The Assessment of the Environments of AT Use: Accessibility, Sustainability, and Universal Design - Assistive Technology Assessment - page 80

achieve the “ideal” design solution which will enhance the match between the AT, the user,
and his/her environment. The second part of this chapter offers a step-by-step decision-
making process to guide the multidisciplinary team to effectively evaluate the environ-
ment as an on-going component of the ATA process. The overall aim of this environmental
assessment process is to help practitioners arrive at an assistive solution that will optimize
user participation and satisfaction in the context of use. The chapter concludes with a case
study exemplifying the environmental assessment process in practice.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the role of Ann Kathleen Barnds and Daisy Feidt in developing some of
the key concepts presented in this chapter. We also thank Joy Hammel and Barbara Knecht
for their valuable input and guidance in relation to the UD project that this chapter draws
upon. Finally, special thanks to Hsiang-Yi Tseng for her work during the UD project.
References
AARP Public Policy Institute. (2005). Livable Communities: An Evaluation Guide . Retrieved from
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/d18311_communities.pdf
Birkeland, J. (2002). Design for Sustainability: A Sourcebook of Integrated, Eco-Logical Solutions . London:
Earthscan Publications.
Build-for All Project. (2006). The Build-for-All Reference Manual . Retrieved from http://www.build-
for-all.net
Center for Universal Design. (1997). The Principles of Universal Design. Version 2.0 . Retrieved from
http://www.ncsu.edu/www/ncsu/design/sod5/cud/about_ud/udprinciplestext.htm
Center for Universal Design. (2008). The Principles of Universal Design . Retrieved from http://www.
design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/udprinciples.htm
Church, G., and Glennen, S. (1992). The Handbook of Assistive Technology . San Diego: Singular
Publishing Group Inc.
Day, H., Jutai, J., Woolrich, W., and Strong, G. (2001). The stability of impact of assistive devices.
Disability and Rehabilitation, 23 (9), 400-404. doi:10.1080/09638280010008906
Dijcks, B. P. J., De Witte, L. P., Gelderblom, G. J., Wessels, R. D., and Soede, M. (2006). Non-use
of assistive technology in The Netherlands: A non-issue? Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive
Technology, 1 (1-2), 97-102. doi:10.1080/09638280500167548
Dion, B., Balcazar de laCruz, A., Rapson, D., Svensson, E., Peters, M., and Dion, P. (2006). International
Best Practices in Universal Design: A Global Review . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Human
Rights Commission.
Egilson, S. T., and Traustadottir, R. (2009). Participation of students with physical disabilities in the
school environment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63 (3), 264-272. doi:10.5014/
ajot.63.3.264
EIDD Design for All Europe. (2004). Stockholm Declaration. Adopted on 9 May 2004, at the Annual
General Meeting of the European Institute for Design and Disability in Stockholm. Retrieved from
http://www.designforalleurope.org/Design-for-All/EIDD-Documents/Stockholm-Declaration/
Gossett, A., Mirza, M., Barnds, A. K., and Feidt, D. (2009). Beyond access: A case study on the inter-
section between accessibility, sustainability, and universal design. Disability and Rehabilitation:
Assistive Technology, 4 (6), 439-450. doi:10.3109/17483100903100301