North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design employs this definition:

Universal 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.
--Ron Mace

The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable for as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal Design insists on incorporating accessibility from the initial stages, rather than viewing accommodation as special services to be added at will. Universal Design provides a blueprint for maximum inclusion of all people.

For Asset Building programs, Universal Design principles propose methods for easy implementation of accessibility features into the fabric of the program. For more information and specific examples on how to incorporate UD principles into asset building programs, see WID's concept paper,
Integrating Universal Design Principles in Asset Building Programs.

For general information on Universal Design see:

• The Center for Universal Design
• CAST: Universal Design for Learning
• The Trace Center