Education & training

Overview
Role of the Working Group
What we have done
What we are doing
Publications & other links
Education & Training Working Group membership

Overview

Everyone should have the right to be able to use public transport and buildings. Poor design and management deny many disabled people that opportunity.

Role of the Working Group

The Education and Training Working Group was re-established in 2003. It exists to ensure that current and future workforces understand accessibility issues, and can apply inclusive solutions. Membership includes disability groups, academics, and professional institutes.

One of DPTAC's principles is that providers are responsible for providing accessibility for disabled people. However, the lack of professional skills and competencies in access issues remains a major barrier to achieving the goal of an inclusive society. All too often services and buildings are designed, planned or managed, without considering the needs of disabled people. Consequently, barriers are created denying disabled people access to services.

One of the Group's key objectives is improving the quality of accessibility teaching for undergraduates on transport or built environment courses.

We are forging links with the professional institutes to help raise the profile of accessibility issues. For example, by encouraging members their members to attend access courses as part of their continuous professional development (CPD).

We are developing materials to help primary schools to teach accessibility awareness as part of the curriculum.

We are also considering how the resources for teaching of access issues can be expanded and integrated into the training initiatives of Government and others.

What we have done

We have:

• We have produced (2008) a Disability Equality and Awareness Training Framework for Transport Staff.

• We have produced (2008) a Research Report on the Development of a Disability Equality and Awareness Training Framework for Transport Staff.

• We have produced teaching materials for Primary Schools Key Stage 1 & 2 and Secondary Schools Key Stage 3. This shows how leaders can address the principles of accessible design as part of the national curriculum schemes of study:
  

  Primary Schools - Key Stage 1 & 2 Resources:

  • KS1 & KS2: Teachers Notes (MS Word - 1,032kb)
  • KS1 & KS2: Designing Everyone In Certificate - Y1 (MS Word - 187kb)
  • KS1 & KS2: Designing Everyone In Certificate - Y6 (MS Word - 188kb)
  
  
  • Year 1 - Homes: Adapted 1d Unit - Homes (MS Word - 60kb)
  • Year 1 - Homes: Homes Worksheets (MS Word - 673kb)
  • Year 1 - Homes: Homes (MS PowerPoint - 4,054kb)
  
  
  • Year 1 - Playgrounds: Adapted 1b Unit - Playgrounds (MS Word - 63kb)
  • Year 1 - Playgrounds: Playgrounds Worksheets (MS Word - 1,176kb)
  • Year 1 - Playgrounds: Playgrounds (MS PowerPoint - 1,983kb)
  
  
  • Year 6 - Fairgrounds: Adapted 6c Unit - Fairgrounds (MS Word - 63kb)
  • Year 6 - Fairgrounds: Fairgrounds Worksheets (MS Word - 1,405kb)
  • Year 6 - Fairgrounds: Fairgrounds (MS PowerPoint - 4,787kb)
  
  
  • Year 6 - Shelters: Adapted 6a Unit - Shelters (MS Word - 70kb)
  • Year 6 - Shelters: Shelters Worksheets (MS Word - 983kb)
  • Year 6 - Shelters: A Day in the Life of... (MS PowerPoint - 8,059kb)
  • Year 6 - Shelters: Shelters (MS PowerPoint - 8,621kb)
  • Year 6 - Shelters: What's Wrong with This? (MS PowerPoint - 3,299kb)

  Secondary Schools - Key Stage 3 Resources:

  • KS3: Teachers Notes (Adobe Acrobat - 765kb)
  • KS3: Designing Everyone In Certificate (MS Word - 49kb)
  
  
  • Presentation: It Really Bugs Me (MS PowerPoint - 576kb)
  • Presentation: Journey in the Life of... (MS PowerPoint - 679kb)
  • Presentation: Line-ups (MS PowerPoint - 351kb)
  • Presentation: More Inclusive Designing (MS PowerPoint - 2,369kb)
  
  
  • 3x5: Luggage (MS Word - 70kb)
  • 3x5: On the Bus (MS Word - 62kb)
  • 3x5: Waiting Areas (MS Word - 68kb)
  
  
  • 4x4: Blank (MS Word - 46kb)
  • 4x4: Bus (MS Word - 63kb)
  • 4x4: Crossing (MS Word - 56kb)
  • 4x4: Train (MS Word - 63kb)
  • 4x4: Waiting (MS Word - 61kb)
  • 4x4: Ranking (MS Word - 30kb)
  
  
  • Understanding Individual Needs: Understanding Individual Needs (MS Word - 103kb)
  
  
  • Product Analysis: Product Analysis (MS Word - 153kb)
  
  
  • Product Pairs: Product Pairs (MS Word - 75kb)
  
  
  • Ranking: Ranking (MS Word - 38kb)
  • Ranking: Ranking Example (MS Word - 72kb)
  
  
  • Side by Side: Blank (MS Word - 36kb)
  • Side by Side: Counters (MS Word - 50kb)
  • Side by Side: Crossings (MS Word - 56kb)
  • Side by Side: Handrails (MS Word - 56kb)
  • Side by Side: Seats (MS Word - 59kb)
  • Side by Side: Way Finding (MS Word - 64kb)
  
  
  • What If?: What If? (MS Word - 181kb)
  
  
  • Case Study (Mascalls School): Inclusive Design - Project Notes (MS Word - 47kb)
  • Case Study (Mascalls School): Inclusive Design - Scheme of Work (MS Word - 29kb)
  • Case Study (Mascalls School): Inclusive Design - Pupils Booklet (MS PowerPoint - 573kb)
  • Case Study (Mascalls School): Inclusive Design - Pupils Work (MS PowerPoint - 155kb)
  • Case Study (Mascalls School): Inclusive Design - Teachers Booklet (MS PowerPoint - 578kb)

• Published the DPTAC Charter on training and education in accessibility. The charter is based on the European Charter on Access to Transport Services and Infrastructure (Adobe Acrobat).
• Broadened membership of the working group to include representatives from academia and the professional institutes.
• Developed and improved relationships with the professional institutes and academic bodies.

What we are doing

We are currently:

• Consulting academics and the professional institutes on the best way of developing and promoting accessibility issues through existing training programmes and requirements.
• Considering wider skills and training issues and how they might include principles for the achievement of inclusive environments.

Publications & other links

• Access Association
• British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA)
• Centre for Education in the Built Environment (CEBE)
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
• Council of Europe Resolution (2001) on universal design
• Design Council - Education resource
• DPTAC Charter on training and education in accessibility
• European Charter on Access to Transport Services and Infrastructure (Adobe Acrobat)
• Institute of Highways and Transport (IHT)
• Institute of Logistics and Transportation (ILT)
• National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC)
• Royal Institute British Architects (RIBA)
• Royal Institute Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
• Transport Planning Society (TPSI)
• Transport Planning Society's Education and Training
• Research Group for Inclusive Environments (University of Reading)

Education & Training Working Group membership

Carol Thomas (Chair)
Julian Fiorentini
Helen Smith
Pravin Amin
Wendy Morrell
Kath Phipps
Roger Hewitt

Top of page