Enhancing quality of life through Universal Design.
OBJECTIVE
To inform clinicians, caregivers and researchers involved with assessing and treating individuals with neurological disabilities of the benefits of universal design in enhancing quality of life. The improvement of quality of life has the potential to benefit the individuals with neurological disabilities and those whose lives overlap and intersect with those individuals.


METHODS
Literature and design reviews are used as a foundation for a model for incorporating and leveraging universal design to the benefit of the patient's social sphere, which includes caregivers, family members and medical staff. By matching patients varied abilities with universal design solutions, the model of universal design benefitting the patients' social sphere will be demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations are made for clinicians and researchers that they may use in their practices and investigations in three areas: 1) educating patients about the benefits of universal design, 2) helping inform patients how to leverage universally designed products and approaches in their lives and living spaces and 3) understanding how to incorporate universal design principles into research and clinical spaces as demonstration pieces for patients.
Joines
Sharon
S
Department of Industrial Design, Center for Universal Design, College of Design, North Carolina State University, Box 7701, Raleigh, NC 27695-7701, USA. Sharon_Joines@ncsu.edu
D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D004526:Efficiency; D004779:Environment Design; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012106:Research; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012931:Social Environment