Inclusive Design Research Centre

Last updated
Inclusive Design Research Centre
Parent institution OCAD University
Founder(s)Jutta Treviranus [1]
EstablishedSeptember 1994 (?) (September 1994 (?)) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Focus Inclusive design in an information and communications technology context
DirectorJutta Treviranus
Staff20 [6]
Formerly calledAdaptive Technology Resource Centre [5] [7] [8]
Address205 Richmond Street West, Level 2
Location
Toronto
,
Canada
Website idrc.ocadu.ca

The Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) is a research and development centre at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada. The centre defines inclusive design as that which "considers the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference." [9] The research centre is directed by Jutta Treviranus. [10] In 2011 the centre launched a Master of Design in Inclusive Design. [11] [12]

Contents

Current Projects

The IDRC supports open standards, open access, and open source technology wherever possible in order to maximize distribution and to encourage broad participation. Some of the new initiatives the IDRC is working on are:

FLOE Project: Flexible Learning for Open Education. FLOE is intended to enable inclusive access to personally relevant, engaging learning opportunities for the full diversity of learners and content producers. For example, Users can customize the look and feel and presentation of web content to meet their unique needs and preferences through FLOE User Interface Options. In addition, the FLOE video player allows multiple language caption support, synchronized and navigable transcripts, and is fully accessible via keyboard control, and screen reader. [13] [14]

ADOD Project: Accessible Digital Office Document. ADOD is developing vendor-neutral manual with practical application-specific instructions that can help users choose accessible office applications and create accessible documents from common office application suites. The guidance is based primarily on WCAG 2.0 and ATAG 1.0 recommendations of the W3C. ADOD is being developed in partnership with UNESCO and the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. [14] [15]

AEGIS Ontario: Integrating Accessibility into Emerging ICT. The ÆGIS Ontario project is devoted to ensuring that emerging information and communication technologies (ICT) are designed inclusively, thereby supporting Ontario's commitment to equal access and preparing Ontario's ICT businesses to meet the growing global demand for products and services that provide accessibility to people of all abilities. The project is funded by the Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence program, and is working in close partnership with AEGIS Europe. [14] [16]

Inclusive Design Institute

The Inclusive Design Institute (IDI) is a related enterprise, housed in the same facilities as the IDRC, that serves as a regional research network for inclusive design. Also directed by Treviranus, [17] It was founded in 2008 [18] and officially launched on 24 May 2012, [19] with the aim to "address the challenge of designing our information and communication systems (ICT) so that they work for all potential users, including users with disabilities, varying language needs and diverse cultural preferences." [17] It consists of eight core postsecondary partners (OCAD University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University, York University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Sheridan College, George Brown College and Seneca College) and over 100 collaborating organizations, [17] and is funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. [20] [21] [22] Thirty-five academics from the participating institutions are affiliated with the institute. [23]

Definition of Inclusive Design

Some research centres that use the term "inclusive design" do so synonymously with the older field of universal design. Both inclusive design and universal design seek to design systems "... so that work for people with disabilities results in systems that work better for everyone [and] increase the human capacity to meet legal, policy and societal commitments to accessibility, diversity and inclusion at a local, national and global level." [24] [25] The IDRC, however, presents a definition of inclusive Design that has key differences from universal design and its own distinctive features. Inclusive design principles are intended to make universal design more fully inclusive, according to the centre. [24]

Universal design grew out of industrial and architectural design whereas inclusive design came out of the digital world. Greater design options allow inclusive design to produce one-size-fits-one solutions in contrast to universal design that features one-size-fits-all and may exclude outliers such as the multifaceted people with various disabilities. [24] [26] Notes the IDRC: "while universal design is about creating a common design that works for everyone, we [in inclusive design] have the freedom to create a design system that can adapt, morph, or stretch to address each design need presented by each individual." [24] Researchers in inclusive design believe that every user of any system, be it digital or policy, must be recognized as unique and that "it is the responsibility of inclusive designers to be aware of the context and broader impact of any design and strive to effect a beneficial impact beyond the intended beneficiary of the design." [24]

Treviranus, the IDRC head, has led a body of research investigating and developing a new approach to accessibility: reframing disability as a mismatch between the needs of the user and the environment or system offered (and therefore not a personal trait but a consequence of the relationship between the individual and their environment). [27] This technical and conceptual framework takes advantage of the plasticity of information and communications technology (ICT) systems to personally optimize the user interface to the needs and preferences of each individual. [27] This approach supports human diversity in digital systems not by attempting to find a one-size-fits-all solution but by adapting to the cluster of diverse needs of each user. [28]

Jutta Treviranus

Director of both the IDRC and IDI, Jutta Treviranus is a world expert in the field of inclusive design who has made appearances at the White House and United Nations. [29] She has "led many international multi‐partner research networks that have created broadly implemented technical innovations that support inclusion." Her work has included designing open source content and helping implement accessibility legislation, standards, and specifications. [30]

In 2013 Treviranus was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. [31] In the same year, the International Electrotechnical Commission awarded Treviranus their International 1906 Award; it recognizes experts' contributions to the field. [32] [33]

Awards and distinctions

Related Research Articles

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)'s Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is an effort to improve the accessibility of the World Wide Web for people with disabilities. People with disabilities encounter difficulties when using computers generally, but also on the Web. Since they often require non-standard devices and browsers, making websites more accessible also benefits a wide range of user agents and devices, including mobile devices, which have limited resources. According to a US government study, 71% of website visitors with disabilities will leave a website that is not accessible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accessibility</span> Modes of usability for people with disabilities

Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible developments ensures both "direct access" and "indirect access" meaning compatibility with a person's assistive technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OCAD University</span> Public art university in Toronto, Canada

Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD U, is a public art university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its main campus is located within Toronto's Grange Park and Entertainment District neighbourhoods.

Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to people, regardless of ageism, disability or other factors. It emerged as a rights-based, anti-discrimination measure, which seeks to create design for all abilities. Evaluating material and structures that can be utilized by all. It addresses common barriers to participation by creating things that can be used by the maximum number of people possible. “When disabling mechanisms are to be replaced with mechanisms for inclusion, different kinds of knowledge are relevant for different purposes. As a practical strategy for inclusion, Universal Design involves dilemmas and often difficult priorities.” Curb cuts or sidewalk ramps, which are essential for people in wheelchairs but also used by all, are a common example of universal design.

Web accessibility, or eAccessibility, is the inclusive practice of ensuring there are no barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to, websites on the World Wide Web by people with physical disabilities, situational disabilities, and socio-economic restrictions on bandwidth and speed. When sites are correctly designed, developed and edited, more users have equal access to information and functionality.

Inclusive design is a design process in which a product, service, or environment is designed to be usable for as many people as possible, particularly groups who are traditionally excluded from being able to use an interface or navigate an environment. Its focus is on fulfilling as many user needs as possible, not just as many users as possible. Historically, inclusive design has been linked to designing for people with physical disabilities, and accessibility is one of the key outcomes of inclusive design. However, rather than focusing on designing for disabilities, inclusive design is a methodology that considers many aspects of human diversity that could affect a person's ability to use a product, service, or environment, such as ability, language, culture, gender, and age. The Inclusive Design Research Center reframes disability as a mismatch between the needs of a user and the design of a product or system, emphasizing that disability can be experienced by any user. With this framing, it becomes clear that inclusive design is not limited to interfaces or technologies, but may also be applied to the design of policies and infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telecentre</span> A public place where people can access digital technologies

A telecentre is a public place where people can access computers, the Internet, and other digital technologies that enable them to gather information, create, learn, and communicate with others while they develop essential digital skills. Telecentres exist in almost every country, although they sometimes go by a different names including public internet access center (PIAP), village knowledge center, infocenter, Telecottage, Electronic Village Hall, community technology center (CTC), community multimedia center (CMC), multipurpose community telecentre (MCT), Common/Citizen Service Centre (CSC) and school-based telecentre. While each telecentre is different, their common focus is on the use of digital technologies to support community, economic, educational, and social development—reducing isolation, bridging the digital divide, promoting health issues, creating economic opportunities, leveraging information communications technology for development (ICT4D), and empowering youth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ATutor</span> Open source web-based application

ATutor is an open source web-based learning management system (LMS).

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research in the learning theory, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments and learning spaces that can accommodate individual learning differences.

Claroline is an open-source collaborative eLearning and eWorking platform, operating under the GPL open-source license. It enables organizations to develop and manage courses and collaboration spaces online. Used extensively in educational institutions and by enterprises for data sharing, it boasts availability in around 100 countries and supports 35 languages

The Rix Centre is a British charitable research and development centre that was founded in 2004. The Centre, based at the University of East London, explores the uses of new media technology for the benefit of the learning disability community. It has developed multimedia technologies and courses to support those with learning disabilities and their careers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agropedia</span> Former website

Agropedia was an online knowledge repository for information related to agriculture in India. It included universal meta models and localized content for a variety of users with appropriate interfaces built in collaborative mode in multiple languages. This national portal, designed as an "agricultural Wikipedia" hosts wide range of agricultural information on a variety of crops, with an aim to empower farmers with crop information.

Design for All in the context of information and communications technology (ICT) is the conscious and systematic effort to proactively apply principles, methods and tools to promote universal design in computer-related technologies, including Internet-based technologies, thus avoiding the need for a posteriori adaptations, or specialised design.

The European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR) is a network of European providers of rehabilitation services to people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups. EPR members deliver services in the fields of vocational training and education, reintegration of service users into the open labour market and improvement of their employability, physical rehabilitation and social care.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Diamond (academic administrator)</span> Canadian artist and former university president

Sara Louise Diamond, is a Canadian artist and was the president of OCAD University, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D2L</span> Global software company

D2L is a Canada-based global software company with offices in Australia, Brazil, Europe, Singapore, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OER Commons</span> Freely accessible online library

OER Commons is a freely accessible online library that allows teachers and others to search and discover open educational resources (OER) and other freely available instructional materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jutta Treviranus</span> Canadian academic

Jutta Treviranus is a full Professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU) in Toronto, Canada. She is the director and founder of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and the Inclusive Design Institute (IDI).

Open educational resources in Canada are the various initiatives related to open education, open educational resources (OER), open pedagogies (OEP), open educational practices (OEP), and open scholarship that are established nationally and provincially across Canadian K-12 and higher education sectors, and where Canadian based inititatives extend to international collaborations.

Elizabeth 'Liddy' Nevile is an Australian academic and a pioneer in using computers and the World Wide Web for education in Australia. In 1989-1990 she was instrumental in establishing the first program in the world that required all students to have laptop computers, at Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 Kochany, Kaitlyn (September 25, 2013). "I Want Your Job: Jutta Treviranus, Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre". Torontoist . Retrieved June 3, 2014. After starting the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the University of Toronto in 1994, Treviranus moved it to OCADU in 2010 and rebranded it as the IDRC.
  2. ↑ "The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre" (PDF). Augmentative Communications News. 8 (2): 7. March–April 1995. Retrieved July 28, 2013. The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC), located at the University of Toronto, opened in September, 1994
  3. ↑ Canadian National Institute for the Blind (June 15, 2005). "2005 Recipient: University of Toronto, Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC)". Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014. The ATRC was established in 1994
  4. ↑ "Jutta TREVIRANUS". European Commission: ICT 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2014. With its origins in the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre established in 1993, the IDRC is….
  5. 1 2 "Staff Pages: Jutta Treviranus (Director)". Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University. Retrieved June 3, 2014. With the help of a many individuals and organizations I established the then "Adaptive Technology Resource Centre" (ATRC) in 1993 at the University of Toronto.…Thanks to talented staff, many of whom are students, the ATRC, now the Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University, continues to meet these expectations.
  6. ↑ "Staff pages". Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "What is a Learning Management System?". University of Toronto . Retrieved June 3, 2014. ATutor was developed by U of T's Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, which was renamed the Inclusive Design Research Centre and relocated to OCAD University August 1, 2010.
  8. ↑ Raising the Floor. "Jutta Treviranus". Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014. Jutta Treviranus is the Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) and professor at OCAD University in Toronto, formerly the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre.
  9. ↑ "About the IDRC". Inclusive Design Research Centre (OCAD University). Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Staff Pages". Inclusive Design Research Centre (OCAD University). Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Law, Jaclyn (March 30, 2011). "OCAD U Sees an Accessible Future with New Master Program in Inclusive Design". Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). aoda.ca.
  12. ↑ "Master's Program". Inclusive Design Research Centre (OCAD University). Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Flexible Learning for Open Education". Inclusive Design Research Centre. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  14. 1 2 3 "New Projects". Inclusive Design Research Centre (OCAD University). Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Accessible Digital Office Document (ADOD) Project". Inclusive Design Research Centre. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "ÆGIS Project (Ontario)". Inclusive Design Research Centre. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 "Inclusive Design Institute – About – Overview". Inclusive Design Institute. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  18. ↑ Treviranus, Jutta. "New Directions". Inclusive Design Research Centre. Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "OCAD University opens Inclusive Design Institute". Council of Ontario Universities. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  20. ↑ "OCAD University welcomes the Inclusive Design Research Centre and the Inclusive Design Institute". Council of Ontario Universities. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "List of Funded Projects". Canada Foundation for Innovation. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  22. ↑ "Ontario Research Fund Infrastructure Program" (PDF). Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "Who We Are". Inclusive Design Institute. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 "IDRC Definition of Inclusive Design" . Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Master of Design Programs". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  26. ↑ "What is inclusive design?". Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  27. 1 2 "IMS AccessForAll Meta-data Information Model". IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  28. ↑ "IMS Learner Information Package Accessibility for LIP Information Model". IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc. Retrieved May 30, 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  29. ↑ Kochany, Kaitlyn. "I Want Your Job: Jutta Treviranus, Director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre". Torontoist . Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Jutta Treviranus: Background for ECM" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "The Diamond Jubilee Medal". Governor General of Canada. 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Professor Jutta Treviranus winner of International Electrotechnical Commission 1906 Award". Standards Council of Canada. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "1906 Award: Criteria". International Electrotechnical Commission. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
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