Why the inevitability of disability means we should demand more from built environments

We believe that the current surge in funding for infrastructure, coupled with a global shift towards assistive technology, presents us with an acute understanding of urban development’s failure to accommodate people with disabilities and the elderly. Pulling from Direct Access’ client base alone, we have noticed increased demand for accessibility services and facilities for environments big and small, from Migration centers operated by the United Nations to medical plants (such as Pfizer), and a multitude of museums, retail parks, schools, universities, restaurant franchises, and heritage sites across the world that we work with. 

So, how many people benefit from this increased investment in inclusion? Well, aside from the accommodations provided to our elders, this newfound approach to urban design is enriching the quality of life of individuals who develop disabilities earlier in their life, as well as 1.3 billion people who currently experience significant disability (that we are aware of!). 

Inclusive environmental design also offers financial incentives to business owners, not purely from the increased pool of wealthy customers, but a significant population who can contribute to society and become part of the workforce. Overall, it is understood that the disability community commands a disposable income of over $8 trillion, making it a market larger than that of China and equivalent to the combined economies of the United States, Brazil, Pakistan, and Indonesia. This figure might sound like a generous assumption, but the reality is that this number is going to naturally increase the longer people live and will subsequently develop disabilities.

By preparing for the inevitable now, business owners can get ahead of their competitors and accelerate the rate of inclusive facilities in society. Investing now will result in substantial rewards in the long term, both from a financial perspective and in terms of sustainability as Governments continue to publish new standards outlining mandatory accessibility policy. If people’s needs evolve, so will the systems designed to support them. 

It is important to note that inclusive urban development is frequently misaligned with the concept of the “smart city”. While the promise of “smart cities” is enticing, it often comes with a blind spot for the most vulnerable populations—those with disabilities and older adults. To create urban environments that allow everyone to thrive, it is important to consult disabled people in the planning and design stages and listen to their feedback acutely. Smart city planners often fail to do this, which has an unfortunate knock-on effect on how truly inclusive the city ends up being. To be receptive to the feedback of people with disabilities (and adopt a clear understanding of enforced codes and practices like the Equality Act), has the potential to transform our urban environments and facilities for the better.

As highlighted, business owners play a critical role in this shift towards inclusion for all. By investing in barrier removal and going further than the mandate of the Equality Act, business owners can protect their investment from the risk of breaking the law, while simultaneously allowing their site to remain effective and inclusive. By scrutinising the design of our environments now; businesses, municipalities, and individuals shape the future of their urban landscape and can ensure that our built environments truly include everyone. 

So, what is the first step to becoming inclusive? The answer is to enlist an access consultant to carry out an access audit of your existing environment or play a key role in the development of the new one. 

An access audit is an assessment of a building or facility, an environment, or a service compared to best practice standards to benchmark its accessibility to disabled people. Access audits help you understand your obligations, identifying barriers to disabled access and a range of options to address these barriers. Implementing its recommendations will enable you to demonstrate that you have adopted a reasonable approach and you will improve access for disabled people and many other users.

Direct Access audits look at all aspects of a disabled person’s journey to your site and through it. From the visitor journey to the entrance, reception, restroom facilities, communal and office spaces, and any other area that may be accessed on your site. Get in touch today, or click on “Consultancy” on the navigation bar at the top of the page to find out exactly how we can make your site inclusive to people from all walks of life.