IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v12y2015i7p8157-8171d52610.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Working with Policy and Regulatory Factors to Implement Universal Design in the Built Environment: The Australian Experience

Author

Listed:
  • Helen Larkin

    (School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong 3220, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Danielle Hitch

    (School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong 3220, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Valerie Watchorn

    (School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong 3220, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Susan Ang

    (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong 3220, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Built environments that are usable by all provide opportunities for engagement in meaningful occupations. However, enabling them in day to day design processes and practice is problematic for relevant professions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain greater understanding of the policy and regulatory influences that promote or hinder the uptake of universal design in built environments, to inform better future design. Focus groups or telephone interviews were undertaken with 28 key building industry and disability stakeholders in Australia. Four themes were identified: the difficulties of definition; the push or pull of regulations and policy; the role of formal standards; and, shifting the focus of design thinking. The findings highlight the complexity of working within policy and regulatory contexts when implementing universal design. Occupational therapists working with colleagues from other professions must be aware of these influences, and develop the skills to work with them for successful practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Helen Larkin & Danielle Hitch & Valerie Watchorn & Susan Ang, 2015. "Working with Policy and Regulatory Factors to Implement Universal Design in the Built Environment: The Australian Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:7:p:8157-8171:d:52610
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/7/8157/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/7/8157/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maëlle Corcuff & François Routhier & Stéphanie Gamache & David Fiset & Jean Leblond & Marie-Eve Lamontagne, 2022. "Implementation Determinants of Knowledge Mobilization within a Quebec Municipality to Improve Universal Accessibility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Delphine Labbé & Atiya Mahmood & William C. Miller & W. Ben Mortenson, 2020. "Examining the Impact of Knowledge Mobilization Strategies to Inform Urban Stakeholders on Accessibility: A Mixed-Methods study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Natasha A. Layton & Emily J. Steel, 2015. "“An Environment Built to Include Rather than Exclude Me”: Creating Inclusive Environments for Human Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Kim, Justine Jihyun & Lee, Jongsu & Shin, Jungwoo & He, Meihan, 2022. "How are high-tech assistive devices valued in an aging society? Exploring the use and non-use values of equipment that aid limb disability," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:7:p:8157-8171:d:52610. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.