Welcome to the Northwest Universal Design Council

Universal Design (UD) considers all aspects of the built environment—homes, mobility routes, landscapes, commercial developments, products and life space, including equipment and architecture—with the goal of making them accessible to every person, regardless of age or ability.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northwest Universal Design Council steering committee is meeting again on a regular basis, setting goals and priorities, and planning educational forums for the year to come. Dates are published here. To get involved, e-mail info@environmentsforall.org for meeting information and codes needed for virtual participation. 

Benefits of universal design for all, regardless of age and ability:

• Sustainable: anticipate change to avoid expensive renovation, retrofitting, and wasting of building materials;
• Accessible: enjoy the company of all members of the community together;
• Flexible: reinvent, redefine, and repurpose space as you experience temporary or permanent changes through the lifespan;
• Marketable: appeal to a growing segment of the population;
• Maneuverable: increase perception, movement, and safety by removing obstacles and hazards