Standards as Social Design Practice: From the Americans with Disabilities Act to the Accessible Icon Project

摘要

This article examines the role of social concerns in the development and enforcement of standards. The Americans with Disabilities Act of1990, developed following the fight for equity by disability rights activists, has led to more inclusive environments through the use of ANSI standards- a case that highlights the social origins and impacts of national standards. The challenge for designers and standards organizations then becomes the integration of social concerns into the revision and application of such standards, a challenge successfully addressed by the Accessible Icon Project (AIP) in redesigning the International Symbol for Accessibility. The AIP integrates critique and dialogue among various individuals and institutions into design and standards practice, a methodology that this paper will argue can lead to a more iterative, open, consensus-based approach to the development of standards that can improve the inclusiveness of built environments.