Universal Design - The "Barrier-Free" Concept

The "Barrier-Free" Concept

Barrier-free (バリアフリー, bariafurii?) building modification consists of modifying buildings or facilities so that they can be used by the physically disadvantaged or disabled. The term is used primarily in Japan and non-English speaking countries (e.g. German: Barrierefreiheit; Finnish: Esteettömän rakentamisen), while in English-speaking countries, terms such as "accessibility" and "handicapped accessible" dominate in regular everyday use. An example of barrier-free design would be installing a ramp for wheelchairs alongside or in place of steps. In the case of new buildings, however, the idea of barrier free modification has largely been superseded by the concept of universal design, which seeks to design things from the outset to support easy access.

Freeing a building of barriers means:

• Recognizing the features that could form barriers for some people
• Thinking inclusively about the whole range of impairments
• Reviewing everything - from structure to smallest detail
• Seeking feedback from users and learning from mistakes

Barrier free is also a term that applies to handicap accessibility in situations where legal codes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Guidelines don't make specifications.