Inclusive and accessible design consultancy and research
Exploring the impact of the environment on behaviour
I use combined expertise in occupational therapy, design and research. I specialise in advising on the design of inclusive and accessible housing.
My practice is interdisciplinary and collaborative. I work with all stakeholders involved in the design and build process: residents, commissioners, developers, architects, designers, surveyors, planners and contractors.
I aim to develop innovative solutions that remove barriers experienced by people with physical, sensory and cognitive impairments, including dementia, and those who are neurodivergent.
My doctoral research explored how design could support the expression of everyday aesthetic preferences. I created an accessible framework of engagement that aims top enable people living with dementia to choice and control over the curation of their personal space.
Central to my practice is learning from people with lived experience about their priorities and the situations they encounter.
Practice
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Accessible and inclusive housing design
I have over 20 years experience advising on inclusive and accessible design of housing across a range of typologies:
General needs housing
Retirement housing
Supported housing
This involves collaborating with all stakeholders : commissioners, housing developers, planners and architects, surveyors, M&E , service providers and residents from pre-planning to post occupancy.
Experience and qualifications
As an HCPC registered occupational therapist, I have over 30 years experience in healthcare across housing health and social care. I am a member of The Access Association and provide services and independently and as an associate to the following organisations:
Centre for Accessible Environments Associate
Housing LIN Associate
The OT Service Associate
Services - Specialist advice on inclusive and accessible environments in line with regulations and good practice on:
Site appraisals
Planning appraisals
Design & Access statements
Employers requirements
Product solutions
Pre and post-occupancy evaluations
Publications and resources
I share my knowledge and experience through contributing to publications, online resources, and articles
RCOT (2018) Adaptations without Delay
Habinteg (2024) The Inclusive Housing Design Guide: RIBA. (Lead peer reviewer )
Occupational therapists helping to get the housing design right Housing LIN
Walker, M. (2025) 10 years after Part M. Inclusive Design Magazine
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Design research
My practice led design research projects are concerned with the impact of physical, sensory, and cognitive aspects of the environment on agency and wellbeing:
Do you know what you like?
Change your view
Lull
Standstill
Textme
Hands free cup of tea
Qualifications
BA 3D Design and Materials Practice
MA Design Research for Disability
PhD Practice led - Design for Health Research
Publications
Walker, M (2025) Exploring the expression of everyday aesthetic preferences through design
Projects
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Planning appraisals
I have several years and experience reviewing planning applications to assess compliance with Part M of the building regulations.
Detailed appraisals identify key dimensions and space requirements on all aspects of buildings including communal and private access and approach, internal circulation, habitable rooms and outside space.
Recommendations are informed by good practice in design for neurodivergence, dementia, and sight loss as well as physical access.
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Do you know what you like?
My practice led doctoral research explored how design could support people living with dementia to express their everyday aesthetic preferences.
Dementia might affect the way our minds work - but we will always know what we like.
My practice led doctoral research explored how design could support people living with dementia to express their everyday aesthetic preferences.
Most of us like to choose the colour and style of our clothes and how our homes are decorated
Having the things that we like around us, reflects our identity. It can bring us pleasure.
Participants were invited to share their favourite mugs, colours and spaces in the home.
As an accessible framework of engagement this method revealed meanings and associations about what is important to the person. Participants sustained levels of engagement and enjoyment in the process suggested an that it reinforced a sense of self.
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Change your view
Is there too much choice, too much information, too much noise in urban city centre environments? Do we need zones of non-consumption: facilities or prostheses to survive everyday life? This project explored interventions that provide moment of respite.
Explore
Planning appraisals
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Do you know what you like
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Change your view
Contact
Whether you need advice on the design inclusive and accessible housing or assistance in design research projects, please contact me
About
Services
Planning appraisals
Consultancy
Research
Locations
UK
Recognition
Innovative Solutions
Architectural Advancements
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Clients
Centre for Accessible Environments
Habinteg
Housing LIN
The Occupational Therapy Service