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Universal Design Newsletter, April 2010 issue (MS Word format)
Universal Design Newsletter, January 2010 issue (MS Word format)
Cynthia Leibrock
Improving People's Lives by Design
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Cynthia Leibrock who was recently featured in a New York Times article on Aging in Place. Here is a feature article we ran in Universal Design Newsletter in July 2006.
She had the career many young designers dream about…a firm of her own, designing homes for people for whom money was no object. In her own words, universal designer Cynthia Leibrock, MA, ASID, Hon. IIDA, now an award winning author and international lecturer, spent the first decade of her career “making rich people, look richer.” But instead of feeling successful, she felt empty. “I didn’t find eternal satisfaction in doing that. I didn’t feel like I had much purpose,” she says. So she fired her dozen employees, shut down her firm and went on a quest to find a purpose for her life. A simple invitation by one of her fired employees to attend a Bible study class led her to
discover her life’s work.
“I grew up with a brother with a mental disability. One of the reasons that I ended up doing high end work was that it was as far away from disability as I could get,” she said. But her spiritual journey brought her full circle. “I found that I wanted to improve the lives of older people and people with disabilities by design,” says Leibrock. With certain deliberateness, she works toward that goal in her many and varied projects and endeavors.
Universal Design Newsletter April 2009 (MS Word)
Previous Features
- The Access Board's David Capozzi: Rising Through the Ranks -- David Capozzi
- "It's Not You, It's the House" -- Leon Harper
- "Doing the Right Thing Shouldn't Be So Hard" -- The Carlyle Suites Hotel, Washington, DC
People in the Field of Universal Design
Capozzi Talks about the New ADAAG
Universal Design Newsletter asked new Access Board Executive Director David Capozzi about some significant changes found in the 2004 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (2004 ADAAG).
“Everything is covered.” In the 1991 ADAAG things that are not described are not covered, and many non-fixed items, such as dining tables are exempted. The new
standards cover everything (fixed or not) even if not described. “You can’t regulate everything, that is why we have a robust technical assistance line,” says Capozzi. “…We get those calls often. ‘I’m building X and how do I apply your guidelines to that?’”
He says that the staff that write the guidelines are the same staff that answer the technical assistance questions and go out and provide training. Aside from having highly qualified personnel consistently and confidently answering questions, the process helps the staff identify issues that might need to be regulated. “You can’t nor should you ever try to regulate everything,” says Capozzi.
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DOJ, ED Issue Joint Letter Regarding Use of Electronic Book Readers by Colleges and Universities
July 9, 2010
In late June the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Education (ED) issued a joint letter to the presidents of all US colleges and universities, expressing concern about the use of electronic book readers that are not accessible to students who are blind or have low vision. Some of these devices lack an accessible text-to-speech function. The letter states that requiring students to use this emerging technology when it is not accessible to an entire population of individuals with disabilities is considered discrimination under the ADA.
The DOJ recently entered into settlement agreements with several universities that used the Kindle DX in the classroom as part of a pilot study with Amazon.com, Inc. (The Kindle DX lacks an accessible text-to-speech function.) The universities agreed not to purchase, require or recommend use of the Kindle DX or any other electronic book reader unless or until the device is fully accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, or the universities provide reasonable accommodation or modification so that a student can “acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as sighted students with substantially equivalent ease of use.” Consistent with the relief obtained by the DOJ, the ED also resolved similar complaints against (which) colleges and universities.
For the full text of the letter, visit http://www.ada.gov/kindle_ltr_eddoj.htm
‘New’ ADA Regs Move Forward
May 6, 2010
The Department of Justice has once again submitted updated final Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)regulations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance. This action is a step toward implementation of the amended ADA Standards that were proposed in 2004.
The final rules were previously sent to OMB in late 2008 and withdrawn in January 2009 when then President Bush’s Chief of Staff directed Executive Branch agencies to defer publication of any new regulations until the rules were reviewed and approved by Obama Administration officials.
OMB has 90 days to respond to the submission.
Livable Communities Awards Deadline July 16
April 20, 2010
AARP and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced a call for entries for the fourth annual Livable Communities Awards. The awards recognize architects, builders, developers, and remodelers who make residential living more comfortable for people of all ages and abilities. Applications for the awards are due July 16.
The projects should represent a forward-thinking combination of style, universal design, and energy efficiency to make homes and developments that improve the daily comfort, ease of use, and safety for the people who live in them.
All AARP and NAHB Livable Communities Awards entries will be evaluated based on how well they adhere to principles such as:
- design elements that accommodate the needs of all residents with all levels of physical ability from children through grandparents;
- easy access to community services and features such as retail, restaurants, medical, social and cultural activities, as well as viable transportation options improved energy efficiency and enhanced site design; and
- better communication with key stakeholders
More specifically, builders will be judged based on the use of universal design elements in the home; energy efficiency and ease of use; and exterior design and landscaping. Remodelers will also be judged on the home’s universal design elements, energy efficiency, and ease of use in addition to the home’s ability to meet client needs. Developers will be evaluated according to the project’s livable community features; site design; and stakeholder cooperation and involvement. Architects’ projects will be categorized as Community Design or Home Design. Community Designs will be judged on incorporation of livable communities features and site design. Home Designs will be evaluated the same as builders. Sponsors will declare winners for both a large project and a small project in each category, and cost will determine remodelers’ categories. For complete judging criteria, please visit www.nahb.org/livablecommunities.
A panel of expert judges appointed by NAHB and AARP will review the applications and select the finalists. Applications for the 2010 Livable Communities Awards are due Friday, July 16, 2010 and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. For more information on the awards or to apply online, please visit www.nahb.org/livablecommunities. Winning entries will be publicly recognized and announced at an awards program at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida in January 2011.
For information on the 2009 winning projects, including videos, visit www.aarp.org/homedesign.