Inclusive Environment Flashcards
What building regulation relates to usability of buildings?
Part M - Access to and use of buildings
What legislation contributes to creating inclusive environments?
- The Equality Act 2010
- BS 8300 Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment.
- Approved Doc M (access to and use of buildings)
- Approved Doc k (protection from falling, collision and impact).
What is the Equality Act 2010?
The Equality Act 2010 is designed to legally protects people from discrimination, promote fairness and provide equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society.
It identifies a number of protected categories (9).
What are the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010?
1-Age
2-Disability
3-Gender reassignment
4-Race
5-Religion or belief
6-Sex
7-Sexual orientation
8-Marriage and civil partnership
9-Pregnancy and maternity
What is BS8300 ?
It’s a British Standars designed to provide accessible and inclusive built environment.
What is the definition of an inclusive environment?
An inclusive environment recognises and accommodates differences in the way people use the built and natural environment. It facilitates dignified, equal and intuitive use by everyone
What is meant by the term unconscious bias ?
The perception we make of others subconsciously or stereotypes of people which have an impact on our decision making - leading often to unfair decisions.
These perceptions are often caused by our upbringing /background, personal experiences, societal stereotypes and cultural context.
Can you give an example of unconscious bias?
For example beauty bias, if someone comes into the office every day with their hair unkempt, you might assume that they are lazy or careless. Likewise, you might assume that an attractive, well-dressed colleague is more organised and professional.
What factors would you consider under inclusive environments ?
- Welcoming to everyone
- Responsive to people’s needs
- Intuitive to use
- Flexible
- Offer choice when a single design solution cannot meet all user needs
- Convenient so they can be used without undue effort or special separation and so that they maximise independence
How do you address unconscious bias?
- Be self-aware – internal dialogue
- Slow-down decision making – use a step-by-step approach
- Reconsider the reasons for decisions
- Monitor each other for unconscious-bias – have someone else check your reasoning
Under the Equality Act 2010, what parties have duties? What are those duties?
- Service providers: to make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to people with disabilities
- Employers have a duty to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace
- Public Authorities: have a duty to consider their policies and ensure they provide equality
- Education providers: similar to the above
What are the reasonable adjustments?
Reasonable adjustments are changes or adaptations that for example enable disable people to access a service or to carry out their work on an equal basis
I.e.
- Physical adjustments: ramp
- Technological adjustment: assistive technology
- Policies
Why is the Equality Act important ?
The Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone on the grounds of any of these characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/belief, sex (gender) and sexual orientation.
These are often referred to as protected characteristics.
Tell me a stipulation from Approved Document M relating to accessibility
- Minimum effective clear width of doors (straight on (without a turn or oblique approach - internally) - 800mm in new buildings, 750mm in existing buildings.
- Where doors are to open manually the opening force from the leading edge is to be no more than 30N from closed to 30degrees.
What is a disability?
Defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on someone’s ability to do normal daily activities.
What is part M of the Building Regualtions ?
Part M sets out minimum requirements to ensure that a broad range of people are able to access and use facilities within buildings.
What does a “reasonable requirement” mean in relation to the Equality Act 2010?
The action is financially viable and practical
What requirements are there for ramps under Part M Access to and Use of Buildings?
- Maximum gradient (dependant on flight, gradient and rise)
- Surface width is at least 1.5m
- Ramp surface is slip resistant
When are you protected?
Workplace
Public services (i.e. healthcare or education)
Places that offer service (supermarket, shops)
Transport
Clubs
Contact with local government
What are the different forms of discrimination?
Direct Discrimination
Indirect Discrimination
Harassment
Victimisation
What is direct discrimination?
Where you directly treating someone worse
i.e. promoting males instead of female in certain jobs which you think are more suited to males
What is indirect discrimitaion?
Indirectly treating someone worse
i.e. putting a policy in place which effects someone with a protected characteristic and now someone without
What is harrassment?
Something which creates an offensive or hostile environment.
What is victimisation?
Where you are treated poorly because of you have a Protected Characteristic
