First let's understand the Universal design aim itself;
Universal design, sometimes known as barrier-free building design, "is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal design recognizes that people have a range of capabilities and they need designs to include this range.

Principles of Universal Design

1. Equitable Use
   The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities [and does not disadvantage, segregate, or stigmatize any group of users.]
2. Flexibility In Use
   The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple and Intuitive Use
   Use of the design is easy to understand regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible Information
   The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for Error
   The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low Physical Effort
   The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with minimum fatigue.
7. Size and Space for Approach and Use
   Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

In this blog, we aim to show some examples that contradict the principles of universal design in the city of Ankara.


Wheelchair and Stairs

In many outdoor activities of Ankara, there are stairs which

are  not  suitable  for  people  who  go  with  wheelchairs.

If they go down, they can fall down the stairs.

Because of these stairs, they go back or  wait  a  long  time

and ask for help.

This style can not provide same means of use  for  all  users.

Phone Cubicle
A TTY is a device that can send text over a phone line to another
TTY (It is that box that is underneath the phone). It can be pulled
out and used as a keypad. In  this  way  it  can  be  beneficial  for 
people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.
But in Ankara most telephone cubicles do not have this option so 
that only  those  without  a physical disability may access it.
Also some of them are  hidden away  and  hard  to  find,  making 
them useless for those who  are  deaf, hard of  hearing,  speech-
impaired or physically disabled.

Bus Stations
In some  places, there  are  no  close  bus stations. Another 
important thing is that for people who  are  waiting  buses, 
there should  be  a  suitable  seating space  with  a  shelter 
to be kept away from rain or snow.
If there are no spaces like those, it will be difficult to wait 
for buses which come 1 or 2 times during 30 minutes.

Sidewalks
Slopes minimize physical effort while going both down and up.
However some slopes  or  sidewalks  are  too  steep  for  many 
people require a large degree of physical exertion.
So it poses a serious challenge for not  only  going  up  but  also 
going down.

Outdoor Signage
Signage often relies solely on the use of words which are often
located in hard to find areas behind bushes and other obstacles.
Because of this, importance of signage turns  into  useless  thing
and it is hard to understand .

Communicate necessary information
In Ankara, there is just a few international sign or information 
boards. Also sometimes there is a lack of signs for street 
names and for directing people who are not local in the area.

Consequences of accidental or unintended actions
Sometimes the ramp is on steep slope with no handrails and 
stairs on either side, so if  someone  were  to fall  off  their 
wheelchair, they could fall down the stairs.Nothing to warn 
of ramp; nothing  that  separates the ramp from  the  stairs.