ABSTRACT
Laws, global markets and competition, an aging population, technological advances, and evolving conceptualizations of disability and societal values are combining to promote the mainstreaming of universal and accessible design. Figure 1.1 diagrammatically illustrates the interactions of these forces. The process of design takes place within and this milieu. Design does not take place in isolation-it is a social process. It draws ideas, inspirations, and constraints from the social environment and, in turn, the products of design influence this environment. Design is placed at the center of Figure 1.1 because design is the focus of this book.
