Universal Access Meets Green Design

Universal Access Meets Green Design
by Melissa Schmitt Oct 16, 2007
The height of Jennifer Thomas’ desk at Access Living, a Chicago non-profit outreach organization, adjusts to accommodate her wheelchair. She rolls effortlessly across non-toxic carpet to her recycled filing cabinet under energy-efficient indirect lighting. There are no doors to struggle with at the restroom entrances. Once inside, all the faucets are automatic, a benefit to both Thomas and the environment.

Best of all, Thomas said, the features “are seamless. They don’t look like they’re marked for people with disabilities. As other members of the population age, they can use these features as well.”

Access Living’s new building at 115 W. Chicago Avenue is touted as the only one in the city where both universal design and green design meet. The building, which has a LEED certificate for energy and environmental efficiency, recently won the Barrier-Free America Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The city most recently won that award for the design of Millennium Park, which opened in 2004.

Access Living staffers, city officials and experts in universal design held a workshop and tour at the building Tuesday entitled “Leadership in Action: Universal and Green Design For All.”

“A building without barriers–it’s a perfect example of what this building stands for,” said Mayor Daley. “This building represents the future of construction in the city of Chicago and around the world.”

The recently opened facility was built over five years on land donated by the city. The architect was Jack H. Catlin of LCM Architects in Chicago.

At some point in their lives, most Americans experience a functional limitation, such as arthritis, back problems or heart disease. They find themselves unable to navigate effectively in their homes, offices and public spaces.

The World Health Organization wrote a new definition of disability in 2001, classifying it as a predictable, universal experience. More than 190 member nations recognized the new definition, which will apply to a majority of the world population at some point in their lives.

Universal design offers a framework for creating places, products and communication systems that anyone can use, regardless of physical ability. They can range from can openers with large, comfortable handles to adjustable desks and easy-access cars.

The twin values of universal design and green design are at the centerpiece of Access Living’s new building. It has energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and a green roof, which is accessible to people with disabilities.

Workstations accommodate a wide array of disabilities. Deaf workers communicate with a Video Relay System, allowing them to use sign language over a video screen with a specially trained operator. Elevators have front and back doors, which prevents people in wheelchairs from having to navigate to the front of a crowded space.

Some at the workshop said the need for universal design is especially acute today.

“Universal design is for all of us, especially the aging population,” said Valerie Fletcher, executive director of Adaptive Environments, a non-profit that focuses on universal design.”By 2050, over 25 percent of the population will be over 60 years old.”

Source:
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=65477

By-laws 34A of the Uniform Building Bylaws (UBBL)

In Malaysia, it is mandatory that all public buildings must provide facilities for disabled persons. On September 20, 1990, an amendment was made to the Uniform Building Bylaws (UBBL) at the 35th National Council of Local Government (NCLG) making it compulsory for buildings to provide access to enable disabled persons to get into, out of and within the buildings.

Buildings already built before the commencement of this by-law must be altered to comply with the by-law within 3 years from the date of commencement.

Under National Constitution article 95A, the provision of NCLG is binding on all state governments.
The following is the full text of bylaws 34A of the UBBL:
STREET, DRAINAGE AND BUILDING ACT 1974
UNIFORM BUILDING (AMENDMENT) BYLAWS 1991

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 133 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, the State. Authority Makes the following By-laws:
1. These By-laws may be cited as the Uniform Building (Amen4ai6w), By-laws 1991.
2. By-law 2 of the Uniform Building By-laws 1984 which in this By-laws is referred to as “the principal By-laws” is amended by inserting immediately after interpretation “detached building” the following inter­ pretation.
“disabled persons” means people; with a physical, hearing or sight impairment which affects their mobility or their use of buildings as referred to under by-law 34A;”.
3. The principal By-laws is amended by inserting immediately after by-law 34, the following new by-law 34A: 34A (1) Any building or part thereof towhich this by-law applies shall-
(a) be provided with access to enable disabled persons to get into, out of and within the: building except for any part of the building for which access is provided wholly or mainly for the in­spection, maintenance or repair of the building, its services or fixed plant or machinery; and
(b) be designed with facilities for used by disabled persons.
(2) The requirements of this by-law shall be deemed to be satisfied by compliance with Malaysian Standard MS 1184 and MS 1183.
(3) Buildings to which this by-law applies and which on .the date of commencement of this by-law have been erected, are being erected or have not been erected but plans have been submitted and approved shall be modified or altered to comply with this by-

laws within 3 years from the date of commencement of this by-law.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) the local authority may where it is satisfied that it is justifiable to do so-
(a) allow an extension or further extensions of the period within which the requirements of this by-law are to be complied with: or
(b) allow, variations, deviations, or exemptions as it may specify from any provisions of: this by-law.
(5) Any persons aggrieved by the decision of the local authority under paragraph (4) may within 30 days of the receipt of the decision appeal in writing to the State Authority whose decisions shall be final.
(6) The requirements of this by-law shall apply to any of the following buildings or any part thereof –
(a) offices, banks, post offices, shops, department stores, supermarkets and other administrative anti commercial buildings. except shop-houses existing, at the commencement of this by-law;
(b) rail, road, sea ad air travel buildings and associated concourses, car parking, buildings and factories;
(c) hospitals, medical centers, clinic, and other health and welfare buildings;
(d) restaurants, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, conference buildings, community buildings, swimming pools, sports buildings and other refreshment, entertainment and recreation buildings;
(e) religious buildings;
(f) schools, colleges, universities, zoos, museums, art galleries, libraries, exhibition buildings and other educational, cultural and scientific buildings; and
(g) hostels, hotels and other residential buildings other than single family private dwelling houses.

The above by-laws have been gazetted in the following states: Perlis (3 March 1994), 2 Kedah (30 November 1992), Penang (11 November 1993), Perak (13 May 1994), Selangor (20 January 1994), Negeri Sembilan (31 January 1991), Melaka (22 May 1996), Johor (7 May 1992), Pahang (28 March 1996), Terengganu (15 December 1993), Kelantan (3 July 1992), and Federal Territory (13 August 1993)

Keep on writing, don’t stop writing

At last, the writing skills workshop is over.

It has not been easy running around, attending to the nitty-gritty of organising this event, on top of my other commitments in my life, personal and otherwise.

However, it was a promise I made to the disability community and have kept.

In a way it was in response to their needs, because , hey! contributions have not really been pouring in from our guys in the Malaysian disability circle.

When asked, the normal responses are:

1.    No time!

2.    Don’t know how to write (for the media).

3.    Don’t want to talk to media because “always get misquoted” or “story came out all wrong!!”

The 1st one is not a valid excuse, but the second and third responses made me realized there is a strong need to train our people with disabilities to write for the public.

 Hence the writing skills workshop.

There were two main objectives:

The first one being that the participants  pick up the requisite skills to write for and in the media on disability –related issues and activities in their community or Organisation, using disability terms that they feel good about.

Sometimes, the only way to get it right, is to do it yourself!!!

And I am glad to see that most of the participants are on track to do that. 

So Keep on writing, Don’t stop writing., You gonna be a star someday, You gonna make a lot of people happy…….(okay, okay, I adapted this from a song, don’t sue me pls , …)

The second objective was to encourage and help develop potential individuals interested in carving a career for themselves in this line.

Some friends think I am crazy. They said, “You are doing all this free of charge. You are spending your time and effort in nurturing them with no conditions attached. What if they don’t write for CHALLENGES; what if they write for someone else?”

To that my response was: “Great! If I am able to help them develop their writing skills to that stage of acceptance by other media, that is testimony that this programme works!   I would wish them well. I would only ask that they offer the same kind of support to their juniors.”

 Pictures of the journalism workshop

 

Daniel Chan kickstarts the Journalism workshop with pointers on news reporting

 

 evin Thomas introduces design and layout, while Joanne Cheah interprets for participants at her table.

Petra Gimbad shares her writing experiences to a engrossed audience.

 

L-R Facilitator Jana (Janatharni Arumugam) helps her group; Elizabeth Ang, Dernita bt. Muhammed, Bathmavathi Krishnan (hidden) and Moses Choo  make Advocacy and PWDs rights issues palatable for media. Moses Choo takes notes on his portable brailler.

 

Teen participants started on their first write-up under the watchful eye of Yasmin Masidi.