Common Sense Universal Design


Book Description

"Common Sense Universal Design: Creating Accessible, Safe, Comfortable & Desirable Homes" is a special type of book written for both consumers who want to do their own remodeling and renovation as well as the professionals who help them or provide it, to achieve a safe, accessible, comfortable, and convenient living environment while enhancing the enjoyment and value of the home for everyone in the home and those who come to visit. The objective is to appeal to all ages and abilities and to implement strategies and solutions that are nearly invisible - ones that do not call attention to the design but fit right in as functional elements to achieve the objective of a safe design for the widest possible audience. Aging in place and remaining in the home are guiding principles - along with safety and accessibility. The 7 chapters in this book are; 1 - "What Is Universal Design?" 2 - "Universal Design As A Solution," 3 - "Easy Universal Design Solutions," 4 - "More Involved Universal Design Solutions," 5 - "Other Universal Design," 6 - "Universal Design On The Outside," and 7 - "Summary Of Universal Design Treatments." This book will serve as a ready guide for installing the improvements in your home that will help it appeal to members of the household, visitors and guests, and future owners.




Common Sense


Book Description

Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the Following Interesting Subjects, viz.: I. Of the Origin and Design of Government in General, with Concise Remarks on the English Constitution. II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession. III. Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs. IV. Of the Present Ability of America, with some Miscellaneous Reflections




Undeniable


Book Description

Named A Best Book of the Year by World Magazine Throughout his distinguished and unconventional career, engineer-turned-molecular-biologist Douglas Axe has been asking the questions that much of the scientific community would rather silence. Now, he presents his conclusions in this brave and pioneering book. Axe argues that the key to understanding our origin is the “design intuition”—the innate belief held by all humans that tasks we would need knowledge to accomplish can only be accomplished by someone who has that knowledge. For the ingenious task of inventing life, this knower can only be God. Starting with the hallowed halls of academic science, Axe dismantles the widespread belief that Darwin’s theory of evolution is indisputably true, showing instead that a gaping hole has been at its center from the beginning. He then explains in plain English the science that proves our design intuition scientifically valid. Lastly, he uses everyday experience to empower ordinary people to defend their design intuition, giving them the confidence and courage to explain why it has to be true and the vision to imagine what biology will become when people stand up for this truth. Armed with that confidence, readers will affirm what once seemed obvious to all of us—that living creatures, from single-celled cyanobacteria to orca whales and human beings, are brilliantly conceived, utterly beyond the reach of accident. Our intuition was right all along.




Universal Design


Book Description

As the baby boom generation ages, it is crucial that designers understand all they can about bringing this group, as well as all others, design that will offer function, aesthetics, and quality of life. Full of examples and illustrated with pictures of good design, Universal Design: Principles and Models details how the principles of universal design (UD) can be used to evaluate all products and places. Universal design is ubiquitous; therefore good examples are essential to understanding. This book includes more than 50 case studies that demonstrate successful applications of UD principles and helps professors develop curriculum and teaching strategies. More than 300 color photographs and drawings further illustrate the principles and best practices. The book includes topics ranging from the development of ergonomic chairs for home and office to the unique environmental concerns of those sensitive to electronic and chemical emissions. The examples illustrate a variety of user/groups in different situations and clearly demonstrate the design directives for meeting their needs. The author explores the many definitions of UD, enabling readers to identify those most meaningful to large portions of the population. Universal design (UD) facilitates the comfort and navigation of those with failing eyesight or restricted mobility, and the family members and professionals who care for them. Whether at home, work, or a public place, people appreciate the beautiful and the practical. This book takes a vital and meaningful approach, going beyond the basics and delving into details. It gets to the heart of UD and supplies an understanding of design from a greater perspective.




Building Access


Book Description

“All too often,” wrote disabled architect Ronald Mace, “designers don’t take the needs of disabled and elderly people into account.” Building Access investigates twentieth-century strategies for designing the world with disability in mind. Commonly understood in terms of curb cuts, automatic doors, Braille signs, and flexible kitchens, Universal Design purported to create a built environment for everyone, not only the average citizen. But who counts as “everyone,” Aimi Hamraie asks, and how can designers know? Blending technoscience studies and design history with critical disability, race, and feminist theories, Building Access interrogates the historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts for these questions, offering a groundbreaking critical history of Universal Design. Hamraie reveals that the twentieth-century shift from “design for the average” to “design for all” took place through liberal political, economic, and scientific structures concerned with defining the disabled user and designing in its name. Tracing the co-evolution of accessible design for disabled veterans, a radical disability maker movement, disability rights law, and strategies for diversifying the architecture profession, Hamraie shows that Universal Design was not just an approach to creating new products or spaces, but also a sustained, understated activist movement challenging dominant understandings of disability in architecture, medicine, and society. Illustrated with a wealth of rare archival materials, Building Access brings together scientific, social, and political histories in what is not only the pioneering critical account of Universal Design but also a deep engagement with the politics of knowing, making, and belonging in twentieth-century United States.




Assessing Student Learning


Book Description

The first edition of Assessing Student Learning has become the standard reference for college faculty and administrators who are charged with the task of assessing student learning within their institutions. The second edition of this landmark book offers the same practical guidance and is designed to meet ever-increasing demands for improvement and accountability. This edition includes expanded coverage of vital assessment topics such as promoting an assessment culture, characteristics of good assessment, audiences for assessment, organizing and coordinating assessment, assessing attitudes and values, setting benchmarks and standards, and using results to inform and improve teaching, learning, planning, and decision making.







Common-Sense Classroom Management for Special Education Teachers, Grades 6-12


Book Description

"Teachers will love the straightforward, practical information. The topics and strategies are excellent." —Debi Gartland, Professor of Special Education, Towson University "Impressive. Pinpoints current classroom issues and offers direct problem-solving approaches. This easy-to-implement resource, with its organized chapter outlines and well-crafted format, is flexible and adaptable to any grade, subject, or ability level." —Erin Ann Witty, Special Education Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools, WI "Provides great insight for developing and organizing your overall daily routine, planning, and teaching." —Mariann C. Carter, Exceptional Needs Specialist, South Carolina Department of Education "A valuable reference for any special education teacher. With a focus on classroom management, the guide covers all aspects of teaching, from paperwork to professional relationships. New and veteran teachers will find indispensable resources to improve their practice and enrich their learning." —Peggy Holtman, Special Education Supervisor, Milwaukee Public Schools, WI Special education teaching strategies in a no-nonsense format! If you′re a teacher new to special education, this book is for you! This newest Common-Sense Classroom Management guide addresses the most critical challenges that arise when teaching adolescent learners with special needs. In this flexible and easy-to-implement resource, educators will find 80 concise and teacher-tested strategies. Each strategy works in five steps or fewer, helping special educators feel competent and confident about working with coteachers, teacher aides, support staff, administrators, and families. The authors, all special education experts, provide practical assistance with: Specially designed instruction and student organization to make teaching more effective Legal responsibilities aligned with IDEIA and NCLB requirements Positive behavioral supports, including incentive programs and meaningful consequences Ideal for teachers new to special education, teacher trainers, and teacher mentors, this resource provides a clear-sighted focus to help you shape the structure of each teaching day and ensure success for all your learners with special needs!




Creating Inclusive Libraries by Applying Universal Design


Book Description

As libraries of all types strive to serve diverse communities, Universal Design offers principles and approaches that can be used to create welcoming spaces and services. Applying Universal Design to Create Inclusive Libraries: A LITA Guide offers a thorough and engaging introduction to Universal Design and concrete examples of how these principles can be applied at libraries of all sizes, types, and budgets. This guide covers both Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning and includes real examples of how libraries have used these principles to create more welcoming environments and programming. Featuring a mix of examples, case studies, and checklists, this guide is suitable for those who are new to accessibility and inclusion work. Examples discussed cover a range of types of projects for all budgets, from major renovations to in-house signage design projects. Libraries covered include public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries, and more. It will leave readers confident of steps that they can take at their library to improve inclusion at any price point.




The Politics of Design


Book Description

Many designs that appear in today's society will circulate and encounter audiences of many different cultures and languages. With communication comes responsibility; are designers aware of the meaning and impact of their work? An image or symbol that is acceptable in one culture can be offensive or even harmful in the next. A typeface or colour in a design might appear to be neutral, but its meaning is always culturally dependent. If designers learn to be aware of global cultural contexts, we can avoid stereotyping and help improve mutual understanding between people. Politics of Design is a collection of visual examples from around the world. Using ideas from anthropology and sociology, it creates surprising and educational insight in contemporary visual communication. The examples relate to the daily practice of both online and offline visual communication: typography, images, colour, symbols, and information. Politics of Design shows the importance of visual literacy when communicating beyond borders and cultures. It explores the cultural meaning behind the symbols, maps, photography, typography, and colours that are used every day. It is a practical guide for design and communication professionals and students to create more effective and responsible visual communication.