WEEK+07+-+Wayfinding+and+Accessibility

An important aspect of designing for wayshowing/finding is understanding the people who will be using the orientation system and their particular needs. There are large segments of the general population that experience either permanent or temporary visual, cognitive and physical impairments.
 * Accessibility & Universal Design **

With a rapidly increasing aging population accessibility issues will become even more salient than ever. In 2003, an estimated 4.6 million Canadians were 65 years of age or older, a number that is expected to double in the next 25 years. **By 2041, about one in four Canadians is expected to be 65 or over.** //(Human Resources and Skills Development, Government of Canada)//


 * Universal Design** is: “The design of products and environments to be usable to the greatest extent possible by people of all ages and abilities.” //(The Center for Universal Design (CUD) at North Carolina State University)//

It is important that designers are aware of the principles of universal design in the planning, design and execution of all types of artifacts from graphic design to complex built environments.

This handout includes information from the slides shown in class as well as some online resources to explore accessibility and universal design in more depth. Some of the links are listed below as well.



This document by the **Society of Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD)** provides accessible typography guidelines. We will be discussing typography for wayshowing/finding applications in more detail but these are useful general guidelines.



SEGD documents on the **Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)** specifically for the blind and visually impaired. There is the original guidelines from 1993 and updates from 2006/2007.

Accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities //Includes the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA), 2005//
 * Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services**

www.cnib.ca/eng/index.htm
 * Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)**

Lighthouse International, visual impairment advocacy and research

Coco Raynes Associates, The Raynes Rail navigation tool for the visually impaired.