Universal Design: The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
"Universal design places increased emphasis on the critical goal of meeting the needs of as many users as possible. Designs may be inherently accommodating or may be adjustable or adaptable to meet varied personal requirements. For this reason, it is important that universal design be included in all phases of the design process. By increasing the number of people whose needs are being addressed in a single design solution, universal design encourages an integrative approach rather than multiple separate solutions. It is this integrated approach that makes universal design cost effective and results in the inclusive involvement of more people in the activities of society."
