The European Concept For Accessibility 2003

2.2.2 Opportunities for Designers

Design errors are often due to the fact that designers take as their model user either themselves or the people whom they normally come into contact with, thus forgetting the real diversity of the population.

However, those who design from a perspective of accessibility will find that their projects are more successful because the final result will be a design that is valid for the majority of people.

As shown above, accessibility or design for all should be a philosophy that is adopted by all those involved in the creation of environments or the development of products aimed at the general public.

Therefore, it is essential that both professional bodies and universities promote this concept and provide experts with the information they need to put it into practice:
1. Universities, As centres which train and guide the next generation of experts, have to ensure that the knowledge they impart is based on this philosophy. In addition, it is essential that students take it on board and feel motivated to continue with this line of work. Therefore, the whole of the university environment has to be a real life example of the philosophy it is aiming to promote, that is, anyone who so wishes should be able to access its different services (lecture rooms, toilets, cafeterias, libraries, etc.).

2. Professional bodies Should take responsibility for informing their members about new trends, the tools to be used, the social benefits that these bring and the professional success that follows from accessible designs. In summary, universities and professional bodies should support those experts who decide to make the social commitment of designing for the whole population and, moreover, should themselves make a professional commitment to motivating and educating their students or members.