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Promoting Inclusion ______________________________________________________________
Read below to help promote inclusion by:
Changing Attitudes: Understanding Barriers To Accessibility
Barriers are obstacles — things that stand in the way of people with disabilities doing many of the day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted. Barriers make shopping, working, going to a movie or taking public transit difficult, sometimes impossible, for people with disabilities.
There are many kinds of barriers:
Architectural and physical barriers are features of buildings or spaces that cause problems for people with disabilities. Examples are:
- Hallways and doorways that are too narrow for a person using a wheelchair, electric scooter or walker
- Counters that are too high for a person of short stature
- Poor lighting for people with low vision
- Doorknobs that are difficult for people with arthritis to grasp
- Parking spaces that are too narrow for a driver who uses a wheelchair
- Telephones that are not equipped with telecommunications devices for people who are Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing
Information or communications barriers happen when a person can’t easily understand information. Examples are:
- Print is too small to read
- Websites that don’t support screen-reading software
- Signs that are not clear or easily understood
Attitudinal barriers are those that discriminate against people with disabilities. Examples are:
- Thinking that people with disabilities are inferior
- Assuming that a person who has a speech impairment can’t understand you
Technology barriers occur when a technology can’t be modified to support various assistive devices. An example is:
- A website that doesn’t support screen-reading software
Systemic barriers are an organization’s policies, practices or procedures that discriminate against people with disabilities. An example is:
- A hiring process that is not open to people with disabilities
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Changing Attitudes: Common Myths About People With Disabilities And The Reality
People without disabilities often don’t understand what it’s like to live with a disability and the barriers that people with disabilities face daily.
Here are some of the common myths about people with disabilities and the reality.
Myth: People with disabilities are inferior to “normal” people and their lives are very different.
Reality: What is “normal”? We all have different abilities, talents, interests and personalities — you name it! People with disabilities go to school, get married, work, have families, play, do laundry, go shopping, eat out, travel, volunteer, vote, pay taxes, laugh, cry, plan and dream — just like everyone else.
Myth: We need to feel sorry for people with disabilities.
Reality: That’s patronizing. People with disabilities don’t need pity. They need access to opportunities.
Myth: People with disabilities are brave and courageous.
Reality: Adjusting to a disability requires adapting to a lifestyle, not bravery and courage.
Myth: It’s not a good idea to hire people with disabilities. They have a higher turnover rate and they take sick days more often.
Reality: Many studies show that disabled employees are often more productive, dependable and loyal than their non-disabled co-workers and that staff retention is 72% higher among persons with disabilities. That adds up to savings of millions of dollars every year in hiring and training costs. The experiences of large corporations such as DuPont and the Royal Bank of Canada show that when business hires people with disabilities:
- The pool of potential employees becomes larger
- Staff retention rates increase
- Absenteeism decreases
Myth: You have to be careful when you’re talking to a person with a disability, because they are easily offended if you use the wrong word.
Reality: You just need to be as polite and respectful as you would when speaking to anyone. If you’re not sure what to say or do, it’s okay to ask.
Myth: It’s difficult serving customers with disabilities.
Reality: Customers with disabilities have the same preferences, perceptions, attitudes, habits, and needs as customers without disabilities, and they are looking for the same quality of products and services.
Everyone, regardless of ability, deserves to be treated with the same dignity and respect.
Resource: Ministry of Community and Social Services, Accessibility Directorate, 2007
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