Overall Benefits of Universal Design (UD)
The application of Universal Design (UD) thinking to Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings recognises the diversity of ages, abilities, needs and preferences that these environments must accommodate. It also acknowledges that with each new year a typical ELC setting will take in a new group of children with a set of needs, and that the physical setting will have to respond to these children, along with their families and carers. To accommodate these demands, a UD ELC will integrate the following at the outset of the design and construction stages:
- Flexibility and ease of adaptability to meet users’ changing needs over time in a cost-effective way.
- Sustainable design to improve comfort and energy efficiency.
- Technologies to support Early Learning and Care.
UD is not about a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model – the UD environment enables the widest possible number of people to participate in society and to operate independently. A UD ELC setting works well for everyone and supports the education and care of a wide range of children while providing an enabling environment for a diversity of staff, family members and visitors. It is mainstream in aesthetics, not separate or distinct for those with sensory, physical or cognitive difficulties.
UD supports the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and many of the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the context of ELC and the built environment, SDG 11 ‘Sustainable Cities & Communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’ is particularly relevant. This goal is reinforced by the UN New Urban Agenda, which was adopted at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016. The New Urban Agenda sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development and rethinks the way we build, manage, and live in cities through cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors at all levels of government as well as civil society and the private sector.
Information about the UN New Urban Agenda
Considering the alignment between residential development and ELC provision, the key principles relating to UD homes are also applicable to ELC settings.
These principles and some typical applications of these principles include:
- Integrated into the neighbourhood
For example, urban or suburban settings that are centrally located and within easy reach of the community will make the setting more accessible
for pedestrians, cyclists, and those using public transport. It will also help embed the setting within the community and create a connection and relationship between children, staff, families, and people in the local community. - Easy to approach, enter and move about in
A setting with entrance footpaths that are a minimum of 2000mm wide (preferably up to 2400mm) and will provide a safe and accessible entrance route for all users whether this is a parent with a buggy, older childminder or grandparent, or a staff member or visitor with sensory, physical or cognitive challenges. Wide entrance doors or double doors will allow ease of movement at peak times or comfortable access for wheelchairs or double buggies. - Easy to understand, safe to use and manage
A calm and legible setting where the layout is easy to understand and use will provide a supportive environment for all users, particularly for those with sensory, physical or cognitive challenges. Fixtures and fittings that are clearly visible, accessible and intuitive to use will make the setting comfortable and safe, while also making it easier to operate and manage. - Flexible, cost effective and adaptable over time
ELC settings must cater to a wide diversity of ages, abilities and sizes and will benefit from moveable partitions, flexible and adaptable furniture, and other features that allow spaces to be reconfigured based on children and educator needs. This will also provide multi-purpose spaces than can be used for play, dining, social gatherings or special events. Such flexibility and adaptability will reduce costly and disruptive building modifications that may otherwise be required.
An ELC setting underpinned by these 4 key principles will not only provide a more accessible and inclusive environment, but it will also confer a market advantage for a service provider as the setting offers a supportive and attractive environment to a wider section of the community. It is important to think about UD in terms of retrofit or refurbishment projects, as these offer a good opportunity to create environments that are accessible, understandable and easy to use for all users. In situations where a service is already operating from a building that is due for retrofit or refurbishment, the operator should make sure they are aware of the key problems or design issues, so these can be addressed as part of the project. Such incremental change will allow the ELC sector evolve towards UD settings that are supportive of all children, staff, families, and visitors.
In many ways UD is first and foremost good design, but it also provides future-proofed ELC settings that are cost-effective, flexible and adaptable into the future.
