Universal Design Today Call for Presentations
21ST CENTURY LIFE CALLS FOR A FRESH DESIGN APPROACH. WE'VE DESIGNED A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONFERENCE. Universal Design Today is a collaborative conference offered in partnership with PATHS, Create West Virginia, RL Mace Universal Design Institute, CAST, WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. Each organization brings its perspective and expertise to the conversation. So, while UD_Today is a design conference, it's also a housing conference; a smart-growth conference; an aging-in-place conference; an economic and community development and planning conference; as well as an education, business-to-business and consumer awareness-building conference. Because design is fundamental to everything we use to live and learn, this is a "how-it-all-works-together-for-a-better-life-and-business" conference. While housing, community design and education are core areas of focus, innovation, research, technology, placemaking and consumer interaction will be strong themes throughout the conference and the exhibitors' area.

WHERE AND WHEN
The UD_Today conference will begin on Monday, May 15 and conclude on Wednesday, May 17 in Charleston, West Virginia, USA. The charming little river city of Charleston was chosen to host this conference because of its desirable geographic proximity to major population centers and its openness to serving as the conference's design lab. Speakers and conferees are encouraged to stay longer to take advantage of post-conference sessions, networking opportunities and maybe even  some area attractions and recreational activities.

OUR GOAL IS TO TRANSFER CRITICALLY USEFUL INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST
Universal Design Today conference organizers are committed to liberating the practice of Universal Design - distinct from  ADA compliance - extending beyond built environment concerns, and unleashing them into the wilds of many other design-driven disciplines. Our goal is to equip a wide range of people to incorporate universal design into all aspects of housing, education, community planning, technical and non-technical product/program development, to improve how we "live and learn." Conference organizers are reaching out to an unprecedented mix of people with wide ranging design, building, education, planning, user experience (UX), and economic/community development and expertise to create a live-action design conference that makes UD habit forming, contagious and an everyday household term.

WHO SHOULD SUBMIT PROPOSALS AND FOR WHAT?
We are seeking proposals from universal design professionals; educators; researchers; Extension professionals; community designers and planners;  product designers and user experience experts; advocates; and emerging and veteran design, technology and public interest professionals to lead sessions about practicing, teaching and advocating for universal design. Sessions should specifically address how universal design enables us to (re)create buildings, communities, learning places and programs, and products to better serve diverse, differently-abled people, expand new markets, and attract and retain 21st century talent.

Submissions will be accepted beginning Sept 28 and are due by November 15, 2016. Presenters will be notified by December 15, 2016.

WHAT YOU GET
Session presenters will be offered a $99 conference registration, and lots of chances to network with peers and potential clients. We'll also do our best to advertise sessions to target audiences and give presenters plenty of shine, but session presenters will be expected to advertise their involvement too! We strongly encourage all presenters to arrive for the beginning and stay to the end of the conference. No drive-by presentations, please.  Session presenters will be responsible for their travel and lodging.

Sessions that feature the commercial sale of products or services are not allowed. (We love the commercial sale of products and services, so we created an exciting exhibit area for you called Innovation Alley.)

SESSION FORMAT SPECIFICS
Please design sessions to fit into one of three anticipated 60 minute formats:
1. Concurrent session, single presenter: 60 minutes in length
2. Shared sessions: two presenters with related topics may share some sessions
3. Panel Session: three speakers can either curate their own session, or be placed into a panel session by organizers

Presentations must be of programs, initiatives, projects, or examples that have an explicitly universal audience and outcome, e.g., programs, projects, or findings must clearly show that benefits are accrued to broad user groups, that solutions are applicable to general use circumstances and embrace marketable solutions. Sessions that are already approved for CEUs are encouraged.

SESSION TRACKS - presentations must address one or more of the following
     Housing
     Community Design
     Education
     Technology
     Business & Entrepreneurship
     Placemaking

SOME SUGGESTED TOPICS:

HOUSING, HOUSING TECHNOLOGY, TRENDS, RESEARCH, BEST PRACTICES, INNOVATION:
-Snapshot of the current and future home buyers, renters and everyone in between and what it costs when their needs aren't met
-Most Helpful Universal Home Features
-Single-family housing
-Multifamily housing
-New construction tips, tricks, recommendations and lessons learned
-Remodeling for maximum use and value
-The future of "homes"
-Home technology - How home technology fits into a UD home: (I.e. communications, HVAC, security, lighting, entertainment, Home health technology)
-Home automation
-Home health technology
-Educational Technology
-Innovative Design
-Green &  Universal Design
-Funding needed upgrades
-The DIY Guide to UD
-How to choose the right contractor
-Beautiful, affordable trends for kitchens, baths, entrances, floor plans
-When they say it's UD but it's not...what's the difference?
-Innovation in the application of UD

COMMUNITY PLANNING, PLACEMAKING, RURAL/URBAN DESIGN, BEST PRACTICES, RESEARCH, INNOVATION:
-Snapshot of the 21st century citizen and the future of everything
-Affordable community design
-Public engagement in the community design process
-Tackling uniquely rural issues from the design perspective
-The Rural Challenge - low density, rural, farm, village
-Aging in place - transportation challenges, long distances
-Socialization, Connectivity
-Innovative rural solutions for affordable services, infrastructure
-Marketing
-Research, Measurement, Ratings
-Incentives and mandates
-Economics of improved accommodations
-Promoting Universal Design
-Neighborhood design for improved health, wellness, social engagement, independence
-Pedestrian rights-of-way
-Mixed use development
-Transit oriented/walkable
-New Urbanist
-Complete Streets Program
-Public/commercial building innovation
-Villages initiatives
-Funding the changes communities need and want
-Community Planning &  Design/Quality of Place Success Stories
-Smart Growth, Universal Design and Quality of Place
-Adaptive Reuse and UD-Converting existing buildings to meet future needs
-UD and public art
-UD models for improving health/wellness/engagement/workforce participation
-Age-Friendly Communities Success Stories

ADVOCACY, POLICY, BEST PRACTICES, RESEARCH, INNOVATION
-Marketing UD to customer segments
-Resale value and Universal Design
-Federal/state legislation and policies in WV and from national perspective for built environment, education, web, etc.
-The business case for Universal housing
-Funding upgrades, developments, community-wide infrastructure projects
-Examining cultural barriers to alternative housing acceptance
-The UD - public health and wellness nexus
-What policy makers need to know about UD, ADA, and Accessibility
-UD and Innovation Economy growth and development

PLACEMAKING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRY CLUSTER AND OTHER MARKET RESEARCH
-UD trends in major industries and why it matters
-Marketing UD to target audiences
-UD for attracting target audiences by design (i.e. second home buyers, empty-nesters, Millennials, Boomers, tourists,  entrepreneurs, etc.)
-The UD business case for the travel, tourism and hospitality, healthcare  
-UD and the small town advantage  

EDUCATION, BEST PRACTICES, TRENDS, INNOVATION
-UD in Education
-Classroom design
-Pedagogy
-Education Technology
-UD and Education Policy
-Student services
-Emerging professionals
-Instructional methods that support diverse abilities
-Understanding the myth of "average"

PRODUCT DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY, USER EXPERIENCE, DISTRIBUTIVE MANUFACTURING, MAKERS
-The User Experience (UX) and UD
-Technology and the Maker Revolution - How makers may accelerate UD in the mainstream
-Entrepreneurship in UD Assistive Technology
-Disruptive technologies and market predictions
-Best of no cost, low-cost, and must have assistive technologies
-Best practices for new product development for large markets
-Product Design and Innovation
     
BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
-The importance of UX to the future of your business
-Manufacturing
-How UD can help local food growers do better business
-The "access vs universal design" business proposition
-The role of design-driven innovation and what it means to you

CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions? Please contact
Regina Mayolo, PATHS at reginam@verizon.net
Sarah Halstead, CREATE WV at sarah@createwv.org
Richard Duncan, RL MACE Universal Design Institute at udtoday@udinstitute.org
Kristen Devlin, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development at krd111@psu.edu 


Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Okay, now it's time to tell us what you propose.
We're excited that you're motivated to propose a session or two. Let's get started!
Name *
Are you collaborating with anyone else? If so, please tell us their name(s).
Your Title *
Business Name or Organization Affiliation *
Mailing Address *
Website (if applicable) *
Email *
Social Media *
Required
Please list links to your personal or professional social media profiles/accounts
Presentation Type *
Required
Session Title *
Session Description (25 words) *
Please indicate category (ies) your session addresses. *
Required
Session abstract: (150 words max) *
Please list three learning objectives: As a result of this session, participants will be able to… *
Is this session already approved for CEUs? *
Required
If you offer CEUs, what is the accrediting organization and target audience? *
Speaker Bio (50 words or less, please. If you're collaborating, please describe your team's background.) *
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. Report Abuse - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy