News Advisory

NCD #04-461
October 14, 2004
Contact: Mark S. Quigley
202-272-2004

National Council on Disability to Release Universal Design Report

WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD) will release a report on universal design at a news conference at 10:00 a.m., October 28 at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Through its report, Design for Inclusion: Creating a New Marketplace, NCD aims to educate designers and manufacturers about how electronic and information technology intersects with the needs of individuals with disabilities. Currently, many people within corporations have never heard of universal design, and many of those who have do not understand that it is more than just a design for disability. This research aims to provide industry with the knowledge of universal design methods that they need to clearly see how their complex products could be made accessible in a cost-effective way. As part of the research, six product lines were analyzed from the telecommunications, software, consumer electronics, and digital services industries for both accessibility and usability. At a time when the incorporation of universal design is crucial, NCD hopes that the information provided in this report will motivate and drive the development of more universally, accessibly designed electronic and information technology.

For more information, contact Mark Quigley or Joan Durocher at 202-272-2004.