Spring 2007

Your source for current news and announcements about the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (I.D.E.A) in Buffalo, NY. 

Jordana Maisel : Editor
Heamchand Subryan : Technical Assistant

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OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN UNIVERSAL DESIGN RESEARCH

Online Surveys Expected to be Launched in May 2007

We all know from first hand experience how easily the built environment can frustrate our performance of even the simplest activities. Whether it is making our way through the entrances of public restrooms, crossing streets at intersections or just putting away groceries in our kitchens, good design can ensure that the built environment makes performance of such activities easier for all of us.

One of the research projects directed by Architecture professor Gary Scott Danford at SUNY Buffalo’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design and the Built Environment involves identifying those environmental design features that are the most problematic for everyone. If we can identify the most problematic environmental design features, it will help us set priorities for their redesign that will make life better for all of us.

We are almost ready to launch our first surveys. They will ask participants about problems they have performing routine activities commonly encountered in three built environments: Public Buildings, Public Streets and Residential Environments. Participants will be eligible for random drawings for cash prizes. After completing the online surveys, participants will be given an opportunity to join others in message board discussions about the environmental design features that make performing specific activities problematic.

We would welcome and greatly appreciate your involvement in this research project. If you are interested in participating or if you belong to other forums or listservs that you think might be interested in participating, please contact project coordinator Jordana Maisel.

Steinfeld Speaks at International Builders Show

Edward Steinfeld, Director of the IDEA Center, made an invited presentation at the International Builders Show in Orlando, FL, February 6-10. His presentation was part of a session entitled "Universal Design = Universal Appeal." This session focused on demonstrating the appeal of universal design features in homes to the broad spectrum of new home buyers and remodeling clients. Other presenters in this session were Jeff Inks, NAHB, Mary Jo Peterson, AISD, and Rebecca Stahr, AISD. The session attracted over 150 participants.

Levine and Maisel Present at Symposium on Inclusive Design

Danise Levine and Jordana Maisel recently presented at a Symposium on Inclusive Design at the New York School of Interior Design, March 31-April 1, 2007. The focus of the symposium was "Understanding and Designing Accessible Residential Environments." While Ms. Maisel participated in a two-part presentation with Eleanor Smith, Director of Concrete Change, Ms. Levine presented with Todd Brickhouse, owner and founder of Todd Brickhouse Accessibility Associates, Bruce Hannah, industrial designer and Principal of Hannah Design, and Patricia Rizzo, lead researcher and Residential Program Manager at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

RERC on UD Industry Partner Presents Latest Developments

Touch Graphics, Inc. will disseminate information on the Touch-Smart Navigation System technology, being developed in collaboration with the RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment, at the 2007 American Association of Museums Annual Conference in Chicago May 13-17. Touch Graphics, Inc. will have a booth on the exhibit floor to demonstrate an example of its touch-sensitive, multi-sensory interactive models. Staff will also participate in a panel presentation entitled "Hearing Pictures, Touching Sounds: Multi-Sensory Approaches in Museum Interpretation."

For more information about the conference visit the American Association of Museums Website

Touch Graphics, Inc. will also present a paper at the XXIII International Cartographic Conference (ICC 2007), in Moscow, August 4-10, 2007 on the subject of the Touch-sensitive model of the Washington Mall, currently being developed as an exhibit for the Smithsonian Institution.

You can visit Touch Graphics Inc. for more information

UPCOMING CONFERENCES:

CNU XV: New Urbanism and the Old City to Address Accessibility Issues

The annual Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) will be held in Philadelphia, PA, May 17-20, 2007. CNU is the leading venue for new urbanist networking, collaboration, and education. For more information visit the CNU Website.

Below are conference sessions that will address critical issues related to New Urbanism and accessibility

Access, Urbanism and the Future of Cities

Concurrent Session
Friday, May 18, 2007 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Even with the ADA and Federal Fair Housing Act there remains a lack of accessibility for many who need it. Many new urbanists fear the loss of traditional building types while accessibility advocates believe these buildings can be made accessible without destroying urban character. What is wrong with the process and what are the solutions? This session will review ways to adjust to legislative and demographic realities while ensuring diversity and social justice in new urbanist communities.

Panelists:
Laura Hall, Principal, Fisher & Hall Urban Design
Brewster Thackeray, Senior Project Manager Livable Communities, AARP
Edward Steinfeld, Professor of Architecture and Director, Center for Inclusive Design and
Environmental Access, School for Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Andres Duany, Principal, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company
John Anderson, Vice President, Planning and Design, New Urban Builders, Inc.
Stefanos Polyzoides, Moule & Polyzoides Architects & Urbanists

Accessibility/Visitability Lunch

Task Force Meeting
Saturday, May 19, 2007 12:15 PM - 2:15 PM

By emphasizing mixed-use development and public transportation, urbanism offers an ideal opportunity for people with disabilities and seniors to be part of communities. But this only works if home designs permit them to visit neighbors and to remain in their own home. Presenters will show images of houses that combine basic disability access with urban design, including examples from Europe where "every new house with access" is the norm. This lunch meeting is aimed at drawing in new participants to the Accessibility/Visitability Task Force.

LEED-Neighborhood Development Working Session

Special Event
Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

CNU has partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the U.S. Green Building Council to certify neighborhood development projects through the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system. The pilot version of the certification program began in early 2007. In Philadelphia, several leading New Urbanists who helped create the rating system will provide a general update about the program and will describe what they want to learn during the pilot. They will also offer presentations about the accessibility credit and emerging thresholds. Breakout sessions will seek input about the topics presented and why some projects did not apply to be a part of the pilot program.

Panelists:
Daniel Hernandez, Principal, Topology, LLC
Eleanor Smith, MSc. (RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment Advisory Board Member) Director Concrete Change
Doug Farr, President and Founding Principal, Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design
Victor Dover, Principal , Dover Kohl & Partners
Susan Mudd, Environmental Attorney, Congress for the New Urbanism
Jessica Cogan Millman, Senior Advisor, DC Office of Planning
Laura Watchman, Principal, Watchman Consulting

Manuscript on RERC on UD Anthropometry to be Presented at SAE Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference

Clive D’Souza will present the paper "Constructing Three-Dimensional Models of Individuals and their Wheeled Mobility Devices from Landmark Data" at the Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference in Seattle, WA this June.

This paper highlights some of the important issues in the construction of static three-dimensional digital models of individuals and their wheeled mobility devices using anthropometric measurement methods developed at the IDEA Center. These methods involve three-dimensional measurements and provide new and insightful ways at presenting anthropometric data on the wheeled mobility device user group. Developments in the digital modeling techniques described in this paper contribute mainly toward the design of an interactive visual interface to support the IDEA Center's anthropometric database on wheeled mobility device users.

Authors: Clive R. D’Souza, David J. Feathers, Victor L. Paquet Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo RERC on Universal Design at Buffalo

Conference Information:
Digital Human Modeling for Design and Engineering Conference
Organized by SAE International
June 12-14, 2007
Seattle, Washington, USA
http://www.sae.org/events/dhm/

The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology

The Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT) will bring together five important and different conferences all focused on enhancing the lives of seniors, persons with disabilities and their family caregivers. Between June 16-19, 2007 rehabilitation, social and health services providers, government policy makers, researchers, family caregivers, students, seniors and persons with disabilities from around the world will gather in Toronto, Canada to explore issues facing aging populations, the implications for healthcare systems and service providers, the roles and responsibilities of family caregivers and policy, and how new research findings and technologies are leading new and practical solutions.

FICCDAT is a consortium of organizations, private and public, brought together under the leadership of the two originating Co-Chairs to maximize opportunities for collaboration between two social movements - aging and disability.

The two leaders’ organizations are represented on the FICCDAT Steering Committee by Co-Chairs: Andria Spindel, President and C.E.O., Ontario March of Dimes and Geoff Fernie, Ph.D., Vice President of Research, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute is part of the Ontario Rehabilitation Technology Consortium (ORTC), a partner of the RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment.

For more information about the conference visit FICCDAT Website.

IDEA Center Staff and Collaborators to Participate at FICCDAT

International Symposium on Housing for Aging in Place

Organizer: Edward Steinfeld
Principal Sponsor: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Co-Sponsors: Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design and the Built Environment, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education; Home Modifications Action Council

Abstract: This symposium will focus on two strategies for helping older people age in place - home modifications and universal design. It will provide an opportunity for information sharing and discussion of best practice solutions and barriers to aging in place. An overview presentation will describe home modification and universal design policies and practices in Northern Europe, Australia and North America. Visitability will be presented as a key element of housing policy. Invited speakers will present papers on recent research, best practices, information resources and service delivery. Discussion will focus on key barriers to improving policy, delivery of services, new initiatives and policy development.

Symposium Sessions by IDEA Center Staff and Collaborators:

Policies and Practices to support Aging in Place in Europe, Australia and North America

Edward Steinfeld, Arch.D.
Director, Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access | School of Architecture and Planning
University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Many policies that help people live independently throughout their lifespan are emerging in the mature industrialized countries as societies respond to the rapid aging of their populations. These policies focus on two basic strategies – universal design standards for new housing construction and home modification policies to improve existing housing. Policies in the field of universal design standards include a wide range of approaches such as minimum accessibility to multi-family family housing, voluntary commitment programs to encourage adoption of best practice standards in universal
design, and establishment of information and technical assistance programs. Home modification policies can be divided into two basic approaches: integrating home modification interventions with the delivery of home health care and development of stand alone construction-oriented programs. Targeting vulnerable populations is another aspect of existing policy, especially in the U.S. which lacks a universal national health care program. Even a limited comparison of policy initiatives in different countries demonstrates that international exchanges of information and ideas on this topic can be very valuable. Such exchanges help to diffuse innovative approaches and provide an opportunity to learn from the experience of others. Major differences in policy across countries are evident. This raises questions about which approaches may be the most effective in addressing the needs of the aging population. It also demonstrates the need to understand the relationship of aging in place policy to more general policies in the fields of health care, housing construction and building codes and standards implementation.

Understanding Visitability in Canada

Laurie Ringaert, MSc. Senior Research Associate Canadian Centre on Disability Studies

Olga Krassioukova-Enns, MD, PhD. Executive Director Canadian Centre on Disability Studies

Eleanor Smith, MSc. (RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment Advisory Board Member) Director Concrete Change

A more unified approach to the design of cities and communities is needed to make them more "livable" for all generations and cultures. One of the main components missing to ensure livable communities has been universally designed single family housing. A promising approach toward addressing this gap is "visitability," an affordable and sustainable design and policy strategy aimed at increasing the number of homes with basic access features. Visitability usually includes a no-step entrance on an accessible route; wider doors and at least a half bath on the main floor. These features are often termed "universal design-light". This session will start with an introduction to visitability from Eleanor Smith who started the movement in North America and then will provide an overview of a national Canadian visitability project. The goal of this project is to develop an understanding of visitability in Canada. Project activities include: literature review; environmental scan; development of the first Canadian visitability website, an on-line national survey on local and provincial initiatives and on perceptions of barriers and facilitators; and a national think tank to discuss barriers, facilitators and to develop a "Canadian Action Framework on Visitability." Presenters will discuss lessons learned to assist others in moving forward. The project has already had an impact in Canada as it has facilitated many to start initiating visitability in their provinces. This project was funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Manitoba Provincial Government.

Home Modifications and Universal Design

Danise Levine, M.Arch Assistant Director, Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access School of Architecture and Planning University at Buffalo, State University of New York

In 2000, the US Census counted over 115 million housing units in the United States. Only a very small percentage of those units are accessible to people with disabilities and the vast majority of those that are inaccessible are not likely to be replaced in the near future. Therefore, strategies for modifying existing homes are needed to accommodate the changing demographics of U.S. society. As the population ages, more people will be staying in their homes as they grow older. With the relatively low number of accessible housing units available, home modifications are a necessary part of community living although many consumers are not aware of how home modifications can help them, nor do they know where to look for assistance. Often home modifications are designed using code requirements for minimum accessibility. While certainly valuable and necessary for addressing the needs of people with disabilities in places of public accommodation and newly constructed housing, there is a need for a different approach to improve usability and safety in existing homes. Furthermore, code based improvements do not always address the needs of a large part of the population who have functional limitations. Universal design seeks to extend the scope of accessible design and enhance the value of housing for a broader population. This presentation will describe and illustrate the benefits of incorporating universal design principles in the delivery of home modifications. Common home modification problems and solutions will be presented and illustrated through several case study examples.

International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence

The fourth International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence (ICADI) will be held February 20-23, 2008 at the St. Petersburg, Florida Hilton Hotel. ICADI brings together researchers, practitioners, business leaders, consumers, and policy makers to focus on independence-related issues of aging. Submissions will be accepted within one of the following seven categories:

• Smart Homes
• Telehealth
• Robotics
• Livable Homes and Communities (Track Chair: Edward Steinfeld)
• Assistive Devices
• Injury Prevention
• Transportation
• Work and Aging

The theme of the submission should fall under one or more of the following topics:

• Business Perspective
• Consumer Perspective
• Research and Development
• Policy
• International Perspective
• Practice/Services

You can submit a proposal at the ICADI Website for one of the following:

Lecture (single paper, 20 minutes)
Symposia (related group of presentations)
Poster (sessions held during evening receptions)
Technology Demonstration (a demonstration of prototype applications or new products to support independence
Full Papers: Optional and additional to any of the above. Selected papers will be included in a book. Abstracts of presentations and posters will appear in the conference proceedings (on CD and the ICADI website.)

Submission Deadline: September 1, 2007

Online Submission and Registration Now Available

IDEA Center Participates in Exciting New Development

Construction has recently begun on Crosswinds at Hudson, a $12.8 million universally designed townhouse project located in the City of Hudson, New York (approximately 35 miles south of Albany). Working in collaboration with 3d Development Group LLC, the IDEA Center is consulting on this project that will include 70 units of affordable workforce housing and implementing strategies of universal design to improve usability for everyone. The project will have seven residential buildings and one community clubhouse. The clubhouse will provide space for indoor recreation, fitness, meeting facilities, management, and maintenance services.

Visitability in Canada

The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies is conducting a study on Visitable Housing in Canada.

The Centre is looking for opinions from across Canada as they prepare a Framework for Action on Visitable Housing in Canada at a National Think Tank to be held in Winnipeg May 11-13, 2007. If you are interested in the Think Tank, please visit Visitable Housing in Canada.

As you know most houses in Canada have steps at their entrance and lack basic access features. Many jurisdictions in the world are moving toward building much of their new housing stock with at least basic access features especially due to the recognition of the aging demographic around the world.

Your information will assist in determining opinions on Visitability, where Visitable housing initiatives are taking place in Canada, what opportunities and barriers exist and whether there are differences across Canada. Please feel free to forward the survey to anyone who might be interested. Please forward to your members and anyone else whom you think should see it. You will find the survey at Visitable Housing in Canada

This is part of a larger study on Visitable Housing. The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies welcomes your input.

Researchers at Toronto Rehab Institute Publish Research on Current RERC on UD Projects

Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings Articles

Li Y., Sabrina N. Pavri, Jennifer Boger, Alex Mihailidis, Geoff Fernie, 2007. Pedestrian behaviors at signalized crosswalk - effect of temperature and time of day. FICCDAT - 2nd International Conference on Technology and Aging (ICTA).
Toronto, Canada, June 16-19. (accepted for poster presentation)

Peer Reviewed Abstracts/Presentations at Conferences

Li Y., Hill S.W., Row B., McIlroy W.E., Mihailidis A., Fernie G., 2007. Walk in the cold: body temperature and heart rate during North American winter. Submitted to the XXI Congress of International Society of Biomechanics, Taipei, Taiwan, July 1-5.

Li Y., Row B., Fernie G., 2006. Overview of a RERC Project: Ambulatory Monitoring During Natural Indoor and Outdoor Daily Activities. Second Annual Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Research Day, Toronto, Canada, November 29, pp63. (poster presentation)

Li Y., Sabrina N. Pavri, Jennifer Boger, Alex Mihailidis, Geoff Fernie, 2006. Do Temperature and Time of Day Affect Pedestrians’ Walking Speed When They Cross the Street? Second Annual Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Research Day, Toronto, Canada, November 29, pp64. (poster presentation)

Non-Peer-Reviewed Articles/Conference Proceedings

Li Y., Row B., Fernie G., 2006. Overview of a RERC Project: Ambulatory Monitoring During Natural Indoor and Outdoor Daily Activities. Falls and Mobility Network annual meeting, Toronto, Canada, November 13. (podium presentation)

Universal Design Collection Added to UBDigit

UBdigit, an interdisciplinary multi-media digital collection, now contains a collection of universally designed products that we have amassed through our gallery installations of the Unlimited by Design exhibition and a traveling exhibit called "live | work | eat | play." This is a digital archive of these installations that provides access worldwide for scholars and educators. It also ensures historical documentation of the products. This collection currently contains over 200 products and it will continue to grow through the continuing activities of the IDEA Center.

UBdigit is a joint project of the University at Buffalo Libraries, Educational Technology Center, faculty, and academic departments. It provides centralized access to UB’s diverse inventory of legacy and teaching collections for purposes of instruction, scholarship, and archival preservation. UBdigit includes primarily collections of still images, but anticipates future inclusion of a variety of digital media formats, including audio, video, kinetic images, animation, virtual reality, interactive sequences and multi-media constructs.

Go to UBdigit to view the documented products.

University at Buffalo Graduate Architecture Program Introduces Inclusive Design Research Group

The School of Architecture at the University at Buffalo recently unveiled a new curriculum for its graduate architecture program. The program now offers courses in four Graduate Architecture Research Groups, including one on Inclusive Design.

This curriculum includes a sequence of required courses supplemented by electives and workshops that provide both a theoretical and working knowledge of Inclusive Design. Along with a core curriculum, students work with faculty mentors to develop individualized programs of study that reflect their specific interests.

The faculty members in this Graduate Group, Gary Scott Danford, Associate Professor, Edward Steinfeld, Professor, and Beth Tauke, Associate Professor, are all affiliated with the IDEA Center and the RERC on Universal Design and the Built Environment.

New Research Position in Accessibility at the Danish Building Research Institute (SBi)

The Danish Building Research Institute (SBi) established an Accessibility Group in January 2006. The Institute currently has 4 advisors and one senior researcher. They are now establishing one more position as researcher/senior researcher as both their assignments and ambitions are growing rapidly!

If you know someone who is interested and qualified please contact Camilla Ryhl at the address below. They are very open in regards to profession and language, as the key issue is to find the right person who is experienced and engaged in the issue of access and the built environment. Danish is not a requirement!

The position has not been announced publicly yet, but will be soon, both on SBi's website and in relevant papers and magazines.

Camilla Ryhl, Ph.D., M.Arch.
Senior Researcher
The Danish Building Research Institute (SBi)
Dr. Neergaards Vej 15
DK - 2970 Hørsholm

Phone: +45 45 74 23 98
Cell: +45 20 66 48 17

E-mail: car@sbi.dk
Web: http://www.sbi.dk

AARP and NAHB Announce New Annual Award

(Adapted from article released by AARP on February 9, 2007)

In February 2007, representatives from AARP and NAHB announced a new joint award to recognize creative and unique home and community projects that improve the daily comfort, ease and safety of their residents and highlight the critical elements needed for a livable community.

The new AARP & NAHB Livable Communities Award will be presented annually to the three professional groups -- builders, remodelers and developers -- for projects that incorporate such aspects 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

The Livable Communities Awards will honor winners in each of the three industry sectors: builders, developers and remodelers. Sponsors will declare winners for both a large project and small project in each category. Size will define large and small builder and developer projects. Cost will determine remodelers' categories. Winning projects must have been completed and opened or eligible for occupancy between January 1, 2005 and June 1, 2007.

Applications for the first Livable Communities Awards will be due June 1, 2007. Winners will be announced in the 2008 January-February issue of AARP The Magazine, the largest circulation magazine in America. For more information on the awards or to download an application, please visit aarp website.

Global Universal Design Educators Online News

The Global Universal Design Educators Monthly Online News (GUDEON) is being published with support from the IDEA Center. The quarterly publication is produced and distributed for the Global Universal Design Educator’s Network by Elaine Ostroff, Editor and Publisher, and Diane Richard, Researcher and Editorial Assistant. The Network is a loose coalition of people committed to universal design education. In addition to reaching the Network's 300 subscribers, a link to the most recent edition of the GUDEON and its table of contents will now be distributed to the IDEA Center's E-Newsletter subscribers. The GUDEON will also be translated into Japanese and reprinted in the quarterly print Universal Design Magazine.

For links to archived issues go to Universal Design Network.

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