Disability Consultant Anthony Tusler Continues Alliance with Academy of Art University, San Francisco

12 May 2006, San Francisco, CA – On May 15, 2006, Anthony Tusler, former Coordinator of the Technology Policy Division at the World Institute on Disability, will continue his relationship with the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, by way of a design review of Academy student-designed and crafted products.

Since Tusler’s standing room only lecture in February, a number of the Academy’s advanced Industrial Design students have been using Universal Design principles to devise new products to help people with disabilities. One of Tusler’s primary goals is to help guide the best of these new products to market, where they can be of service to both the general and disability markets.

The concept of Universal Design, as articulated by the Center for Universal Design: “Good universal design simplifies life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost.”

"These students are the future of accessibility." according to Tusler. "Without good design, people with disabilities will be left out. I was excited to see how many students showed up at our inaugural meeting. The students were interested and committed. It couldn't have been better. The Industrial Design Department at the Academy is unique in the depth of their commitment to designing for everyone.
They understand the accessibility implications brought on by the aging Baby Boomers."

Tusler aims to help industrial designers understand and use Universal Design concepts, who will in turn make the future brighter for people with disabilities. As the Academy of Art University students will help determine the future of product design, Tusler and the Academy intend for these students to become knowledgeable and excited about designing products for everyone.

After years advocating for the integration of people with disabilities into American society Tusler is now focusing on the consumer marketplace as an arena ripe for change and improvement. Mr. Tusler works to evangelize universal design with companies and to help them to reach and understand the disability market. Tusler works with novice and seasoned company accessibility champions on effective, proven strategies for transforming their companies to recognize and value disability.



About Anthony Tusler
Anthony Tusler is a writer, consultant, trainer, and advocate on disability issues. He was the Coordinator of the Technology Policy Division at the World Institute on Disability for three years and the founding Director of the Disability Resource Center at Sonoma State University. He helped to start the Institute on Alcohol, Drugs, and Disability and Community Resources for Independence ILC in Northern California. He taught Psychosocial issues of Disability at Sonoma State University for ten years. At Santa Rosa Junior college he directed the High Tech Center for disabled students and taught classes of accessible software. His web site AboutDisability.com is the home for The New Paradigm of Disability Bibliography which he edits. He is a wheelchair user.

www.aboutdisability.com


About the San Francisco Academy of Art University
Founded in 1929 by artists for artists, the Academy of Art University is a fully-accredited private institution of higher education offering professional study at the AA, BFA and MFA levels in the fields of art and design. The curriculum integrates the talents of students with their personal visions and aspirations with the overarching goal of preparing them for professional employment in art and design careers.

The Academy of Art University emphasizes professional excellent personalized teaching and provides services that address the needs of students of diverse ages and backgrounds. With 9000 students attending courses in 31 buildings located in the heart of San Francisco — and a cyber campus that reaches around the world — the Academy is the largest private art and design school in the country.

The Academy of Art University’s automotive design department, headed by Mazda Miata designer Tom Matano, is one of only three automotive design schools in the United States.

www.academyart.edu

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