Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) Chairman and University Professor Peter Blanck alongside fellow speaker, Progressive AE Executive Vice President and Universal Design Consultant, Mike Perry spoke at the 2019 SRAPPA Conference hosted by Northern Kentucky University on October 8, 2019, in Covington, KY, at the Northern Kentucky Conference Center. Blanck and Perry led a breakout session on Impacting Your University Mission with Universal Design. Their presentation featured the principles and methods that the Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC) has made regarding accessibility and inclusion through universal design followed by a Q&A session.

In 2008, the GUDC became a non-profit organization focused on “address[ing] the need for greater usability in buildings in response to many social trends, e.g. the aging of society, globalization and social diversity.” (GUDC at: http://www.globaluniversaldesign.org/news/announcing-global-universal-design-commission-gudc). The GUDC created a set of Universal Design (UD) standards for facilities to use as a guide to ensure usability, safety, and health for all persons. Since 2008 the GUDC Universal Design standards have been incorporated into many projects.  The Mary Free Bed YMCA was the first project in the world to be accredited under the program.  Currently, the Burton Blatt Institute and Merck & Company are in various stages of the accreditation process along with a number of community organizations. The UD standards have societal, cultural, and industrial implications for a more inclusive and sustainable world.

View Conference Presentation “Impacting Your University Mission with Universal Design” (PDF)

More information about Peter Blanck
[bbi.syr.edu/about/team/Leadership_Team/Peter_Blanck.html]

More information about Mike Perry
[www.progressiveae.com/person/mike-perry/]

More information about the Global Universal Design Commission
[www.globaluniversaldesign.org]

More information about the SRAPPA
[www.srappa.org]

About the Burton Blatt Institute
The Burton Blatt Institute (“BBI”) at Syracuse University reaches around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. Through program development, research, and public policy guidance, BBI advances the full inclusion of people with disabilities. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, a pioneering disability rights scholar. BBI has offices in Syracuse, NY; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; New York City, NY; and Lexington, KY. bbi.syr.edu