Decision Tree Activity MOD 5

Step 1: Designing a New Office Environment

You’re reviewing a floor plan for your company’s new office. It features open desks, glass-walled meeting rooms, and touchscreen access points. You’ve raised concerns that it may not be accessible for all. What do you recommend?

Approve the plan and deal with individual accessibility concerns if/when they arise.

Choices:

Request a complete redesign to eliminate all glass, screens, and open spaces.

Recommend a mixed-layout with quiet rooms, adjustable desks, tactile signage, and wheelchair-accessible meeting spaces.

Step 2: Internal Tools and Systems

Your company is choosing a new internal platform. None of the shortlisted tools have been tested for accessibility. What do you do?

Recommend building a custom HR system in-house with full accessibility features.

Choices:

Select the most affordable option and address issues via IT support post-launch.

Insist that all shortlisted platforms undergo a digital accessibility review before final decision.

Step 3: Welcoming a New Employee with a Disability

A new hire discloses that they’re hard of hearing. Your video platform doesn’t offer live captions, and the office is open-plan. How do you respond?

Wait until the employee starts to confirm how “serious” their needs are before taking action.

Choices:

Ask if they’re comfortable using a standard transcription app that works most of the time, and suggest headphones as a workaround.

Provide them a quiet zone desk and invest in an external live-captioning tool that integrates with your platform.

Conclusion Slide

Well done! You’ve navigated a real-world inclusion journey. Even if not every choice was perfect, you’ve explored the complexities of inclusive decision-making. Inclusion is a continuous process — every choice counts. Reflect: What could you apply from this in your own organisation?

❌ Feedback: This is a reactive approach. It puts the burden on disabled employees to self-advocate and can lead to exclusion or legal risk.

❌ Feedback: While ideal in theory, this is likely not cost-effective or feasible unless your organisation has major resources.

❌ Feedback: Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought. Retrofits are often more expensive and less effective.

✅ Feedback: This proactive and balanced solution reflects Universal Design principles and anticipates a range of needs.

❌ Feedback: Delaying accommodations can create a hostile or isolating environment. It’s legally risky and ethically weak.

✅ Feedback: You’re showing proactive inclusion, respecting disclosure, and ensuring they have equal access from Day 1.

❌ Feedback: This workaround dismisses the quality and dignity of access. It's like handing someone a broken tool and calling it support.

✅ Feedback: Accessibility must be part of the procurement process. Early testing prevents issues and ensures usability for everyone.

❌ Feedback: While well-intentioned, this approach is likely impractical and may alienate stakeholders. Inclusion should be embedded, not extreme.