Better Late Than Never – Universal Design in Disability Policies

In Denmark, the local disability councils are encouraged to develop municipal disability policies in alignment with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These councils are often involved in public building and infrastructure projects. Inspired by Carol Bacchi’s strategy for policy analysis, ‘What’s the problem represented to be? this paper studies and compares municipal disability policies and Disabled People's Organisations Denmark (DPOD)’s first policy on Universal design (UD) and accessibility. The findings reveal that the municipal disability policies predominantly focus on accessibility, with only a few addressing UD. Among those that do, there are varying interpretations of UD, such as a concept for housing. In contrast, the policy of DPOD embraces UD more comprehensively. The problem represented - ‘the environment is not accessible for everyone, and everyone cannot participate’ - and the use of UD as the solution indicate a paradigm shift towards inclusivity, focusing on everyone rather than just people with physical disabilities. The paper suggests that UD, as presented in the DOPD policy can be seen as an approach to spatial justice for all. This approach appears essential for the disability movement, though it is though-provoking that is has taken so long to be adopted. Better late than never.