This link to Design for Inclusion: Creating a New Marketplace, a major
report released at a press conference in Washington, DC yesterday was provided by Elaine Ostroff.
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/newmarketplace.htm
It's big...covers a lot of ground in great detail. It includes defining the universal design of electronic and information technology, it's relation to assistive technology, market trends, product analysis in relation to different user groups....and has conclusions and recommendations. And, it's dedicated to Ron Mace. Following are some excerpts:
DEDICATION
This National Council on Disability report is dedicated to Ronald Mace, "a
nationally and internationally recognized architect, product designer, and
educator whose design philosophy challenged convention and provided a
design foundation for a more usable world. He coined the term 'universal
design' to describe the concept of designing all products and the built
environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by
everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life" (Center for
Universal Design).
Here is the letter of transmittal from Lex Frieden, Chair of the National
Council:
Dear Mr. President:On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), I am submitting a
report entitled, Design for Inclusion: Creating a New Marketplace. This
report aims to educate designers and manufacturers about the way electronic
and information technology (E&IT) intersects with the needs of individuals
with disabilities, and how designing with access in mind can significantly
increase the size of targeted markets for E&IT.Designing with access in mind can be accomplished through Universal design.
Universal design is a process to ensure that electronic and information
technology is inclusive, accessible, and usable by everyone, including
people with disabilities. Incorporating universal design processes when
developing E&IT is one solution to accommodating people with disabilities
that also improves the usability of the products for the rest of the
population. NCD's research attempts to understand the market for
universally designed mainstream consumer products and services, document
successful universal design development processes, understand consumer
needs, understand universal design facilitators and barriers, and identify
and address current issues in universal design.This research falls at a time when understanding and incorporating
universal design into the development process are most crucial. We are in
the window of opportunity for implementing Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended). Section 508 requires the Federal
Government to purchase accessibly designed E&IT. If progress is not made
quickly in improving the skills of government and industry employees on
accessibility issues, the window will soon shut with little having been
accomplished.Progress must be made now, and the purpose of this report is to present the
information and recommendations that will guide this progress.Sincerely,
Lex Frieden
Chairperson
(The same letter of transmittal was sent to the President Pro Tempore of
the U.S. Senate and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.)
And here is the table of Contents:
Design for Inclusion: Creating a New Marketplace
This report is also available in alternative formats and on NCD's
award-winning Web site (http://www.ncd.gov/).
Contents
Findings and Recommendations
I.
of Universal Design
II.
Definition and Research
of the Market Environment
Forces
Environment
Condition
Framework
and Guidelines
Analysis
with Disabilities
Customer Markets
of Market Trends
Phones
Machines
Digital Assistants
Recognition
Learning
III.
Analysis
Line Assessment Methodology
Line Assessments
Machines
Phones
Learning Software
Digital Assistants
Recognition Software
IV.
Study
of Facilitators and Barriers to Accessible Design
Facilitators
Facilitators
Facilitators
Facilitators
Facilitators
Barriers
Barriers
Barriers
Barriers
Barriers
Study Data Collection Methodology
of Industry Data: Factors Influencing Adoption of UD Practices
Case
Allocation/Funding
with Disabilities
of the Industry Study Findings
V.
Sizable Market Exists for Universally Designed Products and Services
Design Principles Can Be Easily Incorporated into Current Design Practices
Designed To Be Accessible Sometimes Do Not Meet the Needs of Users
Is Currently Both a Facilitator and a Barrier to Universal Design
Industry, and Consumers Have Important Roles To Play in Promoting Universal
Design
and Consumers Would Benefit from Better Industry Coordination with AT Vendors
VI.
of Purchase Decisions for Accessible Products
of Strategies To Promote Universal Design and Strategies To Promote Safety
of the Market for Universally Designed Products and Services
of the Impact of Section 508
of Industry Practices
of Consumers of Universally Designed Products and Services
of Acronyms and Abbreviations
List of Tables
Table 1.
Grades for Each Target Population for the Six Product Lines
Table 2.
Between Promotion of Consumer Product Safety and Accessibility