SP 10: Inclusive Infrastructure
Led by GDI, ‘Inclusive Infrastructure’ is a 3-year sub-programme, which considers the idea that equal access to AT is dependent on an enabling physical environment. Engaging stakeholders who help shape the built environment, with the inclusion and participation of AT users.
Built environment barriers to assistive technology and accessibility in unplanned settlements in Ulaanbaatar.
(Image captured from a participant photo diary in case study 1 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
The aim of the research is to build evidence on the awareness, understanding, acceptance, application and experience of Inclusive Design and accessible environments globally, particularly in lower and middle-income countries by conducting research in three areas:
- The community experience of disability and the built environment
- Practice focused research on the awareness and application of inclusive design
- Policy-focused research on the governance, guidelines and protections of inclusive design at the highest levels
The overarching research question
‘What is the current state of inclusive and accessible environments and infrastructure in LMICs, and what is the role of inclusive design in creating an enabling environment for disabled people?’
Local and specific knowledge of environments
Globally, the terms used to discuss inclusion in the built environment vary. In the UK, inclusive design is more commonly used, but globally universal design and design for all can be more common. Inclusion agendas across international development frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and new urban agenda are broad, and do not focus specifically on the needs and aspirations of disabled people.
The Inclusive Infrastructure team want to build local and specific knowledge of what constitutes an inclusive environment in diverse low and middle income countries, by engaging directly with community, practice, industry and policy in cities in low- resource settings to ensure insights and actions are appropriate and adaptable to diverse contexts. By conducting research on both the awareness, understanding, practice and policy of inclusive design in low-resource settings, and the experienced accessibility and inclusivity of the built environment - the team anticipates primarily benefitting Global South locations and FCDO priority countries. The hope it that the research will also have benefit for the most vulnerable communities globally, including excluded and low-resourced communities in high-income settings.
Challenges around inclusive design and accessible environments in lower-and-middle-income settings include:
- Low understanding and implementation of inclusion measures across a whole project life cycle
- The enforcement and awareness of both regulations and good practice
- A lack in understanding of inclusive design and engagement through all stakeholders in the built environment industry, from policy and planning to design and construction
- A need for the voices of disabled people in these processes to be more often heard and integrated
- International policy and frameworks for inclusion are currently not embedded, and need to be mobilised at a local level where research on the challenges and opportunities for inclusion in the built environment across diverse stakeholder groups will be valuable
Latest
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Co-creating Inclusive Public Spaces: Learnings from Four Global Case Studies on inclusive Cities
Iain McKinnon, Mikaela PatrickJune 26, 2022Inclusive public spaces are fundamental to participation and inclusive in society. Including persons with disabilities in the design and planning of the built environment supports equal rights and helps identify people’s aspirations for inclusive environments. Four city case studies will be discussed in this paper: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Varanasi, India; Surakarta, Indonesia; and Nairobi, Kenya.
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Celebrating the launch of the findings of AT2030’s sub-programmes in Indonesia. From Citizens to Cities: Participatory Approaches to Building Disability-Inclusive Cities
Iain McKinnon, Annamae MuldowneyJune 21, 2022The Kota Kita Foundation (Kota Kita), Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and University College London (UCL) held an event to launch the findings from the ‘Inclusive Infrastructure’ and ’Build Capacity and Participation‘ sub-programmes of the FCDO-funded AT2030 programme, from the AT2030 Initiatives in Surakarta and Banjarmasin, Central Java, Indonesia.
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Digital Launch Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment in Solo Indonesia
Kota KitaJune 13, 2022GDI Hub and Kota Kita are pleased to showcase the digital launch of the third case study as part of the Inclusive Infrastructure programme on Solo, Indonesia. Watch the launch in English or Indonesian.
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Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment in Solo, Indonesia
Global Disability Innovation Hub, Kota Kita, UK AidMarch 11, 2022IndonesiaThe third case study as part of the Inclusive Infrastructure programme on Solo, Indonesia. This case study builds a picture of the current state of inclusion and accessibility in the built environment and infrastructure in Solo through engaging local stakeholders and communities and exploring the understanding of and potential for inclusive design to address some of the current barriers to inclusion.
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Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment in Varanasi, India
Mikaela Patrick, Iain McKinnon, Satish Mishra, Shivani Gupta, Prabha Roy, Utsav Choudhury, Kavita Murugkar, Gaurav RahejaOct. 13, 2021IndiaThe purpose of this case study is to explore the state of inclusive and accessible environments for persons with disabilities in Varanasi, India, through engagement with policy, industry and community stakeholders (policy, practice and people). Through this engagement, the case study is developing evidence on the challenges and opportunities for implementing inclusive and accessible design in Varanasi and makes recommendations on local actions towards becoming a more inclusive city.
