DSRS1211 Introduction to Disability and Neurodiversity Assignment

Access and Inclusion Report (2000 words) –

In this topic, we explore types of disability broadly and consider the diversity of people’s needs. This assessment aims to encourage you to think broadly about pre-planning access and inclusion in an event or public location.

Your task:

Select a location or venue such as a store, public library, health service, workplace, art gallery, museum, local playground/park, music festival, conference or sporting event.

Imagine you have been asked to review and consider the diversity of people with disability who may attend and make suggestions about ways to improve access and inclusion. In this report, you will also reflect on the process and consider the strengths and limitations of working towards universal access. Reflecting on this experience will help guide your future practice.

Follow each of the steps presented below and present your report using the subheadings indicated. Write using third person for all sections except the Critical Reflection (section 6) where you can use first person.

Ensure you reference reliable academic sources throughout, including human rights literature, government reports and other academic sources using APA 7th edition format.

1. Introduction (guide: 200 words)

Write a brief introduction where you describe universal design and accessibility (including academic references), explain why it is important to ensure access and inclusion for all (including academic references), and identify what will be presented in this report. Clearly specify whether you will be using person first or identity first language throughout the report (either is appropriate but please be consistent).

2. Selected location/venue/event (guide: 200 words)

Briefly identify and describe your selected location/venue/event (eg where is it, what is it, who is it for, when is it etc?)

We ask you do NOT select a location, venue or event that is segregated or “specially” for people with a disability. Access & inclusion in mainstream community is a human right and therefore we all have a responsibility to ensure accessibility wherever possible.

3. Information sources and engagement (guide: 200 words)

Hypothetically, propose how you might gather information about access and inclusion to inform your recommendations. (ie is there a Disability Inclusion Plan in place? Disability discrimination and building codes you could refer to?   Who would you speak to/consult/engage in a real scenario (eg who would you involve in a co-design approach)? How would you ensure you consult a range of key stakeholders (eg people with a range of different disabilities; different users and perspectives)? What would you read?

We are not expecting or requiring you to consult with stakeholders in this assessment – only identify who you would consult in a real-world scenario.

4. Site visit

Visit the location/venue/event to inform your findings and recommendations below. Include photographs that don’t include people in your report (or indicate if the site/venue/event did not allow photos to be taken). When did you visit?

5. Findings and recommendations (guide: 800 words)

For each of the three access and design sub-headings below (physical, sensory, and information access), identify:

1. a) What accessibility features are already in place?
2. b) What else is needed? Support your recommendations with references to academic literature.  

Tip: focus on design features the location/venue/event should provide to increase accessibility, not strategies an individual would adopt to improve their own access.

5.1 Physical access and design

There are a broad range of features that fall under this category. Here are some to get you started, but there may be others that are specific to your location/venue/event:

Ramps; rails; doorway width; lifts; space for people who use a wheelchair to move; seating; changing places; counter heights; equipment; parking; companion ticketing; transport; toilets; wayfinding; online access of venues/events; planning and preparation eg agendas to allow people to pre-plan their energy/resources, remove anxiety, provide structure etc.

5.2 Sensory access and design

Here are a few examples to get you started, but there may be others that are specific to your location/venue/event:

Lighting; colour contrast; size and height; tactile or braille maps, floor tiles and signage; noise; FM systems; hearing loops; sound proofing; acoustics of floors and walls etc; captioning; clear info on the venue, noise levels, special effects etc; quiet zones/chill out spaces; chemical sensitivity etc.

5.3  Information access and design

Again, here are a few examples to get you started, but there may be others that are specific to your location/venue/event:

Easy read (written/presented in a way all people can understand); images; video and podcast introductions; captioning; image descriptions; audio descriptions; Auslan interpreters; info available in Braille; communication access; website accessibility for screen readers; staff training etc.

6. Critical reflection (guide: 600 words)

This is not a conclusion or summary, but a critical reflection where you reflect on the process of completing this assessment and what you have learned. You can use first person language in this section (eg “I found…”). What was difficult about this process? How easy is it to make a location/venue/event accessible? What are the limitations of trying to achieve universal design? Does one solution fit everyone? Did you notice an imbalance across the areas of accessibility the venue/event already had in place? How can we help people feel welcome/comfortable to share their access needs in consultations?

7. References

Include a list of the references used in your report (APA 7th Edition format).