ADA Lunch Hour Webinar:
The AIA Orange County EDI Committee Presents:
Sensory Inclusive Design – Designing for Sight, Hearing and Neurocognitive Difference
Course Description:
This virtual one-hour session will explore how differences in sight, hearing or sensory processing affect everyday use and comfort in the built environment, giving considerations and design interventions that can maximize independence and minimize effort. The session will look at emerging standards from the UK which explore neurodiversity across the population, identifying key strands that have potential for positive or negative impact and end with a case study example showing the importance of user involvement during project development.
Learning Objectives:
Understanding sight and hearing loss, primary design interventions.
An introduction to technology for sensory difference – assistive listening systems, wayfinding for people with sight loss.
Key considerations for improving the built environment (outside and inside) and service provisions.
Introduction to design considerations for designing sensory hypersensitivity including quiet/restorative spaces for mainstream buildings.
Real world case study for a leading sight loss charity, to illustrate how design principles can work in practice.
Date: May 9, 2024
Webinar: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Webinar link will be sent to registrants on May 8th)
Learning Units: 1.0 AIA HSW + one hour will count toward 2025 CAB License Renewal
Cost: AIAOC Members Free | Non - members $20
Presenter: Jean Hewitt
Jean is one of the leading practitioners in the field of Inclusive Design, having specialized in inclusive environments and accessibility since 2001.
A longstanding member of the BSI Committee “Design of an Accessible and Inclusive Environment”, Jean represents the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and several disability charities and is technical author for PAS 6463: “Design for the Mind – Neurodiversity and the Built Environment”. She is an active member of the Access Association and has been an accredited member of the National Register of Assess Consultants since 2003.
An Honorary Associate Professor at The Bartlett, Jean both developed and delivers the “Designing Inclusive Places” module for UCL’s MSc Health Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings program.
She undertakes stakeholder engagement and regularly delivers training workshops to client organizations on a range of access and inclusion subjects.
Jean remains passionate about achieving exemplary access and pushing boundaries. She has a longstanding professional interest in safe evacuation for disabled people as well as taking an active interest in design considerations and guidance standards for mental wellbeing, neurodiversity, menopause, and gender requirements. She is a member of the EDI Focus Group for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and Buro Happold’s Inclusion Council.
In 2022, Jean was selected as the new UK Government Disability and Access Ambassador focusing on the Built Environment. In this voluntary role, appointed by the Minister for Disabled People and managed by the Cabinet Office Disability Unit, the aim is to influence and drive improvements to the accessibility and quality of services and facilities for disabled people.