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Universal Designers and Consultants (UD&C) is a specialty architectural design and consulting firm specializing in barrier free and universal design founded in 1991 by John P. S. Salmen, AIA, a licensed architect. UD&C is a dynamic group of architects, designers and other professionals who are passionate about designing environments and space to be usable by people of all ages and abilities, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Accessibility code compliance is complex — with sometimes vague standards and overlapping code requirements. Careful analysis is necessary to come up with sound solutions that work.

UD&C is able to stay up to date on accessibility trends and the intricacies of code evolution by participating in the International Building Code/American National Standards Institute (ICC/ANSI) A117 standard development process. Our involvement keeps us connected and "in the know" about ever-changing accessibility laws and regulations.

We have been a voting member of the ICC/ANSI A117 Committee for more than two decades and currently serve on the Editorial Committee. In addition, UD&C has represented the American Institute of Architects (AIA) on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines Review Federal Advisory Committee that developed the revised Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (2004 ADAAG) that the Department of Justice has proposed to adopt as the Title II ADA Standards.

UD&C clients benefit from our team's well-considered guidance. Accessibility code compliance is complex — with sometimes vague standards and over lapping code requirements, careful analysis is necessary to come up with sound solutions that work to provide program accessibility within the limitations of governmental operations. We have experience that allows us to tailor our teams to support a wide range of facility and program types from assembly areas to zoos. The recommendations we offer our clients are based on more than 20 years of experience in the field and they are crafted to withstand challenges.

To further our mission of educating and informing people about the value of universal design, we publish Universal Design Newsletter—an online and print publication focused on Universal Design, accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Learn more about our mission and ethical approach.