Inclusive Environments

Question 1

Describe the essential principles for achieving an inclusive environment

Answer 1

• Contribute to building an inclusive society now and in the future.
• Apply professional and responsible judgement and take a leadership.
• Apply and integrate the principles of inclusive design from the outset of a project.
• Do more than just comply with legislation and codes – planning policies, Equality Act 2010, building regulations
• Seek multiple views to solve accessibility and inclusivity challenges
• Acquire the skills, knowledge, understanding and confidence to make inclusion the norm not the exception

Question 2

Define an inclusive environment

Answer 2

• An inclusive environment is one that is designed and managed to allow people with a diverse range of needs and abilities to access it. It does not physically or socially separate, discriminate, or isolate
• Creates buildings, places and spaces that can be used easily, safely, and with dignity, by all of us, regardless of age, disability or gender.
• Recognises that we all benefit from improved accessibility including disabled people, older people and families with children, carers and those of use who do not consider ourselves to disabled.
• Goes beyond meeting minimum standards or legislative requirements.

Question 3

Describe the background on the equality act 2010 with respect of inclusive environments

Answer 3

• Equality Act 2010 came into force, October 2010 to consolidate existing discrimination law (the disability discrimination act 1995) and to provide broader protection against a wide range of discrimination and inequality to include the use of property

Question 4

Main obligations under the Equality Act 2010

Answer 4

• It extends the obligations to service providers to all controllers of let premises
• It is unlawful for those managing property / managing buildings to discriminate against or victimise an occupier
• The Act under section 20, extends the requirement to make reasonable adjustments to help disabled people if they would be placed at a substantial disadvantage if the work was not carried out

Question 5

Describe the obligations under section 20

Answer 5

• The Act under section 20, extends the requirement to make reasonable adjustments to help disabled people if they would be placed at a substantial disadvantage if the work was not carried out
• Service providers have a duty to make alterations to a building so to avoid disability discrimination
• Adjustments to buildings must be reasonable; with respect to cost, extent and disruption

Question 6

What options does the Act give a service provider when faced with obstacles surrounding access for disabled persons

Answer 6

the Act gives the service provider a choice to – remove the feature, alter it, provide reasonable means of avoiding the obstacle, provide alternative access to the service.

Question 7

Describe reasonable adjustments

Answer 7

Requirement under Equality Act, alterations to a building to make a building more accessible to people with disabilities.

Reasonable adjustments with regard to financial cost and likely disruption, practicality of the adjustment, users, employees, size of the company, effectiveness of the adjustment for the disabled person

Question 8

Examples of reasonable adjustments

Answer 8

changing of physical features for example, providing ramps and stairways, making doorways wider, installing automatic doors, clearer signs and more lighting
Braille, portable induction loop, more staff assistance

Question 9

Describe part M, Building Regulations, 2010

Answer 9

• Building Regulations in England to ensure that people are able to access and use buildings and facilities.
• Two Parts – Volume 1, Dwellings & Volume 2 Buildings other than dwellings

Question 10

Describe M1 / M2

Answer 10

• M1 – reasonable provisions must be made for people to gain access to, and use the buildings and facilities.
• M2 – suitable independent access must be provided to the extension where reasonably practical.

Question 11

Describe the requirements under M1/M2

Answer 11

• SoS view is that requirements M1, M2, M3 must be met by making reasonable provisions to ensure that buildings are accessible and usable. People regardless of age, disability and gender should be able to access buildings and gain access within buildings and use their facilities.

Question 12

What does Part M building regulation guidance cover

Answer 12

• Covers access into buildings, facilities in buildings, sanitary accommodation in buildings, horizontal/vertical circulation in buildings

Question 13

Describe the RICS Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Answer 13

Inclusive Employer Quality Mark – In 2015, RICS set up the Inclusive Employer Quality Mark as a response to the sector being behind other professions in moving towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Based on principles - Leadership, Recruitment, Inclusive Culture, Development

Question 14

Name relevant primary and secondary legislation related to inclusive environments

Answer 14

Equality Act 2010, HASAW Act 1974 (Primary) NPPF, Building Regulations, Fire Safety Regulations (Secondary),

Question 15

What is the duty of service providers re building users under the EA?

Answer 15

• To take reasonable steps to avoid a provision / practise which puts a disabled person at substantial disadvantage
• To avoid a physical feature which puts disabled person at a substantial disadvantage, for example, to take reasonable steps to provide auxiliary aid (brail signs, hand rails, ramps, dementia friendly lines) where a disabled person would, without it, be put at a substantial disadvantage.