Inclusive environments Flashcards
What is the Equality Act 2010?
The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations. It sets out the different ways in which it’s unlawful to treat someone.
What legislation was there before the Equality Act?
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- Race Relations Act 1976
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The characteristics that are protected by the Equality Act 2010?
- age.
- disability.
- gender reassignment.
- marriage or civil partnership (in employment only).
- pregnancy and maternity.
- race.
- religion or belief.
- sex.
- sexual orientation.
When are you protected from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010?
•employers.
•businesses and organisations which provide goods or
services like banks, shops and utility companies.
•health and care providers like hospitals and care
homes.
•someone you rent or buy a property from like housing
associations and estate agents.
•schools, colleges and other education providers.
•transport services like buses, trains and taxis
public bodies like government departments and local
authorities.
What are the consequences of breaching the Equality Act 2010?
The two most important categories are;
• Injury to feelings and
• Loss of earnings.
Unlike unfair dismissal, there is no limit on the amount of compensation that can be awarded in discrimination cases.
What is the purpose of the Equality Act?
The Act has 2 main aims:
• Harmonise discrimination law;
• Update and strengthen the previous legislation.
What is classed as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010?
• Changing the recruitment process so a candidate can
be considered for a job.
• Doing things another way, such as allowing someone
with social anxiety disorder to have their own desk
instead of hot-desking.
• Making physical changes to the workplace, like
installing a ramp for a wheelchair user or an audio-
visual fire alarm for a deaf person.
• Letting a disabled person work somewhere else,
such as on the ground floor for a wheelchair user
changing their equipment, for instance providing a
special keyboard if they have arthritis
• Allowing employees who become disabled to make a
phased return to work, including flexible hours or
part-time working.
• Offering employees training opportunities, recreation
and refreshment facilities.
Please can you advise on the documentation that guides inclusive design?
- Equality Act
- Building Regulations
- BS:8300
What is Part M of the Building Regulations?
It sets out the minimum accessibility requirements which should be met under the Building Act 1984
It provides information about the ease of access to, and use of, buildings, including facilities for disabled visitors or occupants, and the ability to move through a building easily including to toilets and bathrooms.
What is BS 8300?
It was introduced in 2018, split into two parts;
• Part 1 BS 8300-1:2018
• Part 2 BS 8300-2:2018.
BS 8300 goes beyond the minimum requirements set out in the Approved Document Part M.
It applies to predominantly new buildings, but can be used to assess access in existing buildings and form a basis for improvement.
What are the different parts of BS 8300?
Part 1 provides guidance relating to the accessible and inclusive design of new public spaces.
Part 2 relates to internal design to meet all user requirements. It does not apply to individual residential dwellings.
What does the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) say about inclusive environments?
Section 8 of the latest NPPF relates to the provision of healthy, inclusive and safe places.
These should ‘promote health and well-being, with a high standard of amenity for existing and future users’.
It emphasises that high quality, inclusive design is a key principle of sustainable development, going beyond just aesthetic factors.
What is the Changing Places campaign?
It was launched in 2006 by the Changing Places Consortium and aims to provide toilet facilities which are safe, comfortable and accessible for those who cannot use standard accessible toilets.
Changing Places toilets will have adequate space and facilities, e.g. height adjustable changing benches and hoists, to meet a variety of user requirements.
What does the Equality Act 2010 say about inclusive environments?
Section 20 states that disabled individuals should not face barriers to access premises. If a barrier is faced and the disabled individual is put at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a non-disabled individual, then the service provider is under an obligation to make reasonable adjustments to facilitate access.
This extends beyond the duty just to facilitate physical access. It also relates to the way in which services are provided, which could include auxiliary aids such as hearing loops or visual aids.
