What is disability?
Disability is part of the human condition. Everyone is likely to experience it, either permanently or temporarily, at some point in their life (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3). People with disabilities are diverse and not defined by their disability (Al Ju’beh, 2015, p. 14; WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 7). Disabilities may be visible or invisible, and onset can be at birth, or during childhood, working age years or old age.
There is no single definition of disability (Mitra, 2006, p. 236). Defining disability is complicated as it is ‘complex, dynamic, multidimensional and contested’ (WHO & World Bank, 2011, p. 3).
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) recognises that ‘disability is an evolving concept’ (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 1). ‘Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others’ (UNCRPD, 2006, p. 4).
What is universal access?
Accessibility everywhere, accessibility for everyone, accessibility to everything at every time.
What is inclusion?
Including people with disabilities in everyday activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability is disability inclusion. This involves more than simply encouraging people; it requires making sure that adequate policies and practices are in effect in a community or organisation.
Inclusion should lead to increased participation in socially expected life roles and activities—such as being a student, worker, friend, community member, patient, spouse, partner, or parent.
Socially expected activities may also include engaging in social activities, using public resources such as transportation and libraries, moving about within communities, receiving adequate health care, having relationships, and enjoying other day-to-day activities.
What is reasonable accommodation?
An adjustment made in a system or environment to accommodate or make fair the same system for an individual based on a proven need. That need can vary. Accommodations can be religious, physical, mental or emotional, academic, or employment related and are often mandated by law.
What are barriers to inclusion?
Attitudinal barriers are the most basic and contribute to other barriers. For example, some people may not be aware that difficulties in getting to or into a place can limit a person with a disability from participating in everyday life and common daily activities. Examples of attitudinal barriers include:
- Stereotyping: People sometimes stereotype those with disabilities, assuming their quality of life is poor or that they are unhealthy because of their impairments.
- Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination: Within society, these attitudes may come from people’s ideas related to disability—People may see disability as a personal tragedy, as something that needs to be cured or prevented, as a punishment for wrongdoing, or as an indication of the lack of ability to behave as expected in society.
Today, society’s understanding of disability is improving as we recognise “disability” as what occurs when a person’s functional needs are not addressed in his or her physical and social environment. By not considering disability a personal deficit or shortcoming, and instead thinking of it as a social responsibility in which all people can be supported to live independent and full lives, it becomes easier to recognise and address challenges that all people–including those with disabilities–experience.
Communication barriers are experienced by people who have disabilities that affect hearing, speaking, reading, writing, and or understanding, and who use different ways to communicate than people who do not have these disabilities. Examples of communication barriers include:
- Use of small print or no large-print versions of material, and
- No Braille or versions for people who use screen readers.
- Auditory health messages may be inaccessible to people with hearing impairments, including
- Videos that do not include captioning, and
- Oral communications without accompanying manual interpretation (such as, American Sign Language).
- The use of technical language, long sentences, and words with many syllables may be significant barriers to understanding for people with cognitive impairments.
Physical barriers are structural obstacles in natural or manmade environments that prevent or block mobility (moving around in the environment) or access. Examples of physical barriers include:
- Steps and curbs that block a person with mobility impairment from entering a building or using a sidewalk.
- Mammography equipment that requires a woman with mobility impairment to stand.
- Absence of a weight scale that accommodates wheelchairs or others who have difficulty stepping up.
Policy barriers are frequently related to a lack of awareness or enforcement of existing laws and regulations external icon that require programs and activities be accessible to people with disabilities. Examples of policy barriers include:
- Denying qualified individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in or benefit from federally funded programs, services, or other benefits.
- Denying individuals with disabilities access to programs, services, benefits, or opportunities to participate as a result of physical barriers.
- Denying reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, so they can perform the essential functions of the job for which they have applied or have been hired to perform.
Programmatic barriers limit the effective delivery of a public health or healthcare program for people with different types of impairments. Examples of programmatic barriers include:
- Inconvenient scheduling.
- Lack of accessible equipment (such as mammography screening equipment).
- Insufficient time set aside for medical examination and procedures.
- Little or no communication with patients or participants; and
- Provider’s attitudes, knowledge, and understanding of people with disabilities.
Social barriers are related to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, learn, work and age – or social determinants of health – that can contribute to decreased functioning among people with disabilities. Here are examples of social barriers:
- In many African countries disability is considered as a result of witchcraft.
- Many people with disabilities are considered asexual beings.
- Some religions teach that disability is an illness which can be cured.
- In most African countries it is estimated that people with disabilities are 4 times more likely to be unemployed compared to their abled counterparts.
Transportation barriers are due to a lack of adequate transportation that interferes with a person’s ability to be independent and to function in society. Examples of transportation barriers include:
- Lack of access to accessible or convenient transportation for people who are not able to drive because of vision or cognitive impairments, and
- Public transportation may be unavailable or at inconvenient distances or locations.
What is ableism?
Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism.
Why should my business invest in Universal Accessibility?
There are some very obvious reasons why any organisation needs to consider accessibility:
- Huge market opportunities
- Better products and services
- Brand loyalty
- Beat your competition.
- Doing good is good business.