Colette Fransolet, President of UD Inclusive Design, has been appointed to the Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC) Board of Directors. “We are excited to have a new member whose Inclusive Design expertise exemplifies forward thinking and innovation in the UD field” stated GUDC Chairman Peter Blanck. Colette Fransolet is an expert Universal Access Consultant based in South Africa, who also consults at an international level on current ISO 21542 (2011) standards. She has a plethora of experience in the built environment, with diverse teams and various contexts. She is passionate about research, teaching and knowledge sharing on the paradigm of Universal Design and guideline and standard development to facilitate the broader implementation thereof in various sectors.
It was unexpected, but certainly not unwelcome. Today, Gibbs is working to ensure that key universal design strategies are incorporated on new and renovated projects globally. “The built environment needs to be inclusive for everyone,” says Gibbs, who works out of the company’s Rahway, New Jersey, facility. “It’s the right thing to do and I’m very proud to see Merck making it a priority.”
Professor Peter Blanck, chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute and lead author of the study, said “the longer-term objective (of the study) is to help measurably enhance the professional lives of lawyers and others in the profession by understanding and mitigating pernicious sources of attitudinal stigma and structural bias.”
Burton Blatt Institute Chairman and University Professor at Syracuse University, Peter Blanck’s new book titled Disability Law and Policy book was released in honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Disability Law and Policy provides an overview of the themes and insights in disability law. It is a compelling compendium of stories about how our legal system has responded to the needs of impacted individuals.
The Inclusive Public Space project is a global interdisciplinary research effort that explores the social justice problems caused by city streets that limit access for some pedestrians. The project focuses specifically on pedestrians with disabilities who may have difficulties using the pedestrian paths because of the way streets are designed, managed or maintained. Poor maintenance, uneven surfaces, potholes, poor lighting and other streetscape structures also create barriers.