This project focuses on enhancing the communication of accessibility needs by creating visual and textual materials—such as animations, diagrams, and captions—that demonstrate how well-built environments meet the needs of people with disabilities. The goal is to improve understanding and support the creation of spaces that reduce friction in the daily lives of individuals with disabilities.

Objectives

• Develop animations, diagrams, and captions to deepen understanding of how persons with disabilities navigate and interact with the built environment in daily activities.

• Establish general principles and best practices for designing instructional diagrams related to accessibility requirements.

• Co-create and test visual and textual learning components with persons with disabilities to provide architects and engineers with a clearer understanding of accessibility.

• Visualize how accessibility requirements support human workflows, establishing best practices for visual communication and guidelines.

• Develop Accessible Diagram Principles by collaborating with diverse populations, ensuring outcomes are representative of varying accessibility needs.

 Research Focus

The project will build a library of accessible instructional materials, augmenting and evaluating existing standards. These materials will be continuously tested and iterated upon through the input of study participants with disabilities and guidance from an expert advisory committee.

Impact

The project reimagines how accessibility standards are communicated, ensuring that architects, engineers, and decision-makers can make informed design choices. Ultimately, it seeks to provide decision-makers with the tools to create spaces that minimize barriers for people with disabilities, improving overall inclusivity in the built environment.

Partner Organizations