In partnership with the RIAI, the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) at the National Disability Authority (NDA) is delighted to host a webinar series on Universal Design in the Built Environment. We are hosting four lunchtime webinars over four weeks with different speakers.
Registration is free for all webinars. To register via Zoom, visit the link here.
Webinar One: Building for Everyone: Introduction to Universal Design
17th September 2024, 12.30-13.30 with Ruth O’Reilly, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
Webinar Two: Beyond Part M: Universal Design and Accessibility Legislation
1st October 2024, 12.30-13.30 with Tom Grey, TrinityHaus
Webinar Three: Inclusive Steps: Universal Design for Stairs
15th October 2024, 12.30-13.30 with Nicola Ryan, Studio Red Architects
Webinar Four: Welcoming All: Universal Design for Doorways
22nd October 2024, 12.30-13.30 with Eoin O’Herlihy, O’Herlihy Access Consultancy
CPD Certificates are available for these events.
Attendees can register to attend one or more of the webinars. CPD Certificates are available to those who attend on the day for each webinar.
ISL Interpretation and Captions will be available at these events.
The webinars will be recorded. As an attendee you will not be visible to other attendees and will not be recorded.
If you have a query, please email info@ceud.ie.
For more information on the webinars and speakers, click below.
Date and Time: 17th September 2024, 12.30-13.30
This presentation will highlight the importance of Universal Design to respond to our ageing population, what it means to take a Universal Design approach, and resources available for architectural professionals.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding of Universal Design as a response to human needs, particularly in the context of ageing and disability
- Knowledge of the seven principles of Universal Design and their application in the built environment
- Awareness of a Universal Design Approach to Housing
- Awareness of further resources and information
Ruth O’Reilly, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design
Ruth O’Reilly joined the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design in 2020, as Senior Built Environment Design Advisor. The Centre, which is part of the National Disability Authority, promotes universal design of the built environment, services, products, and ICT. Ruth is an architect, with an MSc in Accessibility and Inclusive Design. Ruth is passionate about her work to promote the impact that universal design can have on well-being and inclusion.
Date and Time: 1st October 2024, 12.30-13.30
This presentation will emphasis legislation beyond Part M of the building regulations, which architectural professionals should be aware of in their everyday practice.
Learning Outcomes:
- Awareness of a range of legislation, outside building regulations, that relates to Universal Design and accessibility in the built environment
- Knowledge of key sections of the Disability Act 2005 relevant to architectural practice
- Understanding of the difference between the minimum requirements of the building regulations and Universal Design
Tom Grey, TrinityHaus
Tom graduated from DIT Bolton Street in 1998 with an honours degree in Architecture. He moved to New Zealand in 2003 to complete a two-year master’s in architecture (Sustainability of the Built Environment) at the University of Auckland. With over 10 years in architectural practice working on projects in Ireland, the UK, Croatia, the US and NZ, Tom joined TrinityHaus Research Centre in Trinity College Dublin as a Research Fellow in 2009. Since then, he has undertaken a variety of urban design and building design research projects exploring the relationship between the built environment and accessibility, inclusion, resilience, and sustainability. All these projects are underpinned by people-centred design, Universal Design, co-creation, and stakeholder engagement. (See: https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=greyt and https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3705-8666)
Date and Time: 15th October 2024, 12.30-13.30
This presentation will highlight the difficulties that stairs can cause for a wide range of users, design considerations for making stairs easier to access and use and the spatial implications for Universal Design of stairs.
Learning Outcomes
- Improved awareness of the diversity of users impacted by stairs design
- Knowledge of stairs features that can improve the accessibility and usability of stairs for a wide range of users
- Understanding of the spatial and detail design implications for taking a Universal Design approach to stairs
Nicola Ryan, Studio Red Architects
Nicola Ryan is co-director of Studio Red Architects. She is a Grade 2 Conservation Architect. She has a special interest in inclusive housing solutions - including development of existing buildings, infill plots and backland sites in established communities. She is a member of the RIAI Universal Design Task Force and the NSAI Technical Committee for the new national standard for Universal Design Homes in Ireland.
Nicola’s son has autism, epilepsy, and mobility issues. She recently completed a co-housing build with her business partner, Gráinne Dunne – to provide 3 family homes on a backland site in the village of Chapelizod, Dublin. Her family’s home, designed around the specific needs of her son, was highly commended in RIAI Awards 2022 under the Universal Design category.
Date and Time: 22nd October 2024, 12.30-13.30
The presentation will highlight the difficulties that poor door design can cause for building users, design considerations for making doors easier to access and use, and common design issues Eoin encounters during the design and construction stages of building projects.
Learning Outcomes
- Improved awareness of the diversity of users impacted by door design
- Knowledge of features that can improve the accessibility and usability of doors for a wide range of users
- Awareness of common accessibility issues that arise with door design in building projects during design and construction
Eoin O’Herlihy, O’Herlihy Access Consultancy
Eoin O’Herlihy is a Chartered Engineer, an independent accessibility and Universal Design consultant and Managing Director of O’Herlihy Access Consultancy (OHAC). Eoin has over 18 years’ international experience with Universal Design and is an IAAP Level 3 Certified Expert Accessibility Professional in Accessible Built Environment. He is passionate about accessibility and making all aspects of society fully accessible for everyone. Eoin recognises the barriers faced by people with disabilities and aims to support organisations remove these barriers and create a more inclusive society.