World Blind Union Office
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WBU External Resource Paper
Universal Design
Approval:
Replaces: Universal Design Paper
Date Reviewed: April 2015
Author: Martine Abel-Williamson
E-mail:
Note:
Executive Summary:
Guidelines and recommendations for a built environment that is barrier free and inclusive for persons who are blind and partially sighted. Matters covered:
1. Universal design principles;
2. Adequate lighting;
3. Colour contrast;
4. Acoustics;
5. Signage;
6. Hazards of protruding objects;
7. Detectable warning surfaces.
8. Audible pedestrian signals;
9. Quiet vehicles;
10. Accessible automatic teller, transport ticketing and other similar machines and kiosks.
11. Transport hubs;
12. Other resources
- Creating a Barrier Free Society
Creating a barrier free society for persons who are blind and partially sighted is a goal of the World Blind Union.
Over the years a great deal of attention has been given to the accessibility requirements of persons with ambulatory impairments however the need to create a barrier free society for persons who are blind and partially sighted is equally important and not to be forgotten.
In more recent years a movement known as "Universal Design" has evolved. The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Universal design is based on the principle that, the built environment, communication and products should be accessible to the widest range of people possible. Universal design is different from accessible design in that accessible design creates products and environments for people with disabilities, which often tend to segregate people creating separate systems. Universal design is considered to be usable and inclusive to all, includingdisabled people.
Although the concept of universal design is well documented, the unique design needs of persons who are blind and partially sighted have not always been fully considered or incorporated into the built environment.
It is important to note that many countries have developed excellent laws, standards, guidelines and recommendations governing the accessibility requirements. (Please see websites and material noted at the end of this document)
Standardisation and enforcement are vital, as thiswill ensure consistency and compliance, although it should be acknowledged that adhering to best practice design is preferable to mere minimum standard compliance.
To establish and develop standards and best practice examples, engagement and consultation should take place with technical experts, blindness service providers and blindness consumer organisations to ensure buy-in and to support the principle of consumer centred co-design and relevance.
As political and commercial buy-in and traction are vital, relationships with local and central government agencies, academia and architectural and design schools, as well as the business and corporate sectors should be maintained.
Schemes and programmes that include insentivising, design competitions and a commitment to ongoing research are to be encouraged and progressed at all times.
- Universal design principles:
PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use;
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
PRINCIPLE TWO: Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
PRINCIPLE THREE: Simple and Intuitive Use
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
PRINCIPLE FOUR: Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
PRINCIPLE FIVE: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
PRINCIPLE SIX: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
PRINCIPLE SEVEN: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.
Please note that the Principles of Universal Design address only universally usable design, while the practice of design involves more than consideration for usability. Designers must also incorporate other considerations such as economic, engineering, cultural, gender, and environmental concerns in their design processes. These Principles offer designers guidance to better integrate features that meet the needs of as many users as possible.
The information that follows provides guidelines and recommendations on key areas related to the built environment for people who are blind and partially sighted. These areas are key in creating a built environment that is barrier free and inclusive for persons who are blind and partially sighted.
Note that the field of technological mobile apps in the areas of global positioning systems (GPs), way-finding and other similar topics are expanding and growing very fast, so, this document will not be covering how those can be more accessibly designed.
- Lighting
Adequate lighting is the single most important aid to vision. The lighting needs of persons who are blind or visually impaired vary according to particular eye conditions.
One level of light might work well for a person with glaucoma and be too low for someone with macular degeneration.
In addition, glare can be a significant issue for those with many types of eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration. Issues such as the direction of light and its reflection on shiny surface need to be taken into consideration. The use of variable lighting controls, indirect lighting and window shades can mitigate issues caused by glare.
- Colour Contrast
Colour contrast is another key component in designing spaces for persons who are partially sighted; its importance cannot be overemphasized enough. A building can be logically laid out, include proper use of signage, provide good lighting but the building can cause disorientation if there is very little use of colour contrast within the building.
Colour can be used effectively for many purposes such as:
- To draw attention to signage.
- To define a route of travel.
- To define areas.
Colour contrasting items, is also a very effective means in defining spaces. A colour contrast of 70% is generally accepted in many countries as the preferred amount to define items such as:
- A dark door frames, against a light door and a light wall.
- A light floor colour with a dark perimeter against a light coloured wall.
- Hand rails that colour contrast with the surrounding wall colour.
- Stair identification is best for partially sighted individuals when a colour-contrasted edge is provided.Consistent stair height is also important in assisting blind and partially sighted individuals in navigating stairways.
- Furniture that is colour contrasted with the floor and walls assists in locating furniture.
- Acoustics
Sounds can assist in providing orientation clues about a space. A person can use reflected sound to determine a room size, the presence of corridors and proximity of walls or other structural barriers.
Inappropriate use of sound can create problems such as high levels of ambient sound or high levels of reflective sound. Some things to consider when planning space are:
- Well-defined, acoustically alive spaces are easier for people who are blind to negotiate safely. Position items such as escalators, fountains, and elevators to create useful sounds.
- Carpets, acoustic tiles and furniture reduce sound reflectance. Consideration should be given to providing some reverberation so that people can obtain a feel of the space.
- Noise sources may mask sounds intended to provide directional cues, such as ventilation ducts or air-conditioning units. These sounds may be useful, however they should not obscure the sound of an elevator.
- Sound reflections are frequently a good source of auditory cues.
Signage
Tactile signs
Information on signs should be available for persons who are blind andpartially sighted. It is commonly considered adequate for tactile signs to consist of raised characters only. However, Braille can be read so much faster and easier than raised print for those who read it. A best practice in some countries is to include raised print and Braille in signage that identifies rooms or spaces such as auditoriums, cafeterias, washrooms and floor numbers, both inside as well as outside elevators.
Signage should be consistently located at a height and distance from the door to which it defines. The raised tactile lettering should be colour contrasted with the background. The sign should be colour contrasted with the surrounding wall surface and sign lettering, in addition to being tactile, should also be high contrast.
- Protruding Objects
Objects that protrude into paths of travel can be hazardous to persons who are visually impaired as they may not be detectable by white canes. In many cases protruding objects consist of:
·Signs
·Canopies
·Underside of stairs
·Drinking fountains
·Items protruding from walls
·Over hanging branches
·Telephone booths
Consideration should be given to eliminating these hazards such as:
- Placing a railing or planters below the underside of stairs.
- Ensuing all overhangs are removed within a certain height range.
- Telephone booths and drinking fountains are cane detectable. This can be achieved by placing an object at floor level.
- Detectable Warning Surfaces
Detectable warning surfaces have a texture that can be felt under foot or detected by a person using a long cane.
The texture is usually built in or applied. The texture alerts a person who is partially sighted to a hazard.
Detectable warning surfaces should be used on unprotected platforms, around reflecting pools, top of stairs, and curb ramps.
Detectable warnings should be consistently used to identify features in the built environment.
- Audible Pedestrian Signals (APS)
Accessible Pedestrian Signals are common in many countries and can assist people in knowing when it is legal to cross an intersection.
APS's should meet the following standards:
- APS should be standard throughout a country or region.
- APS should provide both audible and verbal tactile information so that they are usable by person's who are deaf-blind.
- All light controlled intersections should have APS's, so that travellers who are partially sighted will always know they are available.
- APS's should not require a user to have special equipment to use them.
- APS's could be pedestrian activated or automated.
- APS' s should emit a sound during the wait phase to help people to locate the button to actuate the sound.
- Quiet vehicles:
The emergence of quiet transport vehicles such as hybrid and/or electric cars poses difficulty for blind and partially sighted individuals as these vehicles do not produce sufficient sound for identification. Such vehicles should be fitted with:
audible vehicle alerting systems that produce sounds of adequate decibles to alert pedestrians of their approach; pitch shifting to alert a pedestrian that the vehicle is accelerating; and sound at stationary to alert pedestrians to the presence of a vehicle that may begin moving at any moment.
- Automatic teller, transport ticketing and similar machines and kiosk equipment:
A movement is underway to develop a variety of machines that are accessible to people who are blind and partially sighted. When considering the machine requirements of those who are blind and partially sighted, consideration should be given to the following:
- Consistent layout and design.
- Access cards to have specific markings to distinguish those from others, as people may end up owning a number of different cards. A notch or added tactile pattern in one corner of the card are examples of identifying markers
- All portals should have tactile graphics that are colour contrasted with the background symbol to identify them.
- Characters and symbols on the keys should be visually contrasted with the background and as large as the area on the key permits and have a sans serif font
- Each key press should be acknowledged visually audibly and by tactile registration
- The keypad should be telephone style, have the number five with a raised dot. The function keys should be separated by at least three times the distance from the numeric keys, and the surface should be such that it minimizes glare and is placed on an angle.
- The function keys should be placed to the right of the numeric keys and be arranged vertically, top to bottom, in the following order Cancel, correction, OK/Enter
- Raised tactile symbols should be used to identify the function keys, either to the right or on the key itself. Using the following symbols: cancel X- correction- raised arrow<, and OK/ enter-raised circle O. Each function key if coloured should be Cancel red correction, yellow and OK/enter- green.
- The functional display keys should correspond with the screen instructions, have a surface that minimizes glare and have leader lines that contrast with their background.
- There should be an audio interface that is provided.
The audio interface should have a socket with a raised ridge or a telephone hand set. The audio display should provide an orientation of the automated machine. The audio communication should be in the lower frequency range. - Information printed by such machines should be a minimum of 14 point font size.
- Screen and printed material should contrast with the background. The text should use sans serif font and be mix an upper and lower text. Decimals and commas should be larger than normally used. Known advertising should be displayed with in the instructional area.
- Transport hubs:
Transport hubs such as bus shelters, ferry terminals and train stations need to be accessibly designed during the environmental planning stage, as physical upgrades might end up being costly and insufficient.
- Further information
Following is a list of Recommended Websites and Material
Websites:
Publications
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Clearing our Path ISBN 0-921122-28-4 August 1998 contact CNIB 416 413 -9480
Transportation Development Centre, Going Places ISBN 0-921122-
22-5 August 1997 contact CNIB 416 413-9480.
U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Building a True Community Final Report Public- Rights- of Way. Access Advisory Committee.
The Canadian Institute on Barrier free Design and Betty Doing Enterprises LTD, International Best Practices In Universal Design: A comparative Study, March 2000
Canadian Standards Association, B651.1-01 Barrier Free Design for Automated Banking Machines February 2001
and Guidelines for use:
The Principles of Universal Design should be cited as follows: “The Center for
Universal Design (1997). The Principles of Universal Design, Version 2.0. Raleigh,
NC: North Carolina State University.”
Accessible Signage Guidelines, Second Edition, Blind Foundation
NZTA Pedestrian Planning and Design Guide
NZ Standard 4121: 2001 Design for access and mobility – buildings and associated facilities and the associated amended checklist published by the Barrier Free Trust
ISO/IEC 7811-9:2008
Identification cards -- Recording technique -- Part 9: Tactile identifier mark
Abstract
ISO/IEC 7811 defines the characteristics of identification cards. ISO/IEC 7811-9:2008 specifies the physical characteristics of a tactile identifier mark used by visually-impaired card holders to distinguish their cards. It defines the area on the card for the tactile identifier mark (TIM) and the layout of Braille style embossed dots arranged in patterns to enable easy tactile recognition.
ISO/IEC 12905:2011
Integrated circuit cards -- Enhanced terminal accessibility using cardholder preference interface
Abstract
ISO/IEC 12905:2011 specifies a set of data elements to be personalized into an integrated circuit card, encoding cardholder preferences. These data elements are to be retrieved from the card and to be used to indicate to the terminal that the user has special needs regarding the user interface. It is not intended to standardize the actual application programming interface or other terminal-specific software allowing the functionality, nor does it cover the actual alignment of the card to the card-reader slot.
ISO/IEC 12905:2011 is independent of the physical interface and is applicable to situations where the cardholder operates the card-accepting equipment (e.g. a cash dispenser, ticket machine, vending machine). It applies not only to ID-1 type cards, but also to SIM/UIM (ID-000) on mobile phones and form-factor-free contactless integrated circuit cards which are specified in ISO/IEC 14443.
ISO/IEC 12905:2011 comprises:
•data elements containing the user preferences,
•the storage/retrieval formats for input and output of these data elements,
•security related to the information contained in these data elements,
•the access method to these data elements, and
•protection of cardholder information.
ISO/IEC 12905:2011/Cor 1:2013
General information
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Corrigenda / Amendments