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Students in the Simon Fraser University's Diploma Program in Rehabilitation Management [and the Kwantlen University College Degree Program in Interior Design] are asked to participate in a series of experiential exercises that require them to “walk a mile in another’s shoes” by performing selected activities with artificial changes to their own physical abilities (e.g., wearing gloves with thumbs taped down) or sensory abilities (e.g., wearing glasses with a thin layer of Vaseline on the lens). Students act as both observers and as the differently abled volunteer. They not only gain the experience of walking a mile in another’s shoes (as the volunteer), but also gain an understanding of the misperceptions that can exist in observing the experience of another person. These exercises are intended to build empathy (not sympathy) for diversity in human functioning, and an understanding of the impact of the built environment on inclusion and on people’s ability to actively participate in the world around them. This course is being re-developed for future delivery as an online course.

At the Center for Universal Design at the University of North Carolina, students in an online class take photos of environments that have features that exemplify particular universal design principles; these are posted for discussion. This activity helps students to gain an awareness of the issues of all people as part of a continuum of life experiences and human functioning that may include temporary or permanent changes to physical or sensory abilities as we age or due to injury or illness. Understanding that one objective of good design is meeting the needs of different abilities, students also look at the natural range of human performance related to seeing, hearing, movement and thought processes.

To explore the topics of human diversity and universal design, and to develop an innovative online activity to help students build empathy and understanding of human diversity as it relates to universal design and the built environment.

Here is your team challenge:

1. Read the Seven Principles of Universal Design
2. Read the Continuum of Functioning
3. As a team, select one of these four abilities: vision, hearing,
   mobility, dexterity (ability to grip). Explore the range of abilities
   along the continuum you selected. Post where you and your teammates are
   on this continuum to the discussion Forum and invite the audience to
   respond or post where they are on the continuum.
4. Regarding the ability that your team selected, discuss with your team what aspects of the built environment (and/or digital environment) are most critical when designing to include the widest possible range of people along your continuum. Use the discussion Forum to post which universal design principles your team thinks are likely to be most important. Invite the audience to respond with observations and recommendations.
   (Note: Discussion in the Forum during the week is a key component of this weeks challenge. Judges have been asked to pay special attention to the extent teams generate dialogue and input during the week and count it toward 20% of the challenge response score.)
5. Design and carry out an activity that simulates the experience of fully or partially losing the ability that your team selected. Be creative - ideas can be drawn from activities in the course this challenge is based on, or from the sites in the Resources panel.
6. Develop a presentation about your universal design experience. Include the simulation activity you created and describe what you learned. Include photographs, graphics, or other media that highlight or illustrate your experiences. Submit your presentation to the Dare2BDigital event site.

Keep in Mind:

• A simulated loss of ability will reflect a somewhat artificial experience compared to someone with an actual loss. For example, experiencing a wheel chair for a day is different from being confined to a wheel chair for a year.
• The activities you develop may be incorporated into SFU’s program in Universal Design, so think carefully about what your team is learning and present it as something that could become part of an online course.