Inclusive Environments

Question 1

What is an inclusive environment?

Answer 1

One that is designed and managed to allow people with a diverse range of needs and abilities to access and use it.

Question 2

Who is responsible for creating an inclusive environment?

Answer 2

Developers, building owners, building managers etc

Question 3

What are the drivers (legal, economic, sustainable and social) for making inclusion the norm?

Answer 3

• Social / Economic: Reducing social inequality, attracting wider range of potential users. Productivity. Positive public image
• Sustainable / Economic: Future proof and reduced effort and spend on later adaptations
• Legal

Question 4

What are the benefits for owners and occupiers?

Answer 4

• Occupiers – less alterations in demise, able to access wider variety of space, productivity.
• Owners – higher demand/ wider range of users, public image, less spent later

Question 5

What needs to be considered when creating an inclusive environment?

Answer 5

• Considerations should be made both during design/ refurbishment and occupation
• Policies/ Legal requirements: Local planning policies, building regulations, Equality Act 2010, H&S law.
• Various physical/ mental health issues may lead to varying accessibility issues.
• Factors that can lead to social isolation
• Best practices
• The value inclusive environments can being to building owners and occupiers.

Question 6

What is the test for reasonableness?

Answer 6

• Effectiveness for the disabled person
• Practicality of the adjustment
• Financial cost and disruption
• Resources (physical and financial) available

Question 7

How do you make a building more inclusive?

Answer 7

• Visual contrast in doorways, skirting, handles and switches, steps (hard if have visual impairment).
• Ramps and lifts at entrance of building.
• Door pass adjacent to revolving doors.
• Access control reader at a level accessible for wheelchair users

Question 8

Define DDA compliant

Answer 8

• Disability Discrimination Act (1995) made it mandatory for all establishments and service providers that are open to the public to take reasonable steps provide access for disabled people.

Question 9

How do you reference the Equality Act in a valuation report?

Answer 9

• Consider the works required to ensure the property is inline with the Act and whether the demand for the property will be affected if it is not.

Question 10

What is the difference between an ethical issue and a legal requirement?

Answer 10

Whilst legal standards are set by governmental laws, ethical standards do not necessarily have a legal basis.

Legal standards are useful as they help people to understand what they are not allowed to do, whereas ethical standards are primarily based on human principles of right and wrong.