Shaping the future

Nordic and European initiatives for Universal Design

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Presentation

• Change of understanding – still problems• Universal Design – strategy to transelate human rights into reality• Win-win concept• Regional co-operation 30 years• Universal Design in Norway• Co-operation between regional and European level – new

initiatives

Inge OvesenDeputy Director General,Norwegian Ministry of children and Equality iov@bld.dep.no

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GAP-model

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Universal Design

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Universal Design – win/win concept

• Investments in urban infrastructure are expensive and have to be long-term. It is therefore good policy – in economic, social and environmental terms – to incorporate a clear Design for All perspective in the planning and design of urban spaces, buildings and infrastructure. Forcing changes to suit people with disabilities at a later stage is more expensive and leads to less than ideal solutions.

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Nordic Council of Ministers

• The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) was formed in 1971. In nearly 30 years we have been organizing a Nordic cooperation on Disability issues

• Today some part of this cooperation also involve the three Baltic Countries

• Nordic Cooperation on Disability (NSH) is a institution under the NCM and is running a number of programmes and projects to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the Nordic countries and adjacent area.

• NSH also functions as the secretariat for the Nordic Council on Disability Policy.

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Nordic Council on Disability Policy

• The Nordic Council on Disability Policy is a policy-shaping and advisory body for the entire NCM

• The Council has established five sector networks of civil servants from the Nordic countries ministries of building and community planning, culture, education, labour marked issues and transport

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Design for all - The Nordic Way

• Nordic Design for all

• Nordic Council of • Ministers

• Nordic Action Plan

• Implementation of the Plan

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Sustainable Development

• The strategy ”Sustainable Development – New Bearings for the Nordic Countries” is adopted by the Nordic Prime Ministers and the Nordic Council.

• A revised version of the strategy came into force january 2005

• The strategy focuses on efforts to integrate enviromental considerations and sustainable development in different sectors

• Initially, seven essential horizontal issues have been included in the strategy: The social dimension, including design for all

• The strategy covers the Nordic countries and the relationships of the Nordic countries with the Adjacent Areas concerning sustainable development

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NORWAY

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Cooperation

• Synergies between European, regional and national level.

• Awareness raising. • Projects • Improving exchange of good practice.

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Design for all

Stockholm Declaration (2004):

“Across Europe, human diversity in age, culture and ability is greater than ever. We now survive illness and injury and live with disability as never before. Although today’s world is a complex place, it is one of our own making, one in which we therfore have the possibility – and responsibility – to base our designs on principle of inclution.”