Technology, vol. 26, No. 6, November-

ntrepreneur/article2876370. ece.

[online] www. iveybusinessjournal.com/article.asp?intarticle_ iD=713.

vailable [online] www. ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/ disability_Basics/attitudinal_barriers.html.

ns or Reductions (3). ottawa: Statistics Canada.

online] www.ap.buffalo.edu/ idea/Publications/The%20concept%20of%20 universal%20Design.htm.

and Neighbourhood Services.

GS_0_0_104_0_0_35/ http%3B/ content.calgary.ca/CCa/ City+Common/about+this+Site/accessibility/ universal+ Design.htm.

cy and Planning Edition.

ood Services, Social Policy and Planning.

able [online] www. calgarypolice.ca/sections/dru/cru_disabled_ home.html.
ences of Disease. Switzerland, Geneva: World Health organization.
of the elusive “average person?”
onal and aesthetically pleasing.

e of universal design,

dbook seeks to demonstrate the advantages of going beyond minimum building code requirements and
mittees of the aCa: access Design and accessible Transportation (The City of Calgary, 2005).

ransport Services (The City of Calgary, 2005).

million) outnumbers the entire population of alberta (3.3 million), and incidences of disability are growing ever more rapidly as o

a Center) at the State university

spaces that benefit a wider audience, and sometimes they don’t.

tandardized. a few years later, an academic institute incorporated universal design as part of their curriculum.
ign in housing, buildings, outdoor and urban environments and related products (Center for universal Design, 2007).
nd demonstrates how the practice is sustainable over the long term.

wth and optimal creativity.

usion, the quality, value and longevity of a project increases along

glass doors and slate stairs leading up

portant part of any design. By starting with a universal design approach, designers and architects can create the look they want

gma, no special treatment and no focus on their disability. universal design helps integrate people with disabilities into mainstre
home their grocery pull-carts.

where they are

use they are more easily identified and apprehended. There is also a greater chance that residents will be seen (and thus prote

ased likelihood of intervention if and when a crime occurs.

t less so as they become normalized and habitual in our thinking.

disability rates. (See

of retrofitting buildings, designers, developers and architects have the unique opportunity to provide leadership into new desig
design professional to transcend these barriers and create truly inclusive, functional and beautiful spaces.

ult in a range of challenges

on of adults between the ages of 45 and 64 are already reporting high rates.
qual opportunity, change is inevitable and much needed. Political, economic and social changes will continue driving the movem
 use a device, or their immobility may not be noticeable at first. for example, a person on a bus with early onset of Parkinson’s

out of bed or a chair, use fingers to grasp, open or handle objects, cut food and so on, can be very frustrating.

fracture or
s defined by its varying degrees of loss as late deafened, hard of hearing and deaf (Waugh, 1997).

e sort of hearing loss, though many do not readily identify themselves as having hearing loss. aging baby boomers are expected
earing certain tones.

th eyeglasses or contact lenses. visual disabilities, on the other hand, include a range between visual impairment and blindness
ith depth perception (Johnson et al., 1999).

ng periods of high emotion (which can interfere with the brain being able to process information) and/or high stress (which can
ers find easy.

likely have an average, or above average iQ, their disability becomes evident in both academic and social situations where a pa

disability” since few- to-no obvious external characteristics cause

ation (learning Disabilities association of alberta – Calgary
iation for the rehabilitation of the Brain injured, 2009).

ng that continually enables them to be as active in society as they wish to be, despite their age. a strong desire to maintain inde

f older people with varying needs and capabilities (WHo, 2007). an age-friendly built environment can extend

2036 this figure will double to

mes. in all probability, they will become even more influential when work is no longer their primary focus. To support this notio

ility requirements.
elements in our society that define us as ‘the disabled’ are caused by poor design. if i cannot find a building’s address because
ape architect, a designer of furniture and a computer engineer are all designers, no matter what their titles. There is not a singl

universal design principles are applied throughout.

eserve the same degree of choice and independence.

potential a person with

e users enjoy a positive experience while in one of their spaces. Professionals achieve this by dispelling myths that may affect th

rs to have the intelligence to speak for themselves. focusing on the person’s abilities rather than their disability counters this ty

heelchairs compete in the Paralympics. People with developmental disabilities are innocent and sweet natured, or people with d

asks may differ from employee to employee.

an raise the comfort level.

cess to an environment where they work, live or play, they will never attain full representation among the able-bodied people w

ss of ability,

must understand the range of activities in which these users will be engaged. Thus, when people and their

dards PDf, posted on The City of Calgary’s website: calgary.ca.

oyees are recruited and retained. if these environments were also

Duty to Accommodate policy under the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada. This ensures employers take reasonable steps in

ation, marital status, family status and disability (Canadian Human

3,640 households in Calgary (Statistics Canada, 2006f). Twenty-two per cent of PDiH households need affordable housing becau
op-off area for residents with mobility restrictions.
 anyone residing in them benefits from the many customized choices individuals can make. The flexibility and adaptability of life

and visit. visitability ensures that everyone, regardless of mobility, will be able to at least visit someone else’s home, use the was
, and 3) a half-bath on the main floor (minimum requirements include a sink, toilet and a wider doorway) (Canadian Centre on D
ar and in 2007, the Calgary award for accessibility was presented to the alberta Children’s Hospital.

ended for all other buildings and

ble, it’s no longer special – setting a certain consumer apart from everyone else. unive

lace to encourage

lusive access.

ving and Social Protection, Article 28 (1):

 human rights include
n Human rights Commission, 2003).

ng projects. Going above and beyond these minimum requirements is the desired goal of many design professionals, who seek t

their foundation, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian

sionals, the building industry, government and the community can go above and beyond requirements to ensure equal access f
w universal design principles may be applied across disabilities (The City of Calgary, 2009).

ommitted to…

all five social themes which for Calgary are defined as:

ic programs and services reflect and respond to the changing social and demographic structure of society.”
fety and prevention through programs such as education and appropriate physical design.”

artner in creating an inclusive community where cultural diversity is embraced and valued as a community asset. The City of Ca

ty of Calgary provides leadership and encourages physical activity through funding, capital, promotion, partnerships and approp
nge of public and private services and amenities that

re optimized.

mmunity and neighbourhood.

the best value for The Corporation by taking into account

 when walking downtown. They know where they need to go but have some difficulty getting there with limited, or no signage t

ectional changes, sidewalk boundaries, as well as minimum clearances for mobility device access on the street.

ace utilize all five senses.

five materials and a variety of textures with their hands and a cane

ce to buildings, sidewalk/road boundaries, ramps versus raised pedestrian crossings/intersections and other/additional informa
provides warning signals and clues related to orientation in complex urban space (The City of Calgary, 2007f).
numbers of pedestrians and users with special needs (The City of Calgary, 2007f).

lation – does not provide a safe and inclusive public realm.

cater to a wide variety of users and ages (The City of Calgary, 2007f).

ve with the adapted site as with the non-adapted site. The results form an empirical basis for recommendations about applying

iscuss why e-inclusion is important, how accessible information and Communication Technologies (iCT) products and services a

ounder of Tactile response and a

nologies accessible to people with disabilities. Western illinois university developed a Web accessibility Policy, which was appro
, along with instructions about when and how to use the guidelines on a case-by-case basis, are found at the World W
ble to manipulate their environment to suit individual needs. This minimizes the need for people to compromise on living comfo

are not overlooked.

g, be it on a personal level or in the interest of each other.

the association for the rehabilitation of the Brain injured.

ttitudinal_barriers.html.
0Design.htm.

e/accessibility/ universal+ Design.htm.

sability. for additional discussion on the specifics of disability,
uations for all.
ey stand to leave. That’s when an observer might notice a tremor in their hands and an unsteady gait.
oss to even higher levels. listening to iPoDs and MP3 players at high volume over a sustained period of time also causes hearing
ountered by marked difficulties at others.
critical factors.
at individuals 65 years and older will outnumber the 0-14 cohort by the early 2030s (see figure 5). This will be the first time in
Too often their creations throw up barriers that result in our being labeled ‘the disabled’” (riley C., 1999).

iminishing the individual and their abilities, such prejudice can set too high, or too low a standard for individuals who are mere
disqualifies financial investment in designing or retrofitting environments that accommodate individuals with a disability. it is a
employee’s individual needs.

30 per cent of their gross household income on shelter (Statistics Canada, 2006f).
-effectively and without upheaval (lifetime Homes, 2007).
almost invisible.”
nt for all users.

e law for creating a community of social inclusion.

nformation, addresses and business information (Tomic, 2003).
 ple with intellectual disabilities (Karreman et al., 2006).

urier, 2007).
y initiative website (2009), under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines v.2.0.
od of time also causes hearing loss in younger generations.
). This will be the first time in our history such a demographic shift has occurred.
for individuals who are merely human.
iduals with a disability. it is a “Catch-22” situation.