Understanding the Building Blocks of Inclusive Design

Dismantling Barriers to Accessible Built Environments

Developing an Accessible Design Framework

Conducting Accessibility Audits in Existing Locations

Built Environment

Understanding the Building Blocks of Inclusive Design

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Who is this for?

High priority:
Safety and Facilities Professionals

Practical Information:
Legal team

What guidance does it provide?

Understanding key concepts related to the built environment

Identifying approaches to design that may foster increased inclusivity and accessibility for all

Take home points

To successfully cultivate an accessible and inclusive built environment, employers need to first understand the difference between ‘needs’ of an individual, and how they ‘use’ aspects of their built environments.

Universal design seeks to design products and environments to be usable, to the greatest possible extent, by all people throughout their lifespan, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.3 This inevitably means that some people may be left out. Rather than trying to address individual accessibility or inclusion objectives, universal design is a ‘design for all’.

The more accessible your organization,
the better your worker retention and engagement.

Research at the Inclusive Design Research Centre and the Inclusive Design Institute in Canada has identified three key dimensions of inclusive design:

Any As individuals spread out from the hypothetical average, the needs of individuals that are outliers, or at the margins, become ever more diverse. Most individuals stray from the average in some facet of their needs or goals. This means that a mass solution does not work well.

Inclusive design teams should be as diverse as possible and include individuals who have a lived experience of the users the designs are intended for. This also respects the edict “nothing about us without us” without relegating people with disabilities to the role of subjects of research or token participants in design exercises.

It is the responsibility of inclusive designers to be aware of the context and broader impact of any design and strives to affect a beneficial impact beyond the intended beneficiary of the design.

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Dismantling Barriers to Accessible Built Environments

Who is this for?

High priority:
Executives and Senior Management
Safety and Facilities
Practical Information:
Legal team

What guidance does it provide?

Understanding key concepts related to the built environment

Identifying approaches to design that may foster increased inclusivity and accessibility for all

  • Understanding the misconceptions surrounding accessible built environments
  • How to identify and address barriers to creating accessible built environments
Take home points

Inclusive design aims to offer solutions to all users, across their broad spectrum of intersectional needs, perspectives, and behaviours, and across time:

  • It welcomes the provision of accommodations and adjustments for anyone who may require them to use features within the built environment
  • It explains that an important aspect of design is including a diverse group of people in the design process
  • It focuses on building for the present and the future, to promote sustainability in design
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Developing an Accessible Design Framework

Who is this for?

High priority:
Executives and Senior Management
Safety and Facilities

Practical Information:
Legal team

Useful to know:
DEI and HR Professional

What guidance does it provide?

Adhering to the ACA standards to ensure active opportunities are taken for organizations to implement accessible and inclusive practices

Take home points

Inclusive design aims to offer solutions to all users, across their broad spectrum of intersectional needs, perspectives, and behaviours, and across time:

  • Every refurbishment should contribute to increased accessibility and usability within the workplace. By following a design framework, employers can take the necessary steps to ensure that their built environment is inclusive of all workers.
  • An employer should take on the responsibility to check whether their employees are aware of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Employment Equity Act. If not, make sure all resources are readily available and accessible for an employee with a disability
  • One of the most challenging aspects of managing workers from home is that you cannot physically be there to see and support them. Staying connected, conducting regular check-ins, and providing workplace supports such as flexibility or accommodations are good practice when a worker is at home.
Accessible Canada Act
Service Design And Delivery

Receive services that are accessible to all

Built Environment

Move freely around buildings and public spaces

EMPLOYMENT

Access to employment opportunities and accessible workplaces

Information And Communication Technologies

Accessible digital content and technologies

Communications

Barrier-free Services And Spaces For Persons With Communication Disabilities

Transportation

Barrier-free Federal Transportation Network

Procurement

Ensure Purchases Of Accessible Goods, Services And Facilities

Working from Home Accessibility Checklist

Do employees have the accommodations they need to work? They should have the same adaptive equipment and software as they do in the office. For example: screen readers, adjustable desks.

Consider the needs of employees with disabilities and unexpected changes to their regular services and supports.

Are online meetings accessible for everyone? Choose an accessible online platform, assess the needs of employees, test the platform for accessibility, and distribute accessible documents.

To help ensure that your employees are optimally supported when working from home, please visit Accommodations Tool 1 – Understanding Workplace Accommodations

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Conducting Accessibility Audits in Existing Locations

Who is this for?

High priority:
Executives and Senior Management
Safety and Facilities

Practical Information:
Legal team

Useful to know:
HR Professionals

What guidance does it provide?

Suggesting best practices on how to chose and implement the correct Accessibility Audit for your organization

Take home points

A well-designed audit can give accurate information on the current situation, help with gap analyses, identify what works and what does not, and highlight areas for further investigation.

The first step in developing your built environment strategy is to carry out an audit. Before choosing an accessibility audit, take a look at these important key considerations:

  • Secure Buy-In
  • Gather Resources
  • Focus on Authenticity
  • Be Transparent
  • Manage Expectations

Once you have completed your audit, and know your starting point, you can decide on the next steps. Developing an accessible built environment strategy is a long-term project that should remain a permanent agenda item.

Finance

Costs, budget allocation, capital, local funding, access
to grants

Legal Compliance

• ACA Standards
• Local legal requirements can change, hence plans should be kept under review

Ownership, Lease, & Sharing Premises

Negotiations with any key stakeholders

Fitting Work into Existing Plans

If there is work already scheduled, can any new work be added smoothly into the existing project?

Scale and Impact

Will the proposed work have a significant effect, or will it be disruptive for a relatively small benefit. Timing is also important!

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