Universal design' blends style with easy access for disabled

"The concept of universal design is generally traced back to the early 1970s, when work began at the Center for Accessible Housing at North Carolina State University to establish building codes for accessibility. These codes have been adopted by many states.

The federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, passed to ensure public accessibility, further raised consciousness. The graying of the American population is also expanding the market that experts predict will take universal design into the mainstream.

What has been learned over three decades is that products that are too obviously 'therapeutic' do not appeal."



A mechanized sink with adjustable heights, pull-out cutting boards and easy-to-reach storage bins are in General Electric's "Real Life Design" kitchen -- aimed at making cooking easier for people with and without physical impairments