Inclusive Environments

Question 1

what is an inclusive environment

Answer 1

• a space that is designed and managed to be accessible and usable to people with diverse range of needs and abilities

Question 2

how can an environment be designed to be comfortably accessed by all

Answer 2

elderly
- automatic doors
gender
- appropriate bins in toilets
ethnicity
- having information signs in multiple languages if there is a large non-english speaking population
visually impaired
- tactile paving at top of stairs

Question 3

how can you ensure that this is incorporated at an early stage

Answer 3

ensure the client is aware of importance
appoint an inclusive design consultant
include it in the brief
ensure the team consider it through design ideas

Question 4

van you give examples of design items that need to be considered when designing an inclusive environment

Answer 4

ramps
toilets
lifts

Question 5

in which legal framework are inclusive environments considered

Answer 5

Equality Act 2010
NPPF (national planning policy framework)
Building Regulations; approved document M: access and use of buildings 2015

Question 6

How are inclusive environments considered in legislation? (Eq. Act 2010)

Answer 6

Equality Act 2010
- legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society
eg people using the public realm should be able to use and access it
- employers and service providers must consider physical barriers in their buildings
- unlawful for management of buildings to discriminate or victimise occupiers

Question 7

what are the 4 types of illegal discrimination in the EqAct 2010

Answer 7

• direct discrimination
  -indirect discrimination
• harassment
• victimisation

Question 8

when someone is faced with an obstacle to access for disabled persons, what does the act 2010 require the service provider to do

Answer 8

• remove or alter the feature
• provide reasonable means of avoiding the obstacle or reasonable alternative access to the service

Question 9

what are some of the tests of ‘reasonableness’ in regards to access for disabled

Answer 9

• effectiveness of the adjustment for the disabled person
• practicality of the adjustment
• cost and likely disruption
• financial and other recourses available

Question 10

what is DDA

Answer 10

The disability Discrimination Act 1995
- replaced by the Equality Act

Question 11

what is the difference between legal and ethical consideration

Answer 11

legal
- acting within and meeting the relevant legislation

eg - minimum door widths, fire safety for people in wheelchairs, level door thresholds

ethical
- going above and beyond the legislation to make environments even more comfortable
eg - larger toilets, more toilets than needed and power assisted doors