so are we building for anyway I measure
my life in decades
four decades ago I took 20 dives in my
buddy's backyard pool and broke my neck
paralyzed from chest down learning how
to use a wheelchair I was released from
rehab but moving back to my parents
house was impossible it being a fine
home when I was a strong and strapping
16 year old ten months later wasn't a
home built for me so my parents had to
build a new house three decades ago when
he wife and I bought a little house that
was obviously not designed for
wheelchair access we had to do some
major renovations just so I could get in
the front door he can imagine the cost
in both self-esteem and money two
decades ago we decided to build our own
house all the current design ideas were
with that strong and healthy 18 to 45
year old male in mind design ideas for
the only demographic that actually
doesn't need any special consideration
so we decided to design our own house
using a fairly new idea called universal
design a decade ago I broke both my legs
in a car accident and as my 90 year old
mother-in-law so nicely put it now what
does it matter he's not using him dead
eBay but it did matter I lost a lot of
strength and flexibility
I had to install an overhead lift in my
bedroom changing my way of doing things
recently I blew my shoulder out not an
uncommon issue for people who push a
wheelchair for 40 years I had to
transition to a power wheelchair but
didn't have to make any changes to my
house because it had been built with the
future in mind but using a power
wheelchair changed the way I interact
with others yeah I have more mobility
I'm faster down the streets I can use
transit independently but nobody else
had thought to build a house that I
could use and access with a power
wheelchair my friends are getting older
and obviously they are not going to haul
this thing up the stairs so I don't
visit them anymore
I don't go to parties I don't go to
family dinners can't even drop by my
buddies for a drink when we do get
together it's at my house because it was
built for everyone
I can't change the fact that I use a
wheelchair but we can't change the way
we build do we build for everyone
everywhere
all the time you're probably thinking
what's this got to do with me this guy
may have life-changing events every 10
years but really what are the chances
well pretty good you slip on the ice and
turn your ankle now you're trying to
negotiate stairs using crutches your
dream home has become an obstacle course
what you've never given a thought to is
now a major challenge build a new house
not likely
life-changing events are not always
negative you're a young mom with a
newborn you drag that stroller up your
front steps you fight with that round
doorknob with your hands full and great
trip over that threshold or picture
Christmas dinner grandpa with his
arthritic hands pushing a walker trying
to navigate that same situation with
each life change of your own or someone
close we have to think of how our new
reality may exclude us from full
participation in our community we're
forced to change our way of thinking but
what if instead of each individually
often in times of crisis or trauma what
if we as a society proactively design
things with everyone in mind
Universal Design lets make tools and
utensils that can be used by everyone
let's shift our thinking about how we
build houses and public spaces parks or
restaurants
carnival rides or water slides you get
the picture designed for everyone
everywhere all the time Universal Design
is not a new idea it's the method to
achieve access for everyone everywhere
all the time the seven principles of
universal design the concept developed
in the late 1970s by Ron Mason others
says that every place everything can be
accessed understood and used to the
greatest extent possible by all people
regardless of age size ability or
disability Universal Design is critical
in the creation and sustaining of
inclusive communities four decades ago
we are just trying to remove barriers
curb ramps for example were designed to
remove a barrier for people using
wheelchairs so they don't end up being
splayed out in the middle of traffic
when all they're trying to do is get off
the sidewalk at some driveway
unfortunately an unintended side effect
of curb ramps was a removing of guidance
systems for people who use white canes
or assisted animals
Universal Design adds the guidance
system those groove lines in the curb
cut they're important universal design
makes life easier for everyone people
pushing strollers people using a
wheelchair or a walker people using a
white cane people like you the
unintended side effect of building
accessible spaces is the stigmatizing
effect of building for one certain group
when I was building my house I was
cautioned don't make it too handicapped
looking I'm thinking what's that mean
anyway house on wheels our house on
crutches think of the resale you're not
the only one who's going to be living in
that house but that's just how we're
building houses even to today they're
not thinking of what your life will be
like three to four decades from now when
you can't get up the stairs you can't
step into the tub can't even stand at
the counter to make dinner and those two
steps at the front door may be
impossible
do you want that ugly to steep
add-on ramp or would you rather have a
beautiful level landscaped approach
right to the front door that you had the
foresight to include when you were
building what's the solution to avoiding
that handicap looking house and having
the house you need in the future
Universal designed built for everyone do
we build Universal Design a little story
I went to visit a friend recently had
his accessible home he opened the front
door with that round doorknob and we
managed to struggle over that one inch
threshold thresholds by the way are a
leftover design idea from over a hundred
years ago where a 2x4 was shoved under
the front door so that the straw
flooring thrash couldn't get out of the
house my friend gets a call and says I
got to go out do you want to wait I
figure I'll wait but he gets delayed and
I need to leave I fight with that round
or and I've managed to get the door open
only get hung up on that one-inch
threshold now I'm trapped all I wanted
to do was leave
Universal Design means there would be no
threshold and the doors would have
levered handles I would have been able
to use that doorway safely and
independently we are making progress the
Universal Design is the best way to
build we have to think of when we're
building for others what are we doing do
we think of others when we build or
we're just trying to design for each
other so when I finally left my buddy's
house right I got out independently we
are making progress removing barriers
makes life easier for everyone pretty
soon everyone wants the universal design
I think of rolling showers well we are
building our house it was really
difficult to find information on
products required for a level wide open
entry for a shower now everyone wants
one it's easier for kids it's easier for
Grandma it's easier for you and when you
really need one no renovations required
I think of public spaces like the
Vancouver International Airport recently
someone complained they couldn't find
the handicapped washroom I'm taking
there aren't any all 148 washrooms are
fully accessible most have no door
entries hand dryers and paper towel
dispensers
are within reach there's accessible
toilet stalls everything usable by
everyone and whether you need it or not
it's accessible we've made progress in
the last four decades what's the future
look like if we all demand universal
design if we demand access for everyone
everywhere all the time you want to go
out and eat just go
Universal Design means that restaurants
are accessible to all no worry about
washroom access or sitting at those high
top tables you want to volunteer at a
rec center just do it no pre-planning
required to get there transit is
universally designed there's seating and
rest areas along the path if you get
tired the doors open
as you approach does this have to be far
in the future
no let's build on the success so far
because we're not there yet we now know
that the status quo thinking is just not
enough let's not wait another four
decades ask the question who are we
building for anyway support those
building with everyone in mind look for
a universal design asked for a universal
design with everyone involved young and
old whatever the ability anything is
possible and that means access for
everyone everywhere all the time
thank you
you