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HANDICAP ACCESS
For better Handicap Access, products and environments should be usable
within the comfortable reach of the intended users, including those who
are seated and those who are standing. Circulation clearances and
environments should be large enough to accommodate wheelchair and
walking aide users. Grip sizes and clearances should be within the range
abilities of people who have limited grip or have to use alternatives to
the standard grips. Often we think that Handicap Access can be achieved
best through larger spaces; however, reducing energy expenditure is
often just as important as providing enough clearance for wheelchair
movements. In particular, older people need an environment that
eliminates unnecessary expenditure of effort. This can be achieved by
organizing space and designing devices to simplify the tasks of using
them and may mean keeping spaces from getting too large. Useless
movements should be eliminated. Hands-free operation can be an excellent
way to reduce energy expenditure. Operating forces on controls and
hardware should be kept to a minimum. Finally, products and environments
should be designed to reduce bending and stretching. The legibility of
the environment and products are critical to their successful use.
Clarifying the environment includes the use of color and texture
contrasts to identify different controls or improve the perception of
spaces. Enough light should be provided to see things easily and glare
should be kept to a minimum. Clarifying the environment also involves
simplifying cognitive tasks associated with perception and operation of
devices. This can be achieved by making the way things work visible,
providing "information in the world" instead of requiring people to
memorize operations. Natural mapping should be used to make the
relationship between controls and their effects more understandable.
Providing redundant queuing, for example visual signals as well as
audible signals, reinforces communication about the operation of
devices. In general, the level of technology should be kept as simple as
possible and good feedback for the effects of one actions should be
provided. Universal design does not necessarily mean that the product or
environment is designed to be usable by all people from the beginning.
The systems approach can be used to provide an adaptable environment,
one that can be easily adjusted to meet the need of any person. There
are many ways to accomplish this. Interchangeable parts allow for
substitution of features to accommodate different levels of ability or
different ways to use a device or place.
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