| CODE | DBS3001 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Universal Design: Access for All | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Disability Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is an introduction to the Universal Design Approach that is the basis of the creation of environments and products for all people thus promoting a more inclusive society. The study-unit will include lectures, audio-visual material, and first-hand experiences of disabled persons in all aspects of accessibility. Content: - Introduction: Introducing the Universal Design Approach: history and current thinking; - Perspectives in Universal Design: Influences and Terminology; - Principles of Universal Design: Universal Design guidelines and Accessibility Standards; - Universal Design Practices: Universal Design in the home, at school/educational environments, in the workplace, sports and entertainment facilities, transport, outdoor areas; Universal design of products; - Experiences of Persons with different disabilities and accessibility issues: persons with visual impairment/blind; deaf persons; persons with intellectual disabilities; persons with physical disabilities; persons with cognitive impairment/dementia; - Universal Design and Information Technology: Design of Information and Telecommunications Technologies; Universal Design in Film and Media; - National Guidelines, Policies and Legislation; - The Future of Universal Design. Study-unit Aims: - To discuss the principles of Universal Design; - To explore the factors influencing the Universal Design Approach; - To identify the different accessibility needs/issues for different groups of service users, i.e. persons with physical impairments, persons with sensory impairments, persons with intellectual impairments; - To inform re national guidelines, policies, funding sources and legislation relevant to Universal Design: Access for All. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define Universal Design and its principles; - Understand the application of these principles through case study scenarios and real-life situations; - Appreciate the different needs of different impairment groups in society, with special reference to environments: built and non; - Learn to appreciate the various meanings of accessibility and that accessible environments are better for all members of society. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply the acquired knowledge and base their OT practice on the principles of Universal Design that would help to break down the barriers that exist in society and create exclusion of disabled people and others; - Critically analyse structures and environments both in healthcare practice and in the community and propose best-practices that would make environments more inclusive. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Bezzina A., Spiteri J. (Eds.) (2005). Access for All (Design Guidelines). National Commission Persons with Disability: Malta. - Centre for Accessible Environments (2002). Planning your home for safety and convenience. CAE: London. - Centre for Accessible Environments (2004). Designing for Accessibility. Riba Enterprises: London. - Mace, R. L. (1991). The Accessible Housing Design File. Barrier Free Environments, Inc., Van Norstrand Reinhold. - Preiser, W., Ostroff E. (Eds.) (2000). Universal Design Handbook. Mc Graw Hill. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Maria Victoria Gauci |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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