An Inclusive Approach

The Sensory Trust is pioneering new approaches to inclusive open space design and management, thanks to support from ODPM’s Special Grants Programme, Lloyds TSB Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Inclusive design is a worldwide movement that responds to the realities of social and demographic diversity, and is based on the simple principle that designing for the widest range of people is of benefit to everyone. It recognises the short-comings of traditional ways of defining disability (focused on specific, usually permanent, limitations), and instead sees the broad range of ability across all age groups, backgrounds and circumstances. Some disabilities are temporary; many are not obvious but linked with health status such as heart conditions. The bottom line is that at any one time we can be talking about 1 person in every 5 who is experiencing some form of disability in the wider sense.

Whilst physical access barriers are reasonably well understood, even if not always resolved, there is generally less awareness of the social and psychological barriers than can influence people’s motivations and abilities to use open space. These barriers are diverse, but include such issues as fear of personal safety and perceived risk of crime; feelings of not belonging or of being an ‘outsider’; lack of confidence in an unfamiliar environment and feeling dependent on others.

We are engaging with key projects throughout the country to try out new ideas, create on-the-ground examples of best practice and evaluate the success of different techniques. These projects include the Eden Project in Cornwall, English Nature’s Cornish Heathland Restoration Project, Landlife’s Wildflower Centre in Liverpool, a Kent County Council regional access project and Sheffield Parks Department.

In order to involve users more directly and creatively in the understanding and enjoyment of their environment we are focusing on selected design issues, such as:

• Site evaluation techniques addressing quality of experience
• Development of inclusive communication techniques
• Engagement through the different senses
• Role of new technologies
• User-testing
• Community involvement
  

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