Inclusive Environments Flashcards
What are inclusive environments?
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. It does not physically or socially separate, discriminate, or isolate. Inclusive environments readily accommodate and welcomes diverse user needs.
What is discrimination?
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, religion, age, sex, or disability
Are there any Building Regulations associated with inclusive environments?
Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings
Can you provide a summary how Approved Document M applies to this competency?
Approved Document M 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.
Guidance on the use of ramps and steps is covered to provide ease of access, with information including safe degree of pitch and dimensions when buildings a wheelchair accessible facility. The construction of accessible stairs and corridors is also addressed, including the safe height of stairs and the accessible width of both corridors and stairs.
The document also provides guidance on the access and use of extensions made to buildings other than dwellings and access to toilets, bathrooms and sinks within these structures.
Can you provide tangible examples how a building can be inclusive?
Physical access, e.g. ramps or lifts for wheelchairs.
Hearing loops.
Dedicated feeding areas for new parents.
Accessible parking bays adjacent to the building entrance.
Contrasting colours in key elements of the building such as stairs nosings, door frames and plug sockets (to assist the partially sighted).
What is the key legislation relating to Inclusive environments?
The Equality Act 2010, which replaced the Disability Discrimination Acts of 1995 and 2005. It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the grounds of the protect characteristics, which include age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Planning Act 2008, created a new development consent regime for major infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transport, water, waste water, and waste. The requirements are associated development and is define as development which is associated with the principal development and excludes dwellings.
What does section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 state?
“Where a physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage…in comparison with persons who are not disabled” the service provider must “take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage”.
What is a key case to be aware of regarding Inclusive Environments?
Key case is Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc v Allen (2009) EWCA Civ 1213. In this case, a disabled user was unable to access his local branch, as it had a stepped entrance. RBS did not make reasonable adjustments and suggested the user visited another branch instead. This did not constitute a reasonable adjustment and RBS was ordered to install a platform lift and pay Mr Allen £6,500, plus interest and legal costs.
What is BS 8300?
BS 8300 was introduced in 2018, split into two parts; Part 1 BS 8300-1:2018 and Part 2 BS 8300-2:2018. BS 8300 goes beyond the minimum requirements set out in the Approved Document Part M.
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.
The guidance relates to issues such as lighting external areas, ramps gradients and rises, accessible viewing for audience seating, sanitary facilities, WC layout and baby changing facilities.
What is the Changing Places campaign?
The Changing Places campaign was launched in 2006 by the Changing Places Consortium. It aims to provide toilet facilities which are safe, comfortable and accessible for those who cannot use standard accessible toilet. Changing Places toilets will have adequate space and facilities, e.g. height adjustable changing benches and hoists, to meet a variety of user requirements. Research suggests that over 250,000 people in the UK would benefit from the provision of Changing Places toilet, including users living with motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
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’. This emphasises that high quality, inclusive design is a key principle of sustainable development, going beyond just aesthetic factors.
