A Strategy to Develop Allies and Create Diversity

Partnering to Promote DiversityAHEAD 2011

Elaine Ostroff, Honorary AIA, Institute for Human Centered Design

Overview

• The RFP as strategy

• Examples from AHEAD members

• Sharing other strategies

• Creating Opportunities for your mission

• Next Steps

The RFP – IHCD tested over time, partnering with:• Design School Faculty

Universal Design Education Project, 1993-1997

• Architecture FacultyArchitecture for Social Justice: Partnerships in Teaching, 2005-2007

• Post-Secondary Education ProgramsArchitecture for Social Justice: Partnerships in Recruiting, 2008-2009

• Disability Service Staff Architecture for Social Justice: Partnerships in Diversity, 2010-2011

AHEAD member projects 20111. Ark-AHEAD

The Difference a Degree Makes: Promoting Partnerships to Enhance Recruitment of Students with Disabilities into Design Professions

2. DO-IT Access to the Design Professions for People with Disabilities

(AccessDesign)

3. JUST (Just, Usable, Sustainable, Transformational) Change Initiative

JUST (Just, Usable, Sustainable, Transformational) Design

Roundtable: Sharing your strategies

• Hearing ways that you have created allies

• Expanding the idea of diversity to include disability

• And…

Creating Opportunities for Your Mission: Creating your RFPAction Steps

1. Identify allies to achieve a shared objective -2. Establish goal - the win-win3. Expand the team; advisors, task force, jury4. Determine incentives (not always money)5. Clarify outcomes6. Create, promote the process7. Plan dissemination8. Celebrate

Next Steps, Resources

• One small step

• www.humancentereddesign.org

Projects: Access to Design Professions

• Building a World Fit for People: Designers with Disabilities at Work (online, above)