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| General Principles
of Universal Design Policy |
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| II.Basic concept of
the general principles of universal design policy |
2.Integrating barrier free policies
Past barrier free measures have
achieved some degree of success, but beginning with both physical measures
and organizational measures, information barriers and psychological barriers
remain. Barrier free measures are one of the most important policies among
policies based on the concept of universal design, and in the future, integrated
barrier free measures must be completed and strengthened. It will be important
to take measures considering a diverse range of users based upon the most
recent trend in measures for handicapped people: providing them with greater
independence and ability to participate in society.
| (1) |
Continuous removal of barriers for uninterrupted
movement by users |
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When removing barriers, it
is important to remove them continually to support uninterrupted movement
from the perspective of users.
Therefore, a comprehensive
perspective is necessary, and basic concepts and plans for the removal
of barriers must be enacted through harmony and cooperation of a wide
range of concerned parties from the perspective of overall urban renewal. |
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| (2) |
Expansion of target areas |
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The target areas must be made
as broad as possible, by including transportation services, public
facilities, and other public spaces (for example, taxis and other
individual transportation services, schools and similar public facilities,
etc.). |
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| (3) |
Expanding non-physical measures |
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Removal of barriers must not
be limited to physical measures, but include non-physical measures
such as greater personal service and the provision of suitable information
to users to be implemented as comprehensive measures that integrate
physical and non-physical measures.
It is important to carry out activities to increase public awareness
and to train personnel to meet the need for elimination of psychological
barriers: an achievement requiring that every citizen view the difficulties
faced by the elderly, handicapped people, and families with children
as their own problems and cooperate actively to ensure that such disadvantaged
people can participate fully in society. |
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| (4) |
Encouragement of responsive and
flexible measures to achieve steady implementation |
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Spatial and physical restrictions
etc. have resulted in insufficient removal of barriers from existing
facilities. The continued use of facilities where adequate barrier-free
measures have not been taken is a factor slowing the removal of all
barriers from society, requiring that knowledge be applied and innovations
introduced to achieve further progress in the removal of barriers
from such existing facilities.
To do so, it is necessary to make necessary improvements
and to study flexible and rational improvements according to the size
of each facility and the way it is used.
An effective approach is to improve the overall level
by sharing and disseminating knowledge and experience gained from
past model measures and cases of successful measures. Accordingly,
model measures applied to pioneering projects must be effectively
supported at the same time as market mechanisms are applied to spread
the application of universal design. It is also vital to consider
the characteristics of each region. |
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