Resources: Individual and Family Support
In Western Australia, the Accommodation Support program allocates funds directly to people with disabilities to live independently in the community. Similarly, the Community Support Program allocates funds directly to the persons with disabilities to remain with their families and provides families with a break from caring.
In these jurisdictions there are issues still to address in terms of access, levels of funding, administrative complexity, competing models of disability, support to individuals and families to manage their funding, and so on. And, the positive benefits of direct payments is consistent.
Resources: Getting to the Community – Access, Technology and Universal Design, and Family Support
The Institute for Human Centered Design is a 27 year old educational non-profit organization committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities. Adaptive Environments' work balances expertise in legally required accessibility with promotion of best practices in human centered or universal design. Projects vary from local to international. All are characterized by collaboration and user participation.
Adaptive Environments promotes design that works for everyone across the spectrum of ability and age and enhances human experience. The Institute web site includes a history and the principles of universal design. There are downloadable resources and useful links on a wide variety of topics related to accessibility.
The Institute for Human Centered Design web site includes a history and the principles of universal design. There are downloadable resources and useful links on a wide variety of topics related to accessibility.
Principles of Universal Design
- Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.
- Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
- Simple, Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
- Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
- Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
- Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue.
- Size and Space for Approach & Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.
* Compiled by advocates of universal design, listed in alphabetical order: Bettye Rose Connell, Mike Jones, Ron Mace, Jim Mueller, Abir Mullick, Elaine Ostroff, Jon Sanford, Ed Steinfeld, Molly Story, Gregg Vanderheiden (www.adaptenv.org)
Boundless Playgrounds was the first national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities create extraordinary playgrounds where all children, with and without disabilities, can develop essential skills for life as they learn together through play.
Founded in 1997 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1998, the organization helped more than 80 communities establish Boundless Playgrounds in 21 states and Canada.
Boundless Playgrounds are different from traditional playgrounds because 1) they are barrier-free and 2) they are configured to support children's predictable play behaviors. As a result, every Boundless Playground includes a variety of stimulating opportunities for play, with rigor and challenge for children of all abilities. Boundless Playgrounds enable all children – including those with physical, developmental, cognitive and sensory disabilities – to experience independent, self-directed play, each at his or her own highest level of ability.
https://www.playgroundprofessionals.com/playground/inclusion/inclusive-playgrounds-then-and-now