Building Inclusivity: enabling meaningful engagement with people living with disabilities

In the quest to create inclusive and accessible communities, it is essential that placemakers engage with stakeholders who hold diverse perspectives and life experiences, including those people living with disabilities. While progress is being made in making public spaces more accessible, there is still much work to be done to ensure all aspects of our public realm are welcoming and accommodating for everyone.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of actively engaging with people living with disabilities and showcase examples of how we have supported meaningful engagement with people in this community.   

Understanding Disabilities

To embark on the journey of inclusivity, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the various types of disabilities that exist including physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental. Individuals may experience a combination of disabilities, and the impact of a disability can vary widely from person to person. Creating inclusive environments involves recognising and accommodating the diverse needs of people with different types of disabilities, which makes engaging with varying groups all the more important.

Benefits of Inclusive Design

Involving individuals with disabilities in the design process offers numerous advantages. Firstly, it fosters a comprehensive understanding of the community’s diverse needs. Additionally, involving individuals with disabilities fosters a sense of empowerment, inclusion, and belonging within the community.

Engaging with the Community

To create truly inclusive projects, it is essential to engage with the disability community from the outset. This means actively seeking input and feedback during the design stages. Holding focus groups, meetings, and co-design workshops that specifically targeted individuals with disabilities can provide invaluable insights into their unique needs and perspectives.

Partnering with disability advocacy groups can effectively facilitate participant recruitment and contribute valuable expertise to the engagement process. Creating resources in Easy Read, BSL, Braille, Screen Reader friendly and other accessible communication tools ensures information is conveyed in a way that is accessible to everyone. Moreover, offering straightforward, visual, or interactive feedback methods ensures everyone can contribute meaningfully to project outcomes.

Case Study 1 – Armada Way, Plymouth City Council

ECF supported Plymouth City Council to engage with people living with disabilities on the proposed new scheme for Armada Way. By employing snowballing methods in stakeholder mapping, key disability groups were identified and contacted throughout the project. Two specific disability workshops were held with local groups, ensuring people with a range of disabilities were engaged. Workshops were adapted and tailored to the needs of participants. Easy Read Online was commissioned to develop an Easy Read and interactive version of the survey, which was distributed to relevant groups. Additionally, day centres near to the project site were visited to ensure other voices were included from people with disabilities who visited Armada Way daily.

Case Study 2 – Enfield Council Quieter Neighbourhoods  

ECF supported Enfield Council to develop engagement on proposals for two quieter neighbourhoods within Enfield. Stakeholder mapping identified disability groups and day centres within and near to the study area. Day centres were approached to ensure the views of clients and staff were incorporated into the project. Meetings were conducted in collaboration with staff, and communication styles adapted to participants. Easy Read presentations were developed and adapted for the group in order to gather their valuable feedback.

Conclusion

Creating an inclusive environment requires a commitment to listening, learning, and collaborating with diverse communities. By actively engaging people living with disabilities in the design and planning of projects, we not only contribute to the creation of more accessible spaces but also promote a society that values and respects the perspectives of every individual.