NESC at UD2024 in Oslo

• 28 November 2024
• Topics: Disability Housing Social
• Types: News

From 20^th–22^nd November, NESC Policy Analyst Dr David Hallinan participated in the Universal Design 2024 (UD2024) conference in Oslo. Universal Design (UD) is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. An environment (or any building, product or service in that environment) should be designed to meet the needs of all people who wish to use it. UD2024 is the seventh in a series of biennial international conferences on Universal Design. UD2024 in Oslo had over 300 attendees and was hosted by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir).

On the opening day of the conference, David participated in a panel discussion on socio-economic analysis within the field of Universal Design. Other panel members included Lars Lindberg (Nordic Welfare Centre), Jon Roger Andresen (Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs) and Ingrid Gaarder Harsheim (Oslo Economics). The discussion was moderated by Kirsti Svinø (Senior Universal Design Adviser, Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs). Over the course of the panel discussion the members shared their experience of applying formal economic evaluation methodologies in the fields of disability services and UD. Applying economic evaluation methods such as Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Cost Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) can present distinct challenges and contradictions, as many of the benefits arising from disability policy interventions are non-monetisable and are underpinned by a rights-based approach. The panel members agreed that formal socio-economic evaluation methodologies can be a useful tool to bring about more effective policy implementation, while the use of such methods need not undermine the commitment to a rights-based approach.

On the second day of the conference David gave a presentation together with Ruth O’Reilly of the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) at the National Disability Authority (NDA). This presentation focussed on an ongoing NDA project on the Costs and Benefits of UD Homes. Ruth provided details on two studies undertaken to inform the UD Homes CBA project – a UD Homes cost assessment study and a site density impact study. David provided details of the methodological approach for the CBA project and an account of some of the key benefits of UD Homes.

For more on David’s work in the area of UD – including a peer-reviewed paper on the socio-economic benefits of UD Homes jointly authored by himself, Ruth and Dr Gerald Craddock – please visit his Secretariat page here.