Article: Having social inclusion in design
By Ann Johnson
Making all we do ‘socially inclusive’ and not just seeing it as an add on.
I recall being at a historic building in England and for many reasons (including its grade 1 status) there was no lift to get me upstairs. Instead, the building’s trust provided me with a webcam so that as a wheelchair user I could make my way electronically around the upper rooms and zoom in where I wanted.
There was even a pop-up and history tab to read about the object I was looking at which was a great ‘Plan B’ and for me it meant I avoided the crowds.
But what really interested me when I had finally visited the upstairs through this virtual platform was when I turned to leave, there was a queue of children behind me waiting for their turn. So now something that has provided a reasonable adjustment to me as a wheelchair user had become a fascination and a different way of understanding rooms and history for young children.
It made me consider how often when we plan for an activity, service or experience do we think how about making this not just as a reasonable adjustment or an alternative ‘Plan B’, but make it suitable for all at the outset so that everyone feels they are having a similar experience to others.
At the Forest of Hearts, social inclusion is at the heart of everything that is being planned for. This has included the planning and creating of raised planting beds, pathways accessible to all and activities considered from visual, audio and mobility perspectives.
We all enjoy and are drawn to touch and sense tactile items that are sometimes placed for the visual impaired and we can also value a recorded voice explaining and interrupting what we see.
So, making things accessible or usable to all can be provided in a way that benefits everyone.
I’ve found one of the worst things about becoming a wheelchair user was the fear of becoming a witness, observer or onlooker to my children and family’s fun, watching from the side-lines. Nobody should feel like this, we all just want to join in with each other.
It is not enough to leave social inclusion to the plan and delivery of activities and actions; it should be included at the earliest opportunity – at the “I have an idea” “how about” stage? The early concept, design and at the basis of conversations.