UD has seven principles as follows:
PRINCIPLE ONE: Equitable Use
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
PRINCIPLE TWO: Flexibility in Use
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
PRINCIPLE THREE: Simple and Intuitive Use
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
PRINCIPLE FOUR: Perceptible Information
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
PRINCIPLE FIVE: Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
PRINCIPLE SIX: Low Physical Effort
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
PRINCIPLE SEVEN: Size and Space for Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.
| Medical Model | Social Model |
| Disability is a deficiency or abnormality | Disability is a difference |
| Being disabled is negative | Being disabled, in itself, is neutral |
| Disability resides in the individual | Disability derives from interaction between individual and society |
| The remedy for disability-related problems is cure or normalization of the individual |
The remedy for disability-related problems is a change in the interaction between the individual and society |
| The agent of remedy is the professional who affects the arrangements between the individual and society |
The agent of remedy can be the individual, an advocate, or anyone who affects the arrangements between the individual and society |
| Source: Gill, C. (1994) Two Models of Disability. Chicago Institute of Disability. University of Chicago. | |
Many disability service professionals would defend the accommodation model as a social model
approach. When we explore it closely and compare it to the universal design approach, it is clear that it is more aligned with medical model thinking.
approach. When we explore it closely and compare it to the universal design approach, it is clear that it is more aligned with medical model thinking.
| Accommodation Approach | Universal Design Approach |
| Access is a problem for the individual and should be addressed by that person and the disability service program |
Access issues stem from an inaccessible, poorly designed environments and should be addressed by the designer |
| Access is achieved through accommodations and/or retrofitting existing requirements |
The system/environment is designed, to the greatest extent possible, to be usable by all |
| Access is retroactive | Access is proactive |
| Access is often provided in a separate location or through special treatment |
Access is inclusive |
| Access must be reconsidered each time a new individual uses the system, i.e. is consumable |
Access, as part of the environmental design, is sustainable |
| Source: AHEAD Universal Design Initiative Team | |