Future Inclusive

The Future Inclusive award is open to undergraduate students throughout the UK. It aims to integrate inclusive principles through existing coursework and reward innovation:
Entry Form (25kb).

Brief

To demonstrate an understanding and application of inclusive design principles in developing existing course work requirements to show how a transport system or built environment or product can be inclusive.

Inclusive design principles

A fully inclusive transport system and built environment is one which:

• Provides equitable access.
• Allocates appropriate space for people.
• Ensures ease of use, comprehension and understanding.
• Requires minimal stress, physical strength and effort.
• Achieves safe, comfortable and healthy environments.

In short, inclusive transport systems and built environments are easy to reach, use and understand in safety and comfort.

Why enter?

• The winning student entry will receive a £1000 bursary and publicity.
• All short listed finalists will receive £100.
• The college or lecturer demonstrating most active support for principles of inclusive environments in its teaching will also be awarded £1000.
• Entry Form (25kb).

Background

The competition is being organised by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), which is responsible for advising the Government on the transport and built environment needs of disabled people.

The Committee has been concerned for some time that despite legislation and guidance on the need to address access issues there is a desperate shortage of skills, and the learning opportunities to develop them, particularly at undergraduate level.

The Committee developed a Charter on education and training in accessibility, which underlines the need for inclusive design principles to be included within training for all transport and built environment occupations to secure an inclusive environment. Without this, access for disabled people will continue to focus on rectifying needless problems.

Future Inclusive is seeking to promote learning opportunities by rewarding those who embrace and promote principles of inclusive transport and built environments.

Entry tips

The Judges will consider three key criteria, these are:

• the understanding of inclusive design principles.
• the quality of innovation.
• how deliverable the ideas are.

The Judges are keen to understand the steps taken to develop the entry as well as the entry itself.

How to enter

Step 1 - (for colleges)
Obtain and consider the briefing provided on the dptac web site. Encourage your students to enter.

For consideration for the lecturer/college award you will need to explain in no more than 2000 words why your institution is leading the promotion of inclusive environments.

Step 2 - (for students)
Complete and return the entry form together with your submission. Your submission can take the form of a visual display and/or a written submission. The submission, which must explain how access has been addressed, should be on non-bound A3 poster x8, and/or be no more than 1500 words.

Step 3
Send your entry form and submission to arrive no later than 31 May 2004.

Why is it necessary?

Disabled people are prevented from fully participating in society by the poor design and management of the built environment and transport services. Even today, services are designed for fit able-bodied adults. This is a problem for everyone, not just disabled people. All of us, at one time or other, will travel with heavy luggage, a baby in a buggy, or a leg injury. It is vital that tomorrow's engineers, designers, architects, planners etc have a full understanding of the need for an inclusive environment. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) will increasingly provide disabled people with access rights and it is in your interest to understand how we can deliver these objectives.

Submissions need to be part of coursework and should be submitted by the end of May 2004.

• What is Inclusive Design?
• Which user groups should I focus on in this competition?
• Information resources
• Why adopt Inclusive Design?
• How does Inclusive Design impact on teaching and learning?
• Working with users
• Inclusive skills
• Resources and references

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