Universal Success for First Year of UD Program

After hosting seven global Universal Design Summits, this year brought an exciting expansion to year-round programming! Our Universal Design Program Coordinator, Rachel Goldmeier, MSA, MPPA, made it a huge success, planning and hosting several events and collaborating on even more.

Workshops Hosted

Industry Events

20+

Expert Partners

830

People Educated

Snapshot: A Full Year of Universal Design

Universal Design 2025 Program Expansion with grid of photos from events this year.

Programming for Significant Impact

Community survey – Based on our community’s responses, we identified gaps in UD knowledge and practice to focus our programming

UD education expanded – Added to our regular trainings for employers and the community in response to high level of demand

Universal Design Myths Busted: Facts that Foster Inclusion – Debunking the biggest UD myths to uncover the real facts that make spaces better for everyone from UD experts

Universal Design Past, Present, and Future Series:

Universal Design in St. Louis: History and Evolution – Expert panel on the incorporation and evolution of UD around St. Louis with tour of the Soldiers Memorial Museum

Aging in Place, Living Independently – Workshop and discussion of current UD offerings in our local residential market co-hosted with Paraquad

Built for Everyone: The Future of Universal Design in St. Louis – Presentations for experts on how UD will shape our future travel, public spaces, and residential living

Design Day at Dream Big Camp – Led high school students with disabilities in discussion with design professionals to explore educational paths and careers in their industries

Inclusive by Nature: Sustainability and Universal Design – On World Sustainability Day, we hosted leading architects in sustainability and Universal Design building places and spaces that work for every body and the planet

We can start small, but we have to start now. Universal Design is not a trend, it’s the future.

– Built for Everyone: The Future of Universal Design in St. Louis

Building a Collaborative Network Across Industries

Kitchen and Bath Industry Show

International Seating Symposium

University of Pittsburgh’s Healthy Home Lab

STL Design Week Student Competition on Digital Accessibility

Partnering with Leading Experts

Tiffany Dill Accessibility & Universal Design Consultant, Custom Joy

Chris Downey Architect at Architecture for the Blind

Amy Gilbertson Principal, Trivers

Gina Hilberry Principal, Cohen Hilberry Architects

William Leddy Founding Principal, Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

Anna Leavey Owner/President, Anna Leavey, LLC

David Newburger Commissioner & ADA Coordinator, City of St. Louis Office on the Disabled

Stu Shell Associate Principal, BranchPattern

Peter Uetrecht Principal, Compass Design Build

Bart van Vliet Practice Leader of Aviation & Transportation, HOK

Alexa Vaughn Landscape Designer & Accessibility Specialist, Design With Disabled People Now

Steve Wright UD Expert Planner | Professor, University of Miami – School of Architecture

College students, 3 holding certificates, smile together in an office with screen behind them.

St. Louis Community College students, including the three winning team members, at the 2025 StL Design Week contest.

Chris Downey with local architects and SDI staff smile together in a conference room.

Chris Downey and local architects with SDI staff earlier this year.

We can be sneaky to increase universal design. We present design options to our clients. We don’t have to show them non-UD options.

When the project is complete, we can educate our clients and celebrate our welcoming design together.