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Getting the Design Right - Inclusive Destination Development - Page 2© Scott Paul Rains
Page 2
Apr 6, 2005
In the United States, "home" is being redefined. Universal design has moved squarely into the mainstream in new home construction. Visitability, the practice of building homes with at least one ground floor zero-step entry and a ground floor bathroom with a doorway wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through, is not only gaining popularity, it is the law in a growing number of communities. As home becomes synonymous with universally designed hotels, retreats, and resorts will follow the trend. Cherished traditions of shipbuilding that obstruct easy access will be cast aside to accommodate the aging Baby Boomer generation on cruise ships. As Universal Design continues its path into the core values of the travel and hospitality industry it will carry its democratizing civil rights philosophy to the farthest corners of the world. What multinationals in the industry model as ethical best practice - even as they demonstrate that Universal Design is also profitable practice - puts added pressure on local governments to build accessible infrastructure for citizens. In a self-enforcing cycle, the outside money brought in by tourists and invested in regional development that works "work for the widest possible spectrum of users without adaptation or specialized design" creates destinations of choice for travelers with disabilities. We call that "Inclusive Destination Development."
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