What is a building code?
- primary goal is to ensure people can actually use the environments
- specified around anthropomorphic averages or “norms”
- outline the requirements for safe environments
Who is considered norm?
- able-bodied
- healthy
- english is his primary language
- a male who is 5’ 10” tall
- an arm length of around 2’
- a sturdy hand grip
- has 20/20 vision
What are the levels of building code?
- federal (all federal buildings)
- provincial (modify national codes as seen fit or to meet local needs)
- municipal (have authority within their particular region)
- human rights code
Who is a person with a disability?
- anyone whose activity and participation is inhibited by a change in body function and/or structure, health, and/ or contextual factors
- temporary, enduring, progressive, regressive
What are some general considerations for someone who’s in a wheelchair?
- chair needs to fit in the space
- chair needs to be able to move within the space
- items should be reachable from chair
What are some general considerations for someone who has a visual impairment?
- contrast in colours to identify borders
- audible cues in elevators, for walk signs
- bright lights, glare from windows
What are some general considerations for someone who has a hearing impairment?
- signs with precise and
clear messages - visual cues along with auditory
What are some general considerations for someone who has an intellectual disability?
- recognizable visual cues and images along with text
- eliminates ambiguity to eliminate confusion
What are some less-general considerations for people with disabilities in regards to building code?
- do items require grip or specific movement to manipulate objects?
- is strength needed?
- are pathways safe (non- slip, clear, smooth, etc.)?
What is universal design?
- universal design is 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
What are the principles of universal design?
- equitable use: useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
- flexible in use: accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities
- simple and intuitive use: easy to understand
- perceptible information: communicates necessary information effectively
- tolerance for error
- low physical effort
- size and space for approach and use
What are examples of some little things that can be regarded as accessible?
- wide interior doors and hallways
- lever handles for opening doors rather than twisting knobs
- light switches with large flat panels rather than small toggle switches
- use of meaningful icons as well as text labels
What are some things that can often be inaccessible?
- height of elevator buttons
- shampoo bottles
- stupid designs for male and female washrooms
