Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine April 2021 | Page 78

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Charmaine ’ s design expertise was also used on Antigua ’ s first speech and language therapy clinic , a project which was very dear to her . Center for the Holistic Advancement of Therapeutic Services ( CHATS ) is a happy , colourful yet calming space .
As Charmaine and her husband consult on new projects , universal design is an integral part of each conversation . Young couples are encouraged to think twenty or thirty years ahead . “ A parent may move in ,” Charmaine says “ because that ' s happening a lot now . Younger people who are building homes have to think about their parents , as it is becoming more common to have multi-generational homes which means that you ' re not only designing for the young client but you ’ re also designing for the client ’ s parents and children .” Charmaine is heartened that nine out of ten times their advice is accepted which “ is good because it ' s an expensive task to have to redo a house just to make it easier to live in .”
If you live in a place where the outdoors can be blended into your living space , give it a try . Let nature speak in your ‘ outside room ’ and think of accessibility .
Dr Jennifer Camulli has over 30 years’ experience in working with and advocating for people with disabilities. Her previous roles include Certified Accessibility Consultant, Certified Educational Therapist and Head of Inclusion. She is currently leading the efforts to place accessibility at the heart of planning for Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. Running from 1 October, 2021 until 31 March, 2022, Expo 2020 is a global gathering dedicated to bringing together people, communities and nations to build bridges, inspire action and deliver real-life solutions to real- life challenges. DR. JENNIFER CAMULLI Autism, Inclusion, Accessibility and Expo 2020 Dubai April is World Autism Awareness Month, which is dedicated to increasing awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Is it possible for someone to be autistic and not know it? Yes, absolutely. Many people do not know they have autism until they receive an official diagnosis. And even then, if they are very young, they may not know or fully understand what autism means until they are older, or if there is moderate to severe intellectual impairment, they Visit www.expo2020dubai.com to find out more. may never really understand it. It’s also becoming increasingly common for adults to come forward for self-referral if they suspect that some of the social and communication challenges they have had since a young age can possibly be accounted for with a diagnosis of autism. How effective is inclusive education? Like any process or service, it is only as good as the people delivering it. Globally, there are different approaches to inclusive education, often To Table of Contents because of varying levels of awareness, different cultural perspectives, and both the ability and willingness to adapt teaching methods and curriculum content. What are some of the key variables for the successful implementation of inclusive education? To begin with, if inclusive education isn’t mandated by the relevant authorities, schools may opt to either not offer it at all or be selective in their admission offers. Equally, if a school’s leadership team isn’t fully committed to the principles of inclusive education, its implementation and practice will also suffer. It’s also incredibly important to ensure that each and every student has the opportunity to experience success at school, no matter what that looks like. Everyone deserves the right to achieve – it’s tied so intrinsically to the concept of dignity and self-worth. For example, allowances should be made for students to advance with their peers and participate in graduation ceremonies. Even if a student hasn’t met the criteria to officially graduate, they can still be presented with a certificate of achievement and celebrate with their classmates. The need to belong is strong, and schools need to enable this. What are some of the critical steps for building an inclusive workplace? Successful inclusive workplaces are those that foster a collaborative work environment, where everyone has a voice. Consultation with the disabled person on what accommodations s/he may need in the workplace, including the option to work from home, facilitates empowerment and trust. Employees should also be provided with regular training on engaging with colleagues with disabilities and it’s a particularly powerful statement when an organisation has a dedicated Inclusion Team, or a group of Inclusion Champions. Consideration should also be given to providing accessible communication for physical and virtual meetings where required, such as live captioning. What is the theme of Expo 2020 and when/where in Dubai will it be held? At Expo 2020 Dubai, you’ll experience the world in one place – a global gathering dedicated to bringing together people, communities and nations to build bridges, inspire action and deliver real-life solutions to real-life problems. Expo’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ is underpinned by three subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability – that we believe are the three key drivers of human progress and prosperity, and are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Expo 2020 will take place in Dubai between 1 October, 2021 and 31 March, 2022, on an incredible 4.38 sq km site in Dubai South. Dubai is easily reached by sea, air or land, and Expo will be well-served by public transport, including To Table of Contents the world-class Dubai Metro and dedicated Expo Rider bus service. How easy will it be for people of determination to navigate their way around the Expo? What are some of the accessibility services and features that will be in place for them? People of determination have been a key priority in our planning from the very beginning and we’ve made sure to include a number of measures to enable them to navigate the site easily and safely, to enjoy an incredible visitor experience. For example, we’ve installed 14 tactile maps around the site which will provide raised and embossed images of the area nearest to them as well as audio output and braille. And we have also developed our PODium app, in collaboration with SAP, an Official Premier Partner of Expo 2020. The app provides 3-D visual mapping, audio navigation and haptic feedback to assist visitors with these needs. Our Thematic Pavilions also have tactile maps to assist visitors in understanding the environment around them. There are 15 Information Centres across the site and an additional seven Information Kiosks that can provide important information to all our visitors. In addition to this, we’ve also created four Quiet Rooms on