Though Leslie Shankman-Cohn recommends starting the universal design process before a house is built, there are steps people can take to make their existing kitchens more accessible.

"Always first, is lighting," she said. "People have to be able to see clearly what they're doing." Especially important is under-cabinet lighting to illuminate countertops.

Doors with lever-type handles are easier to open, whether for the elderly or people with their arms filled with grocery sacks.

Contrasting colors on floors, counters and backsplashes help people who have difficulty with depth perception.

Countertops at different levels are not only appropriate for different tasks -- chopping, cleaning, rolling out dough -- but accommodate themselves to people of varying heights (or disabilities). This is an important factor when kitchens have become the social center of the home, and people enjoy working together.

Keep a rolling cart in the kitchen so you can move things around easily instead of lifting and moving.

Position the microwave oven at counter level instead of high up, so it is easier to reach. In fact, keep as many kitchen features as possible at countertop level to eliminate reaching and stretching.

Designing universal access into a new house would add about 3 percent to the total cost, said Shankman-Cohn, while retrofitting an existing kitchen would be more expensive.

Shankman-Cohn emphasized that universal design isn't just for the elderly or the disabled.

"A young woman who is pregnant or has a baby would appreciate the ease and convenience as much as someone in a wheelchair," she said.

Here are some Web sites that offer hints about creating kitchens with universal access.

-- Fredric Koeppel: 529-2376