Conceptual Challenges Between Universal Design and Disability in Relation to the Body, Impairment, and the Environment Where Does the Issue of Disability Stand in the Philosophy of UD?

Universal Design (UD), which is grounded politically and sociologically in the long historic struggle of the anti-discrimination and disability rights movements in the United States that occurred between 1970’s and 1990’s and the market-oriented necessities of an aging society, has been defined as ‘design for all’ people to the greatest extent possible, differentiating it from earlier concepts of adaptable, specialised or accessible design. UD argues that the design of a built environment must be usable by ‘all people’, regardless of age, gender, capability, cultural origin or socioeconomic status. UD incorporates some principles to achieve ‘design for all’ solutions.