We often hear the words least restrictive practice, which we often associate with physical or medical restraint. However, an often overlooked area of least restrictive practice is placement, which is more easily thought of as where someone lives and the restrictions placed upon them.
The Mental Capacity Act (2005) provides protection to any individual who is deprived of their liberties in order to safeguard their health and wellbeing. It does this by establishing that all support be the least restrictive option; that any restriction in place must be proportionate to the need of keeping the individual safe, necessary in terms of all other lesser options have been attempted multiple times and lawful. By this, it must be justifiable if needed to be defended in front of the Court of Protection.
Equal access for all has been a standing call for social inclusion and disability rights activists for many years. Ramps have been custom built for venues, alternate access routes established, consideration of visual distinguishment on steps for those who are visually impaired added, contrast colours established on posts and lifts put in amongst many other elements to ensure everyone can physically move as freely as possible.