A Universal Design Project: Merriam-Webster's Definition of "Universal"

Sunday 14 February 2016

Merriam-Webster's Definition of "Universal"

This is a good place to start if you are unfamiliar with what "universal" means...

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/universal

universal

adjective uni·ver·sal \ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-səl\

Simple Definition of universal

Popularity: Top 40% of words

: done or experienced by everyone : existing or available for everyone

: existing or true at all times or in all places

Full Definition of universal

1: including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception;especially : available equitably to all members of a society <universal health coverage>
2a : present or occurring everywhereb : existent or operative everywhere or under all conditions <universal cultural patterns>
3a : embracing a major part or the greatest portion (as of humankind) <a universal state><universal practices>b : comprehensively broad and versatile <a universal genius>
4a : affirming or denying something of all members of a class or of all values of a variableb : denoting every member of a class <a universal term>
5: adapted or adjustable to meet varied requirements (as of use, shape, or size) <a universalgear cutter> <a universal remote control>

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About AUDP:

A Universal Design Project was established to help lead a shift in construction and rehab to a more universal standard in order to meet the diverse needs of the general population.

Based in St. Louis, MO, our focus is inspiring thoughtful construction or reconstruction of real property to appeal to a multi-demographic. We advise on how to re-purpose outdated houses and buildings as a means to minimize the environmental impact of construction while adding social and economic value and extending the useful life of otherwise functionally obsolete properties.

Advising and educating about UD as a crucial element of the planning process helps maximize the value of a project's functional life and minimize costs spent on expensive retrofits brought on by poor planning.

Universal Design is the key to a more economically and efficiently run society and this statement is backed up my personal and professional observations. I have been working in real estate since 2003 and I am motivated by my life as a parent raising my daughter Mia who was born with a spinal cord injury and relies on a walker, wheelchair and canes to navigate life. On a daily basis, my work in real estate shows me the lack and my life with Mia illustrates the need. I live this, so my objective with this project is sharing the knowledge gained in both roles and through my studies of universal design with a goal of making life easier for people to live fully functioning lives that allow them to thrive and not just exist, in their homes and beyond.

It remains my hope these efforts will inspire others to work toward the same. It's a big world out there and we have got to work together on this enormous task to make it a truly universal success story.

Respectfully,

Amy Barnes

Universal design makes living easier for EVERYONE.

Universal Design, also knows as Inclusive Design or Design for All, is more than an industry buzz term or the latest fad in residential design and construction. It is smart design.

In layman's terms, it's style meeting accessibility. At it's core, it's a baseline of human centered design principles to be followed with thoughtfulness and creativity during the planning process before a project's construction phase begins.

Applied universal design allows efficient and effective use of time, energy and resources. It is a concept that applies to the built environment as well as products and services that accommodate a global user without stigmatizing.

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