December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This observance was established in 1981 by the United Nations as an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of people living with disabilities worldwide, to promote awareness of the challenges they face, and to consider the roles that we all can play in breaking down barriers to a more inclusive global community. We’re observing the day with these images from the International Lead Zinc Research Organization (ILZRO) house, which was built in Foster, Rhode Island during the 1970s under the guidance of universal design pioneer Marc Harrison (1936-1998). Following the principles of universal design, the house was designed to be universally accessible to all, regardless of differences in physical or mental abilities. As a result, the home was equipped with features such as pressure-operated light switches, sinks and other work surfaces installed at lower heights, as well as innovative construction materials and energy conservation strategies. To see more images and documents relating to the ILZRO house, or to see other items in the Hagley Library’s collections related to universal design, visit the Universal Design collection in our Digital Archives by clicking here. To see other digitized items from the Hagley Library’s Marc Harrison papers (Accession 2193), click here.
