Business Disability Forum publishes new guidance about building more accessible environments
A new global guide by Business Disability Forum (BDF) has been published which discusses how businesses can make their built environments accessible to people with a disability.
Sponsored by HSBC, ‘Access for all: Creating inclusive global built environments’ aims to help businesses think about how they build back better post-COVID-19.
The free guide is aimed at anyone involved in influencing and making decisions about an organisation’s built spaces. This includes senior leaders, estate management teams, health, safety and environment professionals, as well as HR and diversity and inclusion professionals.
It includes information about what an inclusive built environment is, and explores why creating inclusive environments is important for disabled people and businesses, the challenges facing global businesses when creating accessible and inclusive spaces, and how to create an inclusive built environment strategy.
Advocating for a framework that balances global consistency with local flexibility, the guide focuses on inclusive design and genuine user engagement, and draws on best practice.
Speaking about the importance of the new report, Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, said: “Everyone should be able to access buildings and enjoy spaces, regardless of disability.
“Creating spaces which are inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities can also help businesses to attract and retain employees and customers.
“Increasing efficiency and productivity, supporting sustainability, ensuring legal compliance, and enhancing the reputation, are just some of the benefits for business of building inclusively.
“We know that developing a global built environment strategy can present challenges and the size of the task can seem overwhelming.
“We hope our new guide will give businesses the courage to take the first step and the tools to create spaces that work for everyone – wherever they are in the world.”
The research considers the needs of disabled people when accessing spaces whether as a visitor, employee, customer, client or contractor.
It also highlights the vital role of an inclusive design approach in creating environments that work for everyone.
Having a disability can affect how a person accesses, navigates and uses the spaces and structures around them. Built environments include everything from entrances, exits, stairs, lifts, signage, to parking, green spaces, roads, and transport systems.
Michelle Hey, Global Head of Corporate Services, HSBC, commented: “The benefits of accessible and inclusive workplaces are multiple and well-proven.
“They support improved customer service, employee engagement, and the recruitment and retention of talent.
“The guidance provided by Business Disability Forum in this report is an excellent way for all organisations to embrace the change that is needed.
“That’s why HSBC is a proud sponsor of this report and I would like to thank Business Disability Forum and all those who contributed to its development for the clear and pragmatic advice it provides.”
Based on the experiences of leading global organisations, the guide details some of the major challenges that businesses can face when creating inclusive spaces at a global level.
Challenges could include: securing senior buy-in, diversity of location, diversity of cultures, beliefs, and languages, conflicting disability requirements.
The research offers guidance on how to overcome these challenges through the creation of a global built environment strategy.
Several BDF members and partners helped to inform the research. These include HSBC, GSK, Unilever, Freeney Williams, State Street, and Eli Lilly.
The Business Disability Forum works with over 400 employers and service providers, bringing business leaders, disabled people, and Government together to understand what needs to change to contribute a balanced voice on how to advance the participation of disabled people as workers, users of services, and citizens in society.
Following the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper recently, the Business Disability Forum highlighted the need for proper consultation with disabled people.
