Today, Winnipeg City Council adopted the Universal Design Policy, a first for a Canadian municipality. Universal Design is a design approach that works towards meeting the needs of a broad array of users, including people with disabilities, in designing products, information, services and the built environment.

“Universal Design is about doing it right the first time and taking a proactive approach to design” said Councillor Jenny Gerbasi, Chairperson of the Access Advisory Committee, “it’s about a change in mindset or philosophy”.

Some of the range of people characteristics considered in Universal Design are tall or short, heavy, wide, light or thin, high to low vision and hearing, infancy to older age, children in strollers, people wheeling goods or equipment, or simply carrying packages. Universal Design benefits people of all ages and abilities.