|
The Principles of
Universal Design
Presented by the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina
State University
Below is a list the of the
Principles and a personal reflection about each. |
| Universal Design
Principle |
"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." -Ron Mace in Center
for Universal Design, NC State. It is important for preservice teacher
candidates to become aware of universal design and web accessibility as
they learn to positively enhance the learning environment for their future
classes that may contain students with disabilities. |
The design is
useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. |
Adaptive Swings
on a Playground are an important aspect of of designing useful and
marketable products for people with disabilities. |
Flexibility in
Use |
Modified scissors
are shown on the website. I see applicability of this principle to other
tools such as rakes, or lawn mowers. |
Simple and
Intuitive |
I'm a strong
advocate for keeping products simple. Manufacturers consider a
person's expectations and build a product to match. |
Perceptible
Information |
The use of
varied modes to present information is present in multiple
environments. The computer technology environment provides icons or
images as alternative representation of information. |
Tolerance for
Error |
When creating
'hotspots' on websites, I inform my students to make the hotspot cover an
entire area (and then some) to leave room for error. |
Low Physical
Effort |
The image of a
person pushing down on a handle to open a door makes perfect sense to me
as a way of explaining the principle. |
Size and Space
for Approach and Use |
The computer labs
in which I teach have student stations designed for students with physical
disabilities. |
| Information
taken from The
Center for Universal Design at North Carolina
State University. |
| How will this impact (or will it) you in the future?
The information
from the readings will impact my pedagogical practice as a prepare
preservice teacher candidates to teach in diverse and inclusive settings
that are technologically advanced. |
