ABSTRACT
The application of universal and accessible design to the workplace starts with the design of consumer products and services. From a customer product and service perspective, the design objectives include functional requirements, selling price, and potentially conflicting demands-for example, between the amount and kinds of flexibility afforded versus operational complexity. Depending on the product or service, there may be legal mandates for accessibility for buildings, telecommunication products and services, and electronic and information technology. Furthermore, the universal and accessible design requirements must be balanced against a host of other design requirements, such as any standards (ISO, ANSI, etc.), designing for cost-effective manufacturing and assembly, as well as service and maintenance once in the field, and then end-of-life recycling or disposal.
