Commercial & Retail Environments Sessions

Americans with Disabilities Act Design Guidelines - A Decade Later

Presenter(s):
Mr David Capozzi, U.S. Access Board, USA

Presentation Type:
Plenary Panel (90 minutes)

Thursday
1:45 - 3:10
Rio 3
Plenary Session

The Americans with Disabilities Act established accessibility standards for the design and construction of virtually all buildings and facilities in the United States in 1991. The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) is one of the most comprehensive accessibility standards in the world. In 2004, revisions to this standard were finalized. Not only have revisions been made to various elements, new accessibility guidelines were also added to address judicial facilities, correctional facilities, playgrounds, and recreation facilities. Revised ADAAG includes harmonization with model building codes, and other updates to reflect changing technologies and new advances in accessible design.

Assessing the Benefits of Universal Design in Fast Food Restaurants

Presenter(s):
Ms Beth Tauke, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA

Presentation Type:
Forum (40 minutes)

Saturday
11:15 - 12:00
Copacabana
Forum

This project examined the claim that universally designed environments are more usable by all consumers than equivalent non-universally designed environments. To test that claim, the project developed two universal design outcome measures that examined subjective and objective indicators of environmentsf usability. These measures were then applied in case studies of fast food restaurants that varied in their design featuresf compliance with the Principles of Universal Design to test three hypotheses: 1. Universally designed environments are more usable for all consumers; 2. Universally designed environments are equally usable by all consumers; and 3. Non-universally designed environments are not equally usable by all consumers.

Berkeleyfs Ed Roberts Campus: A Universally and Sustainable Designed Community Center

Presenter(s):
Mr William Leddy, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, USA

Presentation Type:
Project (40 minutes)

Thursday
3:30 - 4:10
Rio 1
Project

The Ed Roberts Campus (ERC) is being developed by collaborating nonprofit organizations serving people with disabilities in California and across the nation. ERC is a universally designed, transit-oriented campus located at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Berkeley, California. The ERC mission is to expand the opportunities available to people with disabilities to live independently and will provide non-profits with a facility where they can share resources and expertise and collaborate closely. ERC integrates advanced elements of universal design, sustainable design and transit-oriented development. The facility opens in 2008.

Ed Roberts, who died in 1995, was an early leader in the independent living movement of persons with disabilities. Roberts was the first severely disabled student to be admitted to the University of California, Berkeley. He served as Director of the California Department of Rehabilitation, traveled throughout the world promoting the concept of independent living, and became a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellow in 1984. Ed believed in the strength of collaborative efforts - he called it "working toward our preferred future."

The presentation will include project process as well as actual design solution.

Best Practices in Universal Design: A Comparative Study

Presenter(s):
Mrs Betty Dion, ICTA Global, Canada
Ms Marnie Peters, Betty Dion Enterprises Ltd., Canada
Ms Claudia Sanchez, ICTA Latin America, Colombia

Presentation Type:
Plenary Panel (90 minutes)

Saturday
10:30 - 12:00
Rio 1
Plenary Session

This collaborative presentation will be presented by members of ICTA Global who will provide an overview of the process involved in the publishing of a Comparative Study of Best Practices in Universal Design, including the researching and retrieving of accessibility standards from around the world. Examples of innovative best practices in universal design will be presented for discussion. The presenters are from three different continents and have international experience in both the research, application and design of universal design.

Critical Factors for Accessibility and Wayfinding for Adults with Intellectual Disability

Presenter(s):
Ms Patricia Salmi, University of Minnesota, USA

Presentation Type:
Forum (40 minutes)

Saturday
9:45 - 10:30
Lagoa
Forum

Through use of a field study, assessment of environmental features that impacted wayfinding behavior for 13 persons with mild intellectual disability was compared to the wayfinding behavior of 10 persons from the general population (comparison group). The study also sought to evaluate how a personfs cognitive resources influenced their wayfinding actions. Results showed observable differences in wayfinding abilities between groups. Variables found to be important to wayfinding success include signage, landmarks, spatial layout, and previous knowledge of mall settings. Furthermore, persons with intellectual disability were able to form cognitive maps, contrary to findings from a previous study.

Implementing Access Through Universal Design in Five Brazilian Cities: Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte

Presenter(s):
Mr Eugene Williams, board member, Adaptive Environments, USA
Mr Edison Passafaro, Comissao Permanente de Acessibilidade--Sao Paulo, Brazil
Mr Humberto Lippo, Governo Municipal de Porto Alegre, Brazil
Ms Veronica Camisao, CVI-RJ Centro da Vida Independente-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ms Ana Paula Crosara Resende, Cidade de Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ms Sandra Fernandina Fagundes, Governo Municipal de Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Presentation Type:
Plenary Panel (90 minutes)

Thursday
11:00 - 12:30
Rio 2
Plenary Session

Representatives from the five Brazilian cities recognized as the most advanced in implementing access through Universal Design will present the strengths and weaknesses of their city's approach. Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte have developed unique approaches based on social and physical geography, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the relationships between access advocates and municipal government, particularly in the area of enforcement. Panel presentations will be followed by discussion of the follwing questions:

• What works?
• What doesn't work?
• Can a model be developed from a synthesis of experiences?

Making UD Attractive to Architects and Planners

Presenter(s):
Mr Jon Christophersen, Norwegian Building Reseearch Institute, Norway

Presentation Type:
Project (40 minutes)

Thursday
11:00 - 11:40
Botafogo
Project

The paper will present a new publication from two central government institutions in Norway. The relevance in an international setting is how to address architects and planners in a way they will find interesting and inspiring. The publication sets out to do this in a novel manner, putting the main emphasis on the integration of accessibility and Universal Design into the architecture, using 3D sketches and diagrams in combination with photographs to illustrate the relationships between the whole, the individual parts and the architectural detailing of buildings. Political and social aims of integration and inclusion are given as an outline.

Offices for the 21st Century

Presenter(s):
Mr Robert Kaye, Equity Office, USA
Ms Melody Roberts, IDEO, USA
Mr Dai Sogawa, Universal Design Research Cimmittee, JFMA, Japan
Mr Jon Sanford, Workplace RERC @ Georgia Tech, USA
Ms Susan Szenasy, Metropolis, USA

Presentation Type:
Plenary Panel (90 minutes)

Friday
9:00 - 10:30
Rio 3
Plenary Session

Knowledge workers have become the norm in developed nations and are expanding in actual numbers and proportion worldwide. Office design represents an opportunity to shape environments that minimize impediments to work for people with disabilities and older people. They also offer opportunities to consider the ways in which design can enhance performance. But are we making the most of what we know? The session will consider issues of the interface with green design and human health and well-being in offices, ergonomics, technology, lighting, acoustics and the configuration and allocation of space.

Principles of Universal Design Revisited

Presenter(s):
Mr James Mueller, J.L. Mueller, Inc., USA
Ms Elaine Ostroff, Co-Founder of Adaptive Environments; Director of the Global Universal Design Educatorfs Network, USA
Ms Laurie Ringaert, RERC on Universal Design, NC State, USA

Presentation Type:
Charrette (Half day followed by two additional sessions.)

Wednesday Afternoon
1:30 - 5:15
Copacabana
Fee: $75
Charrette/Case Study (Half-Day)

Since their creation in the United States in 1997, the 7 Principles of Universal Design have served as the gold standard for communicating, understanding and evaluating universal design. They have been widely published in many countries and translated into several languages.

The purpose of this pre-conference charette is to examine how the Principles of Universal Design are being applied to design education, practice, policies and research around the world. Participants in this charette will also explore opportunities for ongoing discourse toward broader understanding and use of the Principles in diverse cultures.

An additional working group session will be scheduled at the convenience of the participants; the findings of the Principles charette will be presented on Saturday morning, 9:00 to 11:00 at the Charette Wrap Up session, along with reports from the other charettes.

This charette will provide a unique opportunity for exchange among authors of the Principles and international experts in universal design, as well as a learning experience for participants who are newer to universal design.

Jim Mueller is an industrial designer who has worked in the field of design for people with disabilities since 1974 as an assistive technology provider, researcher, universal design consultant, and workplace accommodation specialist and instructor. His clients have included businesses, as well as government agencies, individuals with disabilities, and national disability organizations.

Jim serves on the staff or advisory boards of several Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers and chairs the Industrial Designers Society of America's Special Interest Section on Universal Design.

Promoting an Inclusive Environment in London

Presenter(s):
Ms Julie Fleck, Greater London Authority, UK

Presentation Type:
Project (40 minutes)

Friday
10:30 - 11:10
Copacabana
Project

The London Plan includes policies on inclusive design and accessible housing. The challenge is now to ensure that Londonfs 33 local planning authorities adopt and implement the policies and that developers and planning applicants embrace inclusion and help create a more accessible city. Tools have been developed to ensure understanding and adoption of inclusive design, including Supplementary Planning Guidance called Accessible London which explains the policies in more detail; the use of Access Statements in planning and building applications; a video on Lifetime Homes and the standards for wheelchair accessible housing.

The All-Inclusive - Green Design for Human and Environmental Health - An Economic Model in Support of Sustainability

Presenter(s):
Prof Nadine Bopp, The School of the Art Institute, USA

Presentation Type:
Forum (40 minutes)

Saturday
2:30 - 3:10
Lagoa
Forum

Sustainable design and green architecture is the eAll-Inclusivef paradigm that supports the human and environmental health of cities and their inhabitants. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being, based on organisms that are balanced with regard to their chemical, biological, nutritional and psychological environments. It has been reported that buildings are responsible for sickness caused by poor design and materials specification on a global scale. The case for green design is supported by examples where human and environmental health is realized and the costs of degradation are minimized.

Transforming Neighbourhoods: How to Maximise the Value of Design in the Built Environment

Presenter(s):
Mr Chris Murray, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, UK

Presentation Type:
Forum (40 minutes)

Saturday
2:30 - 3:10
Rio 3
Forum

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment is England's champion for better design. They campaign, advise, provide demonstration projects and study the value of design in transforming places. This session will describe the genesis of CABE, explaining how the organisation provides a coherent and dynamic service for public and private sector clients. Examples of the economic, social and cultural value of design will be provided through case studies from differing urban settlements. Public participation, better skills and the process of injecting a sense of excellence into ordinary and everyday buildings as well as the iconic will be discussed.

Universal Design and the International Travel & Hospitality Industry

Presenter(s):
Dr Scott Rains, Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc., USA
Mrs Jani Nayar, SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality), USA
Ms Laurie Ringaert, Center for Universal Design Noth Carolina State University, USA
Prof Kate Hunter-Zaworski (off-site partcipant), Oregon State University -- Federal Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center, USA
Mr Richard Thompson, Accessible Travel and Leisure, UK

Presentation Type:
Full Day Pre-Conference Intensive Session

Tuesday
9:00 - 5:00
Rio 2
Fee: $150
Refreshments and Box Lunch Provided
Full-Day Pre-Conference Intensive Session

Several factors make this an ideal time for an international body to strategicaly review travel and hospitality from the perspective of disabled persons:

• The resurgence of international travel post September 11, Economic recovery,
• A new paradigm for disability studies,
• Enfranchisement of the World Tourism Organization by the UN,
• And the availability of the first statistical study of the travel behavior of persons with disabilities.

Brazil provides an ideal location for such a review with:

• Its scholarly production in the field,
• Public sector resources such as EMBRATUR,
• And private sector resources such as tourism infrastructure and Embraer impacting globally through jet manufacture.

Universal Design and the Marine Enviroment - From Along the Shore to Offshore.

Presenter(s):
Mr Stephen Spinetto, City Of Boston, USA
Ms Jan Tuck, Access Compliance Manager, Princess Cruise Lines, USA

Presentation Type:
Charrette (Half day followed by two additional sessions.)

Wednesday
Fee: $150
Charrette/Case Study (Full-Day)

The marine environment is unique, both along the shoreline and offshore on passenger vessels. City waterfronts have become major recreational and cultural venues. Cruise ships have become important vacation destinations worldwide, particularly for persons with disabilities. Increasingly water transportation is supplementing other mass transit systems. Designing in the marine environment requires taken into account the weather wind and tide and the constantly changing and frequently hostile environment. The presentation will include information about the proposed Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines Passenger Vessel Standards. The presentation will also offer examples and information concerning waterfront design and planning, including the design of piers and gangways.

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This charrette will begin at the Conference Center and the session will move to the Rio harbor, to the Niteroi Ferry and terminal (see photo above left) in the Centro District. The session will include a trip on the Niteroi Ferry and a visit to Oscar Niemeyer's Museum of Contemporary Art (see photo above right).

For more information about Passenger Vessel Access Design Guidelines: http://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/commrept/report-summary.htm

About the Presenters:

Stephen Spinetto is the Commissioner, of the Boston Commission for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Spinetto is also an adjunct faculty member at the Sawyer School of Public Management at Suffolk University. He served as Chairman of the US Architectural Transportation Barriers Compliance Board / Passenger Vessel Advisory Committee

In 1984-1985 Mr. Spinetto were a Loeb and a National Endowment of the Arts Fellow in Advanced Environmental Design at the Graduate School of Design Harvard University. Hefs a board member of the Access Sport America Foundation. Mr. Spinetto was Chairman of the National Ocean Access (NOAP) from 1986-1994, was Captain of the United States Disabled Sailing Team, from 1989-1992, and was the United States Olympic Committee Technical Representative for Yachting to International Paralympics Committee from 1992-1996.

Janice Tuck is the Access Manager For Princess Cruise Lines and serves as Chair of the US Access Board; Ms Tuck also serves on the US Access Boards Passenger Vessel Advisory Committee.

Universal Design in Museums

Presenter(s):
Mr Steve Tokar, Academy Studios, USA
Ms Christine Reich, Museum of Science, Boston, USA
Ms Maria Cabrera, Museum of Science, Boston

Presentation Type:
Charrette (Half day followed by two additional sessions.)

Wednesday
Fee: $125
Charrette/Case Study (Full-Day)

When you and your family visit a museum, can everyone enjoy themselves and learn? Or are some people unintentionally excluded from using the exhibits? What changes are needed to make the museum a place where everyone is invited to learn?

Small, inexpensive design changes can make a lot of difference!

During this charrette, we will visit and review a current exhibition at the Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences in Rio de Janeiro. We will then brainstorm on how this museumand, by extension, other museumscan modify its exhibitions so that they may become physically, cognitively and socially inclusive of all learners, including persons with disabilities. In our discussions, we will take into account real-world limitations including time and (especially) money.

We will also learn how science museum across North America are working to create exhibitions that reflect universal design.

Universal Service: Supplying Fair Information and Equal Support and Services to All People

Presenter(s):
Mr Shigeki Inoue, Hakuhodo, Inc., Japan

Presentation Type:
Forum (40 minutes)

Thursday
11:00 - 11:40
Master 1
Project

We cannot realistically expect the world to ever be entirely free of barriers. Wheelchair users are likely to encounter inaccessible changes in levels (curbs, steps, etc.) even in the most accessible city. Elders as well as individuals with vision and/or hearing impairments may encounter non-physical barriers, such as poor signage or a lack of accessible way-finding cues, which can make it difficult to get around. It is for these and other reasons that we should promote "universal service" in addition to universal design. When the time comes when most people walking along a street can communicate with and offer assistance to those in need, we will be able to have a more peaceful and fruitful society.

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