Achieving Full Participation through Universal Design
In 2007, the Council of Europe adopted Resolution ResAP (2007) (3) on achieving full participation through Universal Design. Earlier this month, the Council of Europe published “Achieving Participation through Universal Design”. The report shows that many European countries have had very positive experiences with Universal Design Initiatives, but also that full advantage of the possibilities has not been taken. To ensure Universal Design is successfully implemented, the report highlights that a number of recommendations to governments including:
- Policy makers should first of all adopt a co-ordinated and harmonised approach to the Universal Design concept. Therefore policies on disability at national level must be inclusive and should mainstream disability issues and Universal Design in all policy areas
- Key actors from all areas of national private and public sector organisations should be involved in the process. Co-ordination is also important at a European level.
- To ensure successful implementation of Universal Design, legislative measures are required to provide a basic framework for implementation mechanisms.
- Following implementation, it is important to get feedback and evaluate the process to identify how Universal Design principles have been implemented.
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