	August 1998

Hofstra Conference on Universal Design Facilitates World-Wide Communication

On June 17-21, 1998, Hofstra University, in conjunction with The Center for Universal Design of North Carolina, hosted an international conference on "Designing for the 21st Century - Information, Products and Environments". The conference was a huge success, attended by more than 425 individuals from twenty countries. Participants explored the global nature of business today, the diversity of our world and the rapidly growing aging and disabled populations demand designs that provide opportunity, choice and personal empowerment. The conference was an unprecedented opportunity to experience the wealth of creative work that is happening around the world.

Experts from all over the world who are creatively responding to the challenges of universal design: architects, design educators, engineers, facility managers, industrial designers, graphic designers, housing developers, interior designers, landscape architects, product manufacturers, rehabilitation engineers,- anyone interested in understanding the impact of universal design in products, environments and information attended.

For more information on the conference, the Year 2000 Universal Design conference, or to order proceedings from this landmark event in an accessible format, check http://www.adaptenv.org/21century/.

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Dr. Kate Seelman, Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, proudly displays the award NIDRR received at the conference.

Leslie Weisman, Architect (USA), anchors the final plenary session of the conference on "Where are We Going/ What are the limits?" She has recently written a book entitled "Sex and Architecture", and shared her feminist perspective on the (mostly male)built environment and it's relevance to actual family structures/lifestyles of the 21st century.

Satoshi Kose, Ministry of Construction (Japan), takes note of Leslie Weisman's comments.

Ron Mace, FAIA, of the Center for Universal Design, and Gregg Vanderheiden, Ph.D., Director of the Trace Center gave their thoughts on the vision of the future with Universal Design.

MDTAP's Director of Special Projects, Mary Brady, (participating in the conference on behalf of Integral Design), and David Miller, Exhibit Designer for the National Aquarium in Baltimore, gave a presentation on "Museums in the 21st Century".

Examples of universal design were used to display the history and theory of Universal Design: Here, a question-and-answer board readily flips over to show the answer.