Social Sciences PLD

Drawing from the School's wide academic experience and research, an innovative portfolio of learning, including short and medium-length courses taking place online and in-person have been created.

Please contact pld@hope.ac.uk for further information or to discuss specific professional development needs. 

Introduction to Disability and the Built Environment

This short course will focus on disability access to the built environment, which includes everyday public spaces from, schools to supermarkets. It will also focus on access to public transport including transport hubs. It will go beyond current understandings of disability, to consider the access needs of a wide range of people, including those with invisible disabilities.

To enable students to understand how the built environment is disabling it will introduce them to the social model of disability, which demonstrates how disability is a social construct. Drawing on the lived experiences of an array of disabled people, it will enable students to understand how current access provision is not appropriate in providing access for all.

To understand further this course will examine current legislation, including the Equality Act 2010 and Part M of the Buildings and Regulations Act. It will encourage students to critique the implementation of minimal accessible spaces within the built environment.

This course will introduce students to Universal Design to enable them to consider how the built environment can be made to accommodate a greater range of people and this will be demonstrated within their assessment.

Online delivery: 6 weeks, 2 hours per week

Starts: January 2025, (Thursdays 6-8pm)

Cost: £110 per participant

To book any of the above courses or for more information, please contact pld@hope.ac.uk