Write a short essay describing at least three ways to improve the adoption of universal design in your profession.

Please limit your assignment to 500 words maximum and upload your assignment as a PDF or Word document. See our Assignment Guidelines for grading criteria and tips.

Recommended: Upload your assignment within the second week of this course.

The following resources are not required and there are no test questions on their contents; however, you must select the “mark complete” button below.

2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design: Detailed criteria for every aspect of accessible construction in the U.S.

innovative solutions for Universal Design (isUD): An online tool containing over 500 solutions for Universal Design that go beyond minimum U.S. accessibility code requirements. An online account must be created. Free access to browse the solutions expires at end of 30-day free trial.

Go to a parking lot at a local shopping mall. Pretend this is your first trip to the mall. Find the entrance to the shopping mall, and begin moving towards the food court, using only cues in the environment. Do not rely on memory and do not ask for help. Instead, rely on signs, sights, smells, and other cues. Take notes documenting the ease or difficulty of finding the food court. Imagine you have a disability and document what navigation problems could arise (e.g. no way to find an elevator if the person uses a wheelchair, no way to read a map if the person has limited or no vision, etc.).

Upload an essay describing your experience and suggest design interventions that would make it easier for all people to find the food court.

The following are supplemental readings. The readings are not required and there will be no test questions on their contents.

The article below describes the process of creating a universally designed garden and discusses it’s associated benefits.

Schwab, C. 2011. “The Universal Design Garden” in Paraplegia News. Paralyzed Veterans of America. (pp. 16-17).

This news articles describes a residential model for dementia care in the Netherlands, mentioned in the video lecture: “Dementia Village.”

Tinker, B. 2013. ‘Dementia village’ inspires new care. CNN.

The 175-page report below describes the results of multiphase research study conducted by APA’s Planning and Community Health Research Center to identify and evaluate the development, adoption, and implementation of food related goals and policies of local comprehensive plans, including sustainability plans, across the United States.

Hodgson, K. 2012. Planning for Food Access and Community-Based Food Systems: A National Scan and Evaluation of Local Comprehensive and Sustainability Plans. American Planning Association.

List several attributes or domains that make a consumer product “usable.” In other words, what does the term “usability” really mean? List as many attributes as you can. Explain each attribute or domain with a short sentence.

For example, one item on your list could be, “Effectiveness. The product functions and works properly, allowing the user to achieve his or her desired outcome.” Another could be, “No Stigma. The product does not stigmatize any people who use it.”

Please limit your assignment to 500 words maximum and upload your assignment as a PDF or Word document. See our Assignment Guidelines for grading criteria and tips.

Think about your last trip to your regular supermarket for weekly groceries (preferred) or a similar retail store that you frequently use. If possible, imagine a store that has a restroom and dine-in area. If you do not regularly shop at a store with these features, think of your most recent experiences using a public restroom and quick-service restaurant at different locations. There is no need to actually visit a store for this assignment, although you may if you choose.

Briefly describe the store(s) you imagine. Now, imagine what it would be like for each of the following people using the same store(s) and identify the top barrier for each group:

• A young mother alone with two young children, 6 months and 2 years old.
• An 80 year old man and wife, one of whom has severe arthritis and cannot use the toilet without assistance.
• Someone like you, but who also has total vision loss.
• Someone like you, but who also has total hearing loss.

If one of the above people describes you, please share your experience and top barrier.

Please limit your comments to 2-4 sentences per barrier. You may choose to upload your assignment as a PDF or Word document if you wish to format your post with bullets or alongside photographs. Please limit your assignment to 500 words maximum. See our Assignment Guidelines for grading criteria and tips.

Recommended: Upload your assignment within the second week of this course.

The textbook gives 5 guidelines to keep in mind while designing for health and wellness. Choose one of these guidelines to explain and give an example of this guideline in use and actively working to support health and wellness.

Please limit your assignment to 500 words maximum and upload your assignment as a PDF or Word document. See our Assignment Guidelines for grading criteria and tips.

Recommended: Upload your assignment within the second week of this course.

Upload an essay that identifies 2 consumer products that you have used, either currently or in the past, one that has frustrated you and/or has been a hassle to use, and another that you enjoyed using. They can be virtually any products — either ones that you have owned, ones that a friend or family member have owned, products you have used in a job setting, or ones located in a public setting. It would be best if the products both served a similar purpose (e.g. can opener vs. can opener, not can opener vs. iPhone). Then, write a brief evaluation of each product in terms of Vanderheiden and Vanderheiden’s accessible design guidelines.  Be objective. List good aspects of the product you didn’t like and list bad aspects of the product you like. Use the following format and headings for each:

Note: Write only one or two sentences to satisfy each of the following project requirements.

I.  Introduction:  A paragraph describing the product, how and in what situation it would be used, and any socio-cultural meanings associated with the product.

II. Performance and Expectations: Describe your performance using the product.  Did it meet, exceed, or fall short of expectations?  Did it meet expectations in spite of aggravation and hassle, or fall short despite its enjoyable aspects?  Develop a short list of ways your performance was affected, either positively or negatively.

III.  Product Analysis: Analyze the product in terms of Vanderheiden and Vanderheiden’s 5 categories of consideration. Use the format presented in their guidelines, which are described on pp. 23-77 of the reading:

1. Output/Displays
2. Input/Controls
3. Manipulations
4. Documentation
5. Safety

For each of the 5 guideline areas, provide a specific example of a feature that address the guidelines (i.e. features that represent ‘good’ design), as well as features that do not address their guidelines (i.e. features that represent poor design).

IV.  Suggestions for Improvement: For each of the poor design features that you identify, provide suggestions for design that will rectify the problems you described.

Please limit your assignment to 500 words maximum and upload your assignment as a PDF or Word document. See our Assignment Guidelines for grading criteria and tips.

If you believe you have completed all of the course requirements, you must first “mark complete” all lessons, then begin the Final Test at the bottom of this page. The instructor will then verify that all of the requirements have been met. This typically occurs 5-10 business days after the published course end date. Once verified, your certificate of completion will become available on the course main page and on the “My Profile” page. If you have not completed all of the course requirements, the instructor will notify you via email.

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