Inclusive Environments

Question 1

In your view, what is an inclusive environment?

Answer 1

An environment designed and managed to enable access to people with a diverse range of needs and abilities

Question 2

What are some of the factors that should be taken into account when designing an inclusive environment?

Answer 2

Mental and physical health issues which may vary accessibility requirements
Factors which can lead to social isolation
How best practices in relation to inclusivity can be imbedded into the design and management of physical spaces

Question 3

What are the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 3

Age
Disability
gender reassignment
marriage and civil partnership
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation

Question 4

What does the Equality Act 2010 provide?

Answer 4

Equality Act (2010)

Legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society
requires employers and bodies providing services to anticipate the need for reasonable adjustments so as not to discriminate against disabled people

Question 5

What does the Equality Act (2010) say in relation to reasonable adjustments?

Answer 5

Requires employers and bodies providing services to anticipate the need for reasonable adjustments so as not to discriminate against disabled people

There are two types (below) of reasonable adjustment duty:

the “anticipatory” duty towards disabled people generally, applying even before an individual disabled person presents themself, on service providers such as shops, banks, hospitals etc,
the reasonable adjustment duty on employers which is focused on disadvantage to an individual disabled person.

Question 6

What are some of the tests for reasonableness when making reasonable adjustments?

Answer 6

Effectiveness of the adjustment for the disabled person
The practicality of implementing the adjustment / the likely disruption
The financial cost of implementing the adjustment and the financial resources available to the service provider

Question 7

In addition to the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act (2010), what other types of illegal discrimination are identified in the Act?

Answer 7

Direct discrimination
Indirect discrimination
Harassment
Victimisation