Major international conference on universal design in Norway 2012

Five ministries and several civil service departments are behind an initiative to arrange an international conference on universal design in Oslo 11th to 13th of June 2012.

The logo for the international conference i Oslo in 2012
Several major international conferences on the issue of universal design have previously been arranged in Asia and America. Norway wants a European platform for the development of universal design to be established.

The main goal of the conference is to create an attractive meeting place for researchers and practitioners at which the participants obtain up-to-date knowledge of what has been achieved and where the challenges lie in the work of creating a more accessible society. The subjects discussed will be related to politics, legislation, planning, housing/buildings, outdoor areas, information and communications technologies (ICT) and public transport.

Universal design in public space is the main focus of the conference. The three days of the conference will each have a main theme: Planning for the Diversity of Tomorrow, Good Practice – the interplay of regulations, research and practice and Added Value – the benefits of mainstreaming universal design.

In an international context, Norway is far ahead in implementing universal design in various parts of society. Universal design is anchored in several laws and regulations, including the Anti-discrimination and Accessibility Act and the Planning and Building Act. The body of law and action plan for universal design and increased accessibility 2009-2013 will be good tools to help dismantle existing barriers created by society and prevent new ones from arising. The government’s vision is for Norway to be universally designed by 2025.

The four  five ministries that are cooperating on the conference in Oslo are the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Transport and Communications,the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs.   The Nordic Council of Ministers, represented by the Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues, and the Council of Europe have confirmed that they will contribute as partners.

The Delta Centre, the National Resource Centre for Participation and Accessibility for persons with disabilities, is to act as the project secretariat for the conference at the request of the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion.

The Delta Centre would very much like to come into contact with international professional environments that are working on universal design.

Contact persons:

Head of Project Marianne Wahlstrøm. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Tel: +47 46 61 57 41

Director Toril Bergerud Buene. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Tel: +47 46 61 98 28

Website: http://www.ud2012.no/