One participant noted that universal designs do not result in significant increases in infrastructure development costs. Budgets were not the issue in implementing universal designs but promoting public awareness and understanding is the more important factor. The role of universal design could be seen in a shift in concern with designs that responded to average conditions to designs that responded to the needs of the many and recognition of accessibility not as an add-on but an essential design standard. The view was expressed that universal design is the more powerful concept than environmental accessibility, which frequently was characterised as a response to meet the needs of particular sector of society, persons with disabilities for instance. Universal design is concerned with collective benefits, universalisation, and the provision of alternatives rather than homogeneous solutions.
Universal designs recognise diversity.
Universal approaches relate to processes of social transformation, which are characterised by respect for diversity and inclusion. One participant noted that while his country had implemented good legislation on accessibility, relatively little had been delivered since, in his view, the process to implement the legislation was weak. In his view there was a need for a paradigm shift in which universal design is viewed as a challenge and not a regulatory requirement. Another participant commented that regulations on accessibility might be viewed as steps to achieve changes required to produce barrier-free environments. A third participant noted that legislation was useful in identifying areas of need and setting minimum standards on accessibility.