Raising awareness

Three essential elements of an inclusive environment are:

  • Physical and sensory access;

  • Ensuring that staff and managers know how a building is designed and their duties in facilitating access; and

  • Communicating to the public / residents that a place is designed to be accessible.

Rachael's experience of working on all types of residential projects led to being invited to speak about accessible homes at the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Inclusive Design Consultants Conference in October 2011 and the NRAC / CAE Autumn Conference in October 2012. Rachael also provides CPD sessions for architects.

In 2013 Rachael was a guest speaker on a walking tour of a suburb of Zurich organised by Ask The Bat as part of the Invisible Zürichs programme of architectural events about perceptions of cities.

Interior of George Bernard Shaw's rotating writing shed at Shaw's Corner. He used the telephone to contact his wife in the main house.

Interior of George Bernard Shaw's rotating writing shed at Shaw's Corner. He used the telephone to contact his wife in the main house.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
— George Bernard Shaw
 

Access groups

Working with consultative access groups is an essential part of the design process for large developments. Withernay Projects can facilitate sessions and provide tactile plans, which are designed for people with sight loss but other people also find them useful.

Experience with consultative access groups includes:

  • August 2013
    Built Environment Access Panel (BEAP) - Review of proposals for development in Stratford City with the London Legacy Development Corporation;

  • August 2012
    Hammersmith & Fulham Action on Disability (HAFAD) - Westfield’s proposals for Croydon’s Whitgift Centre;

  • September 2011
    Shakespeare’s Globe – Jacobean Theatre;

  • August 2011
    HAFAD - Westfield White City Extension; and

  • October 2010
    British Museum Access Advisory Group - Proposed North West Wing.

 

CPD sessions

Continuing Professional Development sessions can be tailored to suit particular aspects of the subject, such as historic buildings, residential design or public spaces, or be a general introduction to access and inclusive design.

Previous sessions include:

  • June 2014
    Introduction to inclusive design for Soda;
  • May 2014
    Residential access standards for Foster + Partners;
  • October 2012
    NRAC / CAE Autumn Conference; and
  • October 2011
    RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) Inclusive Design Consultants Conference.