Inclusive environments

Question 1

What is an inclusive environment?

Answer 1

It is an environment which is designed and managed to allow people with a diverse range of needs and abilities to access and use it

Question 2

Give an examples of places which may be an inclusive environment.

Answer 2

1. Building or place
2. Home
3. Workplaces
4. Shops
5. Healthcare facilities
6. Sporting and culture venues
7. Schools
8. Open spaces

Question 3

During what stages is it important that environments are inclusive during a properties lifecycle?

Answer 3

1. During design and/or referbishment
2. During a buildings occupancy

Question 4

In order to consider different user needs, those with responsibility must consider what?

Answer 4

1. Different physical and mental health issues
2. Factors which can lead to social isolation
3. Policy and legal requirements relating to accessibility
4. Best practices relating to inclusivity in the design and management of physical spaces
5. The value that inclusive environments can bring to building owners and occupiers

Question 5

What does the Equality Act 2010 do?

Answer 5

The Act consolidates discrimination law and provides protection against a wide range of discrimination and inequality

Question 6

The Equality Act 2010 identifies which four illegal types of discrimination?

Answer 6

1. Direct discrimination
2. Indirect discrimination
3. Harassment
4. Victimisation

Question 6

When faced with an obstacle for access for disables persons, the Act requires the service provider to do what?

Answer 6

1. Remove or alter the feature or
2. Provide reasonable means of avoiding the obstacle or reasonable alternative access to the service

Question 7

What tests for reasonableness are there?

Answer 7

1. Effectiveness of the adjustment for the disabled person
2. The practicality of the adjustment
3. Its financial cost and likely disruption
4. Financial and other resources available to the service provider

Question 8

What is the Equality Act?

Answer 8

Equality Act 2010

Legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society

Question 9

Tell me a key principle of the Equality Act

Answer 9

Provides protection against 4 types of discrimination
Provides 9 protected characteristic types

Question 10

What is Part M of the building regulation?

Answer 10

Provides information about the ease of access to, and use of buildings including facilities for disabled visitors or occupants

Ability to move through a building easily including to the toilets and bathrooms, steps, ramps, wheelchair accessible doors and corridors

Question 11

What are the building regulations?

Answer 11

Building regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings to ensure the health and safety for people including those with disabilities

Question 12

What is NPPF?

Answer 12

National Planning Policy Framework

1. Build a strong, competitive economy
2. Ensuring vitality of town centres
3. Supporting prosperous rural economy
4. Promoting sustainable transport

Question 13

What are the minimum accessibility requirements?

Answer 13

1. At least 1 entrance accessible by wheelchair
2. At least 1 toilet accessible to a wheelchair user on each floor (depends on building and provider)
3. Lift doors able to fit wheelchair
4. Ramps used where required

Question 14

What are the main penalties under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 14

1. Employer breach (found to discriminate) no limit in compensation awarded to employee
2. Not complying with requirements could face civil enforcement procedures or be liable for criminal offence (fine up to £5,000)

Question 15

What are the penalties under Part M of the building regulations ?

Answer 15

Local authority to prosecute:

1. Unlimited fine if magistrates court (up to two years after completion of offending work. Taken against main contractor or potentially owner)
2. Enforcement notice requiring alteration or removal of breached regulations