Inclusive Environments

Question 1

What is the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 1

It is law which protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

Question 2

What are the Protected Characteristics?

Answer 2

There are 9:

Disability

Relgion

Age

Gender reassignment

RACE

Marriage

Maternity

Sex

Sexual orientation

Question 3

Under the Equality Act when are you protected?

Answer 3

in the workplace

use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example, at your school or college)

use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants, and cinemas)

use transport

join a club or association (for example, your local tennis club)

have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments

Question 4

What are the different forms of discrimination?

Answer 4

Direct Discrimination

Indirect Discrimination

Harassment

Victimisation

Question 5

What is direct discrimination?

Answer 5

when you’re treated differently and worse than someone else for certain reasons.

Question 6

What is indirect discrimitaion?

Answer 6

when there is a practice policy which applies to everyone in the same way but has a worse effect some people than others. the equality act says she at a particular disadvantage.

Question 7

What is harrassment?

Answer 7

unwanted behaviour which you find offensive which makes you feel intimidated. it can happen on its own or alongside other forms of discrimination

Question 8

What is victimisation?

Answer 8

when somebody treats you badly or subjects you to a detriment because you complain about discrimination or help someone who’s been the victim of discrimination.

Question 9

Can you give an example of a public service which is not all inclusive?

Answer 9

The underground.

Question 10

Is cost an element to consider in relation to making an environment inclusive?

Answer 10

Yes, reasonable test within the Equality Act 2010.

If it is financially unviable to undertake the work, then it is not reasonable to.

Question 11

Under the Equality Act, who is responsible for ensuring environments are inclusive?

Answer 11

Either the property owner or property manager.

Inclusive design is the responsibility of everyone who works in the built environment.

Question 12

How does the Equality Act 2010 relate to property professionals?

Answer 12

Lettings or sales cannot be undertaken in a way which discriminates, harasses or victimises a person.

Question 13

What options are available to a service provider under the Equality Act if an environment is not inclusive?

Answer 13

• remove or alter feature
• Provide reasonable means of avoiding it

Question 14

What does a “reasonable requirement” mean in relation to the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 14

The action is financially viable and practical

They can be changes to policies working practices or physical layouts providing extra equipment of support.

Buildings the equality act requires reasonable adjustments to be made in relation to accessibility. In practice this means that due regard must be given to any specific need of likely building users might be reasonably met.

Question 15

Why is creating an inclusive environment important?

Answer 15

Not only due to Legislation, but also due to improving and helping the lives of those who would otherwise suffer.

Question 16

Are there penalties under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 16

Can make a discrimination claim in the civil court to receive compensation for injury to feelings and loss of earnings.

Question 17

What does the term inclusive environments mean?

Answer 17

An inclusive environment is one that facilitates dignified and intuitive use by everyone does not physically or socially separate discriminate or isolate it readily accommodates and welcomes diverse users need - RICS definition

Question 18

Aim of inclusive environment

Answer 18

Ensuring property does not physically or socially separate, discriminate or isolate

Accommodates and welcomes a range of user needs

Question 19

Primary legislation

Answer 19

Equality Act 2010
Health and safety at work act 1974
Emlpoyment Act 2002

Question 20

Secondary legislationto inclusive environment

Answer 20

NPPF
Building regs – Part M ‘Access to & Use off Builings’
Fire Safety
British Standards eg BS8300 (design suitable for disabled)

Question 21

Equality Act reference to inclusive environments

Answer 21

Section 20: duty to make adjustments

Must make REASONABLE adjustments if there is a feature that puts a disabled person at a disadvantage

Question 22

Importance to note when making adjustments

Answer 22

Must be reasonable in terms of cost extent and disruption

Question 23

Ways to modify buildings

Answer 23

Braille
Coloured doorways
Ramps and lifts
Electric doors
Widened doorways

Question 24

Tell me about the Equality Act 2010 the measures it takes to promote inclusion.

Answer 24

Places Duty on Service providers

Take reasonable steps to avoid provision which puts disabled person at disadvantage

Avoid physical feature which puts disabled person at disadvantage

Provide auxiliary aid were, without it a disabled person would be at disadvantage

Question 25

What is Inclusive Employer Quality Mark​?

Answer 25

4 key principles:​

Leadership - demonstrable commitment at the highest level to increasing the diversity of the workforce​

Recruitment - engage and attract new people to the industry from under-represented groups; best practice recruitment methods​

Culture - an inclusive culture where all staff engage with developing, delivering, monitoring and assessing diversity and inclusivity​

Development - training and promotion policies that offer equal access to career progression to all members of the workforce​

Question 26

Duties under equality act 2010?

Answer 26

Employers have legal obligation to comply with act and eliminate discrimination from workplace.

Question 27

Tell me about the RICS’ Diversity and Inclusion strategy?​

Answer 27

From RICS - the surveying profession needs a more diverse workforce in order to utilise the in its innovative skills and technologies required by customers in the built and natural environments. It is our responsibility to tackle barriers to entry and encourage a more diverse profession.
RICS has been committed to raising the awareness of surveying and the ambition for the profession to be more diverse. The inclusive employer equality mark is a response to the sector striving to move towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
In 2015 RICS launched the inclusive employer quality Mark. It is based on four clear key principles.
Leadership, Recruitment, Culture, Development

Question 28

what you understand by diversity?

Answer 28

brings together different groups.

Question 29

what you understand by neuro diversity?

Answer 29

new area which is just starting to become understood. includes mental conditions:

• dyslexia
• ADHD
• Aspergers
• dyspraxia

Question 30

what is a reasonable adjustment and why

Answer 30

A duty on service providers and those exercising public functions to make reasonable adjustments

duty not to discriminate against or victimise someone in selling and letting premises

reasonable adjustments duty on controllers premises (i.e. landlords and management companies) in relation to let premises and common parts.

Question 31

examples of reasonable adjustments?

Answer 31

Equality Act 2010

Physical

• providing ramps and stairway lifts
• making doors wider
• installing automatic doors
• providing more lighting and clearer signage

auxiliary aids and services

• are portable induction loop the people with hearing aids
• BSL interpreters
• providing information on alternative formats such as Braille and audio CDs
• extra staff

Question 32

what are the key factors to assess a building suitability?

Answer 32

is there access are bought public transport to the building

are the pavements outside in good condition with dropped curbs

is there access will parking near the entrance

is the main entrance easy to identify distinct colour and shape

does the entrance have accessible doors

does the entrance have a ramp access

is the floor nonslip with adequate wheelchair circulation space

Question 33

what are the five new rules of conduct?

Answer 33

implemented Feb 2022

• members of firms must be honest act with integrity and can lie with their professional obligations including obligations to RICS
• members and firms must maintain their professional competence and ensure that services are provided by competent individuals
• members and firms must provide good quality intelligence service
• members and firms must treat others with respect
• members and firms must act in the public interest take responsibility for their actions and act to prevent harm and maintain public

Question 34

what is RICS defining future?

Answer 34

to ensure that RICS is diverse and inclusive and is equipped to serve all members

Question 35

How other global ethical standards linked to inclusive environments?

Answer 35

Act with integriity

always provide a high standard of service

act in a way that promotes trust in the profession
treat others with respect

take responsibility

Question 36

What is an inclusive environment?

Answer 36

• ‘one that can be accessed and used safely, easily and with dignity by everyone’
• ‘does not physically or socially segregate, discriminate or isolate’
• ‘is well designed, functional, efficient and sustainable, and delivers an enhanced user experience’.

Question 37

What is inclusive design?

Answer 37

Inclusive design is defined as ‘making places everyone can use’. This removes barriers creating undue effort and separation, enabling all users to ‘participate equally, confidently and independently in everyday environments’.

Question 38

Who is responsible for inclusive design?

Answer 38

Simply put, we all are. Surveyors are involved in all aspects of the property lifecycle, including site acquisition, design, construction, management and use. Providing inclusive and accessible environments should be an integral part of everything we do.

This should not just be to comply with minimum legislation and regulations, but to go one step further – satisfying our ethical, moral and professional duty to consider all user needs in our advice and decision making.

Question 39

What are the key principles of inclusive design?

Answer 39

Placing people at the heart of the design process

Acknowledging diversity and difference

Offering choice where a single solution cannot accommodate all users

Providing flexibility in use

Creating an environment that is convenient and enjoyable for all to use

Question 40

How can inclusive design be achieved?

Answer 40

Equality Act 2010

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

Approved Document M

British Standard BS 8300

Changing Places campaign

Question 41

What does the Equality Act 2010 say about inclusive environments?

Answer 41

The Equality Act 2010 replaced the Disability Discrimination Acts of 1995 and 2005. 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, e.g. through ramps or lift access. It also relates to the way in which services are provided, which could include auxiliary aids such as hearing loops or visual aids.

Reasonable adjustments can be made through changing the way that things are done, changing physical features or providing additional aids or services.

Question 42

What does the NPPF say about inclusive environments?

Answer 42

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.