Inclusion at the Point of Design
The University of Glasgow’s Strategy 2025 asks us to lead with our values and put people first in recognition that ideas flow more freely when our staff and students feel valued and supported.
We are further supported by the following policies and resources:
• Accessible and Inclusive Learning
• Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy
• Accessible Events Policy
• Digital Accessibility
• Dignity at Work and Study
• Student Guide to Engaging in Online Communication
As inclusive educators, the Researcher Development Team is keenly committed to ensuring that all our events and learning spaces are accessible, supportive, inclusive spaces where all participants can be at their best.
We recognise thought, that it can be difficult to know where to start, or what to prioritise, even when encouraged by the benefits inclusivity brings, inspired by gold-standard inclusive events designs and guided by the legal requirements for accessibility and inclusion (The Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018)
Having gone on this journey ourselves over the last few years, we wanted to help you to examine how the events and learning environments you are responsible for can be more inclusive, and to make a change by addressing one small thing at a time.
Making our events inclusive and accessible by design means that we anticipate and mitigate direct and indirect discrimination and cater for a range of participant needs as part of the design process, rather than simply reacting to requests or complaints. This is because we want all colleagues feel like they belong in our learning spaces from the outset, and we don’t want them to have to do extra unpaid work to advise or complain, or disclose personal information to us, to ensure they can take part.
Watch the short video below, then take a look at our more expansive blog post which examines our commitment in detail.
Would you like to discuss our approach to Inclusion and Accessibility? Let us know by completing our open, anonymous feedback form.