Jane Simpson, Architect and access consultant; Ed Warner, government champion for accessible design at Motionspot join Shani Dhanda, disability activist to explore how more can be done to attract disabled people into the profession, as well as how architects and the wider construction sector can better address and serve the needs of people with disabilities. This conversation centers on prioritising awareness of the strategies and guidance that already exist to improve design for people with disabilities in the built environment. Some highlights from this discussion include a call for clear leadership and accountability to champion inclusion in workplaces, the dissemination of design and knowledge and support for designing accessible spaces (or readapting them for accessibility), as well as involving people with disabilities into the entirety of the design process beyond the initial design phases in order to create truly inclusive spaces.
From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.
Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).