The Waypoint – Backstrom Principles

Maritime Inclusive Environments and Practice

(Human-Centered Seaworthiness)

Maritime tradition as old as recorded history shapes human experience. As a species born on land yet fascinated with water humans endlessly take to waterways and the sea in ships.

Seaworthiness is a measure of the fit between the environment a watercraft must navigate and the ability of humans to use that craft for their own purposes. Universal Design captures this essential dynamic at the core of seaworthiness.

Universal (or “Inclusive”) Design is a set of seven principles (see Appendix or http://www.slideshare.net/srains/universal-design-the-seven-principles ) created to maintain balance between environmental and human requirements during the design, construction, and use of an environment, a product, or a product-service system. It is:

Universal Design is a framework for the design of places, things, information, communication and policy to be usable by the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations without special or separate design. Most simply, Universal Design is human-centered design of everything with everyone in mind.

Universal Design is also called Inclusive Design, Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but an orientation to any design process that starts with a responsibility to the experience of the user. (Source: http://www.adaptiveenvironments.org/index.php?option=Content&Itemid=3 )

In a time where advances in materials and construction have met with new markets for watercraft, Universal Design has been applied successfully to kayaks, yachts, tenders and cruise line mega-ships – and everything in between. This democratization of boat ownership and the migration of leisure, sport, and luxury activity to a water environment by an ever-widening range of people both reflects and advances contemporary expectations of full social inclusion for people with all ranges of abilities.

Universal Design is a land-based tradition originated by quadriplegic architect Ron Mace and his colleagues during the 1970’s. Systematically applied and modified to the maritime environment this design approach began to be known as the Waypoint-Backstrom Principles in the early 2000’s through the work of Sherri Backstrom and colleagues gathered around Waypoint Yacht Charter Services.

The Waypoint-Backstrom Principles assume the application of the principles of Universal Design but the highly changeable nature of water-borne environments brings into even higher relief issues of entry and egress (embarkation and debarkation), intermodal transport, personal safety, and human impact on the natural environment.

It is hoped that these principles will continue to shape the maritime tradition toward the day when all people or all ranges of abilities may freely and safely “take to the sea in ships.”

Principles

1) Begin with Universal Design

The principles of Universal Design are an essential element of seaworthiness. Assumptions of the abilities (physical, mental, or sensory functionality) of crew or passengers as constant over time in any single individual or uniform throughout the population of owners and users of the watercraft throughout its lifespan are to be questioned. Design decisions made on exclusionary assumptions about human users are to be challenged as creating an unseaworthy craft.

2) Design for Self-Sufficiency

Watercraft are the insertion of a terrestrial into a maritime environment. Issues of provisioning, fueling, and waste disposal introduce unique design constraints that require balanced attention to both social sustainability (Universal Design) and environmental sustainability (green design).

3) Design for Extraordinary Conditions

Maritime practice traditionally assigns clearly-defined shipboard roles and responsibilities. Design assumptions follow. Assumptions about the abilities (physical, mental, or sensory) of the idealized role-holder as they are designed into products, spaces, and practices may prove to be disastrous in emergency situations. In such cases the only person available to fulfill a lifesaving task may not share the ability set assumed in the design whether that is through temporary injury of the crew, or substitution of a child, elderly person, or person with a permanent disability. Designing for extraordinary conditions is a principle that accepts current evolving definitions of disability as the interaction between ability (functionality) and environment (design; social response to variety in human functionality). It “imagines” disability as a normal consequence of life and designs for it proactively.

4) Design for Modularity and Revision

While a core tenet of Universal Design is that the design be sufficient “without special or separate design” the frequency of maintenance necessary for watercraft, especially in a saltwater environment, leads to frequent opportunities for upgrade to accommodate the range of abilities in crew and passengers. Original ship design that envisions modular upgrading and maintenance protocols that actively query shipboard experience for opportunities to design for improved inclusion are to be encouraged.

5) Design for Seamless Intermodal Transfer

Sophisticated and efficient systems have been developed to load and unload watercraft, haul them ashore, or transport them. Similar breadth of imagination and technology is often lacking in relation to human passengers. Assumptions that all crew and passengers can safely and independently embark, move freely through, and disembark a vessel are to be examined thoroughly at the design stage and reviewed systematically through the vessel’s operation. Special attention is to be paid to the effect of climactic and environmental conditions, aging, and temporary or permanent disability on the part of crew and passengers. Intermodal transfer by its nature involves more than design of a single vessel. It requires attention to the interface between vessels and docking systems (fixed or temporary), tenders, and emergency evacuation systems.

The current world standard document on this topic is entitled Accessible Boating Facilities: A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation Facilities finalized in 2002 and published by the United States Access Board in 2003 with subsequent updates and commentary. (See Appendix)

For further information:

Sherri Backstrom, Director
sherri@waypointcharter.com
contact@waypointcharter.com

Waypoint Yacht Charter Services
4648 Lakeway Drive
Bellingham, WA 98229

Toll Free (US & Canada): (888) 491-2949

Office Phone & Fax: (360) 656-5934

Dr. Scott Rains, Consultant

srains@oco.net

The Rolling Rains Report

1748 Dalton Place

San Jose, CA 95124

408 267-4751

Skype: RollingRains

Appendices

Principles of Universal Design

• Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.
• Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
• Simple, Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
• Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
• Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
• Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue.
• Size and Space for Approach & Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.

Compiled by advocates of Universal Design in 1997. Participants are listed in alphabetical order: Bettye Rose Connell, Mike Jones, Ron Mace, Jim Mueller, Abir Mullick, Elaine Ostroff, Jon Sanford, Ed Steinfeld, Molly Story, Gregg Vanderheiden. The Principles are copyrighted to the Center for Universal Design, School of Design, State University of North Carolina at Raleigh [USA].

The Principles established a valuable language for explaining the characteristics of Universal Design. They are in common use around the world, sometimes with slight modifications, primarily one or two principles grouped together. It is expected that the principles will be reconsidered on the occasion of their tenth anniversary in 2007 and are likely to evolve in response to experience with implementation and in order to incorporate insights and perspectives from the engagement of more diverse cultures.

Source: http://www.adaptiveenvironments.org/index.php?option=Content&Itemid=25

Sample Information Sheet on Yacht Designed for Passengers with Disabilities

All cruise ships have a limited number of accessible cabins and in-room special needs amenities such as TTY phones and vibrating alarm clocks. To obtain the cabin and amenities you require, book early. It is also important to communicate your special needs to your cruise counselor prior to booking so he or she can determine whether your needs can be met.

The Special Needs information shown for this ship was provided by the cruise line and VTG is not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Please note that there is no wheelchair access to the Sports Marina, the outdoor section of deck 4 aft, and all of deck 6 including the Balinese sunbeds. The Top of the Yacht Bar and the golf simulator are also inaccessible by wheelchair.

Source document: SeaDream II Special Needs Info

Accessible Boating Facilities:

A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation Facilities

Document available on request.

Universally Designed Guest Rooms

Document available on request.

Resource List

Designers, Engineers, Yacht Builders, Boat Yard Facilities,

Consultants, Marinas, Waterfront Resorts

Document available on request.