Session Description: As inclusion proves to be a growing topic in our communities, play spaces, and parks- many are seeking best practice strategies to create universal spaces that support a range of ages and abilities. This presentation helps create strategies for inclusion by utilizing the principles of Universal Design. In understanding Universal Design principles, these work as a “rule book” for developing spaces that support any and all users coming into our parks.
We start our discussion with key strategies on finding our ability demographics- which allows us to design as intentionally as possible for our specific communities, and attendees will learn how this supports social sustainability and factors into grant writing. Beyond that, attendees will be provided with current data on how the world population is encountering disability. We will cover each Universal design principle as to how it relates to practical examples in park and recreation spaces, based on real life projects. We will also cover common mistakes, and how we can design around those. As we go through each of these, we will notate which specific types of disabilities and demographics these design considerations support, making our spaces universal for all.
Learning Objectives:
Understand current definitions of disability as defined by environmental conditions, and how this factors into creating community social equity and sustainability.
Explain why incorporating inclusion as a strategy in creating a triple bottom line acts as a solution to the long term success of parks and recreation environments.
Illustrate each principle of universal design and how they contribute to a park design that goes beyond accessibility and encourages inclusion.
.jpg "Jill N. Moore, CPSI photo")
