From my perspective, UD is emerging into the mainstream market. There is a common misconception that UD is a way to comply with the Americans with Disability Act Accessibility Guidelines. UD, however, is not just for people with disabilities or people who are elderly. UD is human-centered design. It can alleviate many of the housing problems wheelchair users have been facing for years. These homes need not look geriatric or hospital-like. They can be homey, spacious, and welcoming for all.Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D. from Building a Universal Design Dream Home:A Primer for Building Human-Centered Homes in Action magazine
Our home is slated to begin construction this spring. Upon completion in late Fall 2006, it will serve as a national demonstration home and Universal Design Living Laboratory. The landscape will be wheelchair accessible and include raised beds and containers in the gardens. The home will showcase the latest products and technology supporting the principles, not only of UD, but also of green building (which optimizes use of natural resources including energy and water) and healthy home construction (which aims to increase the quality of air and water in the home).
For the full article see:
http://www.udll.com/articles/building_a_universal_design_dream_home_a_primer_for_building_human-centered_homes.cfm