Robin H. Pugh-Yi, PhD¹, Laurie Ringaert, MS², Betsy Tewey, MA¹, Anita Cobb, BA¹, Christine Mason, PhD¹, and Shelia Newman, MS¹. (1) CESSI, Inc., 6858 Old Dominion Dr. Ste. 240, McLean, VA 22101, (703) 448-6155 x201, rpughyi@cessi.net, (2) Center fir Design Study, North Carolina State University, 50 Pullen Rd, Brooks Hall Rm. 104, Campus Box 8613, Raleigh, NC 27695-8613

A critical aim of universal design is to make the built environment more accessible to people with disabilities. Consumer input is important for determining how best to accomplish this, as well as for assessing how much progress has been made toward this goal. Architectural engineers and other universal designers typically rely on small samples of consumer data, often collected by designers who are untrained in social science methods. Conversely, social scientists trained in collecting large representative data samples are typically unaware of the processes involved in engineering projects and the types of consumer input that would be most valuable for these projects. The current study involves a collaboration between social scientists and universal design architects to: 1) incorporate consumer feedback into universal design projects, and 2) determine better practices for collecting consumer data. The social scientists collected survey data from over 700 consumers and service providers about the needs of people with disabilities. Many respondents described barriers and facilitators to functioning in the built environment. Universal design architects will review survey results to inform current projects. The social science team will use observational data and interviews to assess the utility of the data, the process of incorporating consumer feedback into design projects, and how data quality can be improved to be most useful to the design team. Results are expected to lead to improved methods of needs assessment for people with disabilities that allow more effective responsiveness by the designers and engineers who aim to address these needs.

Learning Objectives:

• The session will inform participants of the processes used by universal design architects to incorporate consumer feedback into their projects.
• The session will serve to inform social scientists about how to make consumer data most useful to universal design architects.

Keywords: Disability Studies,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.