EP-7

Summary

In this episode, Ruth Hunter interviews Scott Whitney, founder of All4Inclusion, who shares his personal journey of becoming disabled and the challenges he faces in advocating for accessibility and inclusivity. Scott discusses the importance of community, the struggles of finding accessible housing, and the mental health impacts of his experiences. He emphasises the need for better design in housing and the role of government in ensuring accessibility standards are met. Through his organisation, Scott aims to empower disabled voices and foster connections within the community.

Chapters

• Scott Whitney founded All4Inclusion to support disabled individuals facing loneliness.
• His disability journey began suddenly in 2020, leading to significant life changes.
• Scott emphasizes the importance of community and connection for disabled individuals.
• Accessibility challenges in public transport and housing are prevalent and often overlooked.
• Mental health struggles are common among those with disabilities, especially during transitions.
• The search for accessible housing is fraught with difficulties and frustrations.
• Temporary housing solutions often fail to meet accessibility needs.
• Emergency evacuation plans for disabled individuals are often inadequate.
• Designing accessible properties requires input from the disabled community.
• Government policies need to prioritise accessibility in housing development.

Keyword

Accessibility, neurodiversity, disability, inclusivity, housing, mental health, community, All4Inclusion, Scott Whitney, design

Contact details for Scott Whitney

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjwhitney

scott@all4inclusion.org

If you’re inspired to learn more or want to explore working with me on creating accessible, inclusive, and beautiful properties, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 Visit www.veredusproperty.co.uk 📩 Email me directly at info@veredusproperty.co.uk 🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ruthhunter

Together, we can make accessible housing the standard, not the exception. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who cares about inclusive living!

EP - 6

Summary

In this episode, Ruth Hunter speaks with Sandra Bentley, an accessibility advocate with a spinal cord injury, about her journey navigating the Disability Facilities Grant (DFG) to adapt her home. Sandra shares her experiences, challenges, and insights on the importance of autonomy in design, the role of occupational therapists, and the complexities of funding and VAT related to home adaptations. They discuss the need for policy change in accessible housing and the importance of educating developers and policymakers to create universally designed homes that meet the needs of all individuals, regardless of ability.

Takeaways

• Sandra Bentley is a passionate accessibility advocate with lived experience of disability.
• Navigating the DFG can be complex and requires proactive engagement with local authorities.
• Occupational therapists play a crucial role in the home adaptation process.
• Home adaptations should prioritize the individual's needs and preferences, not just standard solutions.
• Understanding VAT implications can significantly impact the budget for home adaptations.
• It's essential to advocate for oneself and seek out available resources and funding.
• Designing accessible spaces can be aesthetically pleasing and functional.
• Policy change is necessary to ensure all new homes are built with accessibility in mind.
• Education for developers and policymakers is key to creating inclusive housing.
• Future-proofing homes is vital for accommodating changing needs over time.

Chapters

If you’re inspired to learn more or want to explore working with me on creating accessible, inclusive, and beautiful properties, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 Visit www.veredusproperty.co.uk 📩 Email me directly at info@veredusproperty.co.uk 🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ruthhunter

Together, we can make accessible housing the standard, not the exception. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who cares about inclusive living!

EP - 5

Summary

In this episode of Accessible Housing Matters UK, Katy Deacon shares her journey as a chartered engineer and her personal experiences with accessibility challenges due to multiple sclerosis. She discusses the importance of inclusive design in engineering, her efforts to modify her home for accessibility, and the financial and emotional hurdles she faced.

Katy also highlights the role of benevolent funds in supporting individuals with disabilities and introduces her company, Towards Belonging, which aims to bridge the gap between the disabled community and the engineering industry. She concludes with an exciting project involving AI in design software to promote accessibility in architecture.

Takeaways

Accessibility must be a priority in engineering design. Personal experiences can drive professional change. Inclusive design benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities. Financial support options exist for home modifications. Benevolent funds can provide crucial assistance for those in need. Community engagement is essential for understanding accessibility needs. Innovative solutions can transform living spaces for wheelchair users. Education on accessibility should be integrated into engineering curricula. AI can streamline the process of creating accessible designs. Collaboration between disabled individuals and engineers is vital for progress.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Katy Deacon's Journey 04:17 Personal Experience with Accessibility Challenges 08:35 Engineering Solutions for Accessibility 13:44 Financial Aspects of Home Modifications 21:57 The Role of Benevolent Funds 23:44 Towards Belonging: Bridging Gaps in Accessibility 27:34 Innovative Projects in Accessible Design

Keywords

accessible housing, engineering, disability, inclusivity, personal experience, home modifications, benevolent funds, Towards Belonging, AI in design, accessibility challenges

Contact for Katy Deacon

www.towardsbelonging.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-deacon

If you’re inspired to learn more or want to explore working with me on creating accessible, inclusive, and beautiful properties, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 Visit www.veredusproperty.co.uk 📩 Email me directly at info@veredusproperty.co.uk 🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ruthhunter

Together, we can make accessible housing the standard, not the exception. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who cares about inclusive living!