Type of Project: Funded project Model project
Design for All (DfA)

In order to fulfill the demands of the UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and according to the demographic change and the impacts on small and medium-sized enterprises, the topic “Design for All (DfA)” gains more and more importance in Germany. The current demographic and social trends constitute new stimulus to include the concepts of comfort and safety, integrated with accessibility and usability topics in the design process. The study “Impulses for economic growth and employment through the adoption of the Design for All concept in enterprises and economic policy” , 2009, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economics, underlined the positive effects of DfA for German businesses and economy. Following a recommendation of this study, the RKW Competence Centre has organised a series of DfA-seminars commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology between 2009 and 2013. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) the seminars should provide a platform for sharing information and experience and for networking with major representatives from business, science, social organizations and politics. They focus on the presentation of the most recent research results and examples of good practice, preferably from SME, demonstrating that “Design for All” provides considerable benefit in respect of innovation, success, growth and employment. Various publications are available. (only in German language) www.rkw-kompetenzzentrum/dfa