By meeting the needs of those who are excluded from product use, inclusive design improves product experience across a broad range of users. Put simply inclusive design is better design.

What is Inclusivity?

The British Standards Institute (2005) defines inclusive design as “The design of mainstream products and/or services that are accessible to, and usable by, as many people as reasonably possible … without the need for special adaptation or specialised design.”

Inclusive design is not:

• Simply a stage that can be added in the design process
• Adequately covered by a requirement that the product should be easy to use
• Solely about designing products for a particular capability loss
• Naively implying that it is always possible (or appropriate) to design one product to address the needs of the entire population

Kakou follows the social model of disability.

The social model of disability says that disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather than by a person’s impairment or difference.

The social model looks at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people. When barriers are removed, disabled people can be independent and equal in society, with choice and control over their own lives.

The social model can be applied to any walk of life. The key to inclusion is the ability to create a welcoming environment where everyone is accepted for who they are. Through collaboration, encouraging diversity in our social groups and enhancing people’s understanding of differences, the arts can help tackle both prejudice and accessibility, moving towards a fairer, more caring and more inclusive society.