About the Webinar

In the UK, 13.9 million disabled people seek simple access to travel, whether for business or recreation; to enhance their chances or lifestyle; and to do it with dignity and at no expense. Persons with disabilities travel up to a third less than people without disabilities. Access to work, healthcare, education, and social activities is all affected as a result of this. The attitudes and behaviours of workers and other passengers are significant barriers to public transportation, in addition to dependability and physical infrastructure.

Moreover, we also have a society that is ageing. By 2050, one in every four individuals in the UK will be 65 or older, and as people age, they are more prone to develop a variety of illnesses such as mobility limitations, memory loss, and vision or hearing loss. We are also starting to realise that not all disabilities are apparent, and that mental health and cognitive impairments may have just as big an effect on individuals as physical ailments. Regardless of the extent of a person's disability, they should be able to access services that the majority of us take for granted.

CIHT’s masterclass on Inclusive Transport Policies and Accessibility, will look at the main issues such as awareness of passenger rights and enforcement, better staff training and inclusive physical infrastructure to ensure that vehicles, stations, and streetscapes are designed and built so they are inclusive and easy to use for everyone.

Speakers

Ann Frye FCIHT, Director, Ann Frye Ltd. 

Making Travel More Inclusive

Synopsis: A snapshot of the key issues affecting disabled and older people in our streets and pedestrian areas.

The presentation will focus on the voices of disabled and older people in their own neighbourhoods reflecting on how developments in urban design and other policies are impacting on their freedom and independence.

The presentation will also touch on the concept of inclusive or universal design and the lessons that can be learnt to make towns and cities more useable by everyone.

Biography: Ann is an international specialist on the mobility needs of disabled and older people.

She works with Governments and transport providers on mobility options for people with physical, sensory, neuro-divergent, and mental health issues. Her work covers all modes of public transport, the pedestrian environment and personal mobility options.

Ann has focused on accessibility for over 30 years; as well as heading work in the UK Department for Transport to develop laws, policies and technical standards, she has also led work on accessibility for the US Transportation Research Board, the International Transport Forum, and the European Commission.

Ann is currently the Government’s Disability and Accessibility Ambassador for Airports.

Rama Gheerawo, Director, The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design - Royal College of Art

Future Transport Challenges: How Inclusive Design Can Help

Synopsis: This talk will make the case for inclusive design to be included when we think about local, neighbourhood and national mobility. Design can make many conversations better and this talk will showcase how this can be applied with case studies that include driverless vehicles and ambulances. The talk will also look at who are we excluding – by age, ability, gender and race – and show examples of how a people-centred approach can drive positive change.

Biography: Rama is an international figure within design. He won a Design Week ‘Hall of Fame’ award in 2019 and was named a 2018 Creative Leader by Creative Review alongside Paul Smith and Björk.

He addresses diversity across age, ability, gender and race. He is a serial innovator in the field of Inclusive Design and Design Thinking having led over 100 international projects with government, business, academia and the third sector with clients such as Samsung, Toyota and Panasonic.

He champions Creative Leadership, having trained thousands of people including over 750 civil servants. He holds visiting professorships and advisory roles globally for business, new ventures, universities, awards and initiatives including D&AD, The Valuable 500, the RSA Decolonizing panel, and the Global Disability Innovation Hub at London’s Olympic Park.

His first solo book, ‘Creative Leadership: Born from Design’ launched in March 2022 and is available on Amazon and from publisher Lund Humphries.

Andrew Hugill FCIHT, Director of Policy and Technical Affairs, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

Creating Better Streets - Inclusive and Accessible Places

Synopsis: Andrew Hugill is the Director of Policy & Technical Affairs at CIHT. In this presentation he will outline the work CIHT took in developing the 'Creating Better Streets' report which launched in January 2018. The report carried out a review of street improvement schemes, including how they met the needs of street users. Andrew will reflect on the issues raised in the report and discuss progress against its recommendations.

Biography: Andrew leads CIHT’s Policy & Technical Affairs outputs across a wide range of areas.

Throughout his career Andrew has been focussed on the development of improved highway services in the UK and has over 30 years’ experience of the highways and transportation sector both in the public and private sectors.

Before joining CIHT in 2013 he was Director of Central and Local Government services at Atkins where he provided advice to a range of clients in the sector. Andrew joined Atkins in January 2006 from 4ps where he was a senior executive advising local authorities on the best way to develop, procure and deliver PFI and PPP schemes.

Reasons to Attend

• Join your peers and colleagues to learn and develop thought leadership and boost your knowledge on the topic of Inclusivity and Accessibility in the Transportation Industry.
• Discover best practice to implement actionable insight to use in your role, while helping shape the future of the transportation industry.
• Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts and get their questions answered during a panel Q&A.