The Syntax of Equality, A Tool for Expressing and Implementing Equality and Inclusion

It is not possible to achieve equality goals by focusing on equality problems. Municipalities must be able to describe and focus on solutions that support equality. But good solutions are harder to notice and describe than bad solutions. We will develop and test a tool, "The syntax of equality", to describe what characterises good equality solutions in the physical environment, allowing municipalities to focus on equality goals (not inequality problems) and how to reach them in their development processes. The term "syntax" refers to a set of patterns for how meaning-making elements can be composed to support equality and inclusion in the physical environment and language use. The syntax of equality describes how a person (without stigma) can use, be and interact in the physical environment.

Aims:
1. To identify patterns in the physical environment that support equality and inclusion.
2. To define and test the patterns in ongoing and planned building and planning cases selected by the municipalities.
3. To compile and publish "The syntax of equality" in an open format that suits the needs of municipalities and one scientific article per project year.

A transdisciplinary team from the universities of Lund and Gothenburg and five Swedish municipalities will conduct the project. It will last four years and is based on iterative project workshops, where the project results are tested by and disseminated in the municipalities involved already during the project's implementation. There are strong driving forces for them to implement the ideas and patterns that emerge as soon as possible during the project's first years. In principle, the dissemination to these five municipalities will be completed when the project is completed.