The seed is here at Adaptive Environments:
Universal Design is also called Inclusive Design, Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but an orientation to any design process that starts with a responsibility to the experience of the user. It has a parallel in the green design movement that also offers a framework for design problem solving based on the core value of environmental responsibility. Universal Design and green design are comfortably two sides of the same coin but at different evolutionary stages. Green design focuses on environmental sustainability, Universal Design on social sustainability.
Two expressions, growing out of Designing for the 21st Century in Rio de Janeiro, are the documents, The Rio Charter on Universal Design for Sustainable and Inclusive Development and 2004 Rio Declaration on Sustainable Social Development, Disability & Ageing.
Now it appears that the American public might almost be ready to hear the message. Living on Earth interviewed Professor Daniel Esty, director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy. A study undertaken by his center finds that, "A new survey shows that 63 percent of Americans are as concerned about climate change as they are about terrorism."
Some resources on the topic here at Rolling Rains:
The Rio Charter on Universal Design for Sustainable and Inclusive Development
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000313.html
2004 Rio Declaration on Sustainable Social Development, Disability & Ageing
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000285.html
A Major Endorsement of Visitability in US Housing
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001457.html
A Major Endorsement of Universal Design in US Housing
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001456.html
A Barrier-Free Resort: Inclusive Design at Work in the Virgin Islands
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001517.html
The Universal Design "Twofer"
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001380.html
What is Sustainable in Destination Development?
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000654.html
Reflections on Universal Design & Justice
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000769.html
International Best Practices in Universal Design: A Global Review
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001511.html