What Does Accessible Mean?
Accessibility is the concept of ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, can access and interact with products, services, information, and environments on an equal basis. Being accessible is about removing barriers and creating inclusive spaces, both in the physical world and the digital realm.
Accessibility can encompass various things. It can include providing ramps for wheelchair users, offering alternative text for images on websites for those with visual impairments, or using sign language interpreters for those with hearing impairments. Essentially, it’s about recognizing diversity. Accessibility guarantees that individuals with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. It allows them to fully participate in all aspects of life. Accessibility isn’t just a concept; it’s a fundamental human right that fosters a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
Why Accessibility is Important:
Accessibility is of paramount importance because it upholds the principles of equality and inclusion. When things are accessible for all, it ensures that people with disabilities can participate fully in all aspects of life. These aspects include education and employment to recreation and social engagement. Everyone has certain fundamental rights, including the right to work and the right to rest and leisure. The ability to exercise these rights must be accessible to all.
Moreover, accessibility benefits society as a whole by fostering diversity, innovation, and creativity. Digitally, online accessibility ensures that everyone can navigate the web, access information, and participate in the digital world. In essence, accessibility isn’t just an option; it’s a moral and legal imperative. It helps create a more equitable, compassionate, and prosperous society for everyone, regardless of their abilities.
Isn’t the World Already Accessible for Everyone?
While significant progress has been made in recent years to enhance accessibility, the world is not universally accessible for everyone. We definitely still have a long way to go to make things accessible to or for everyone.
Several physical, digital, and societal barriers still persist. In the physical realm, architectural obstacles, such as lack of ramps or elevators, hinder mobility for individuals with disabilities. On the digital front, inaccessible websites and apps can isolate those with visual or auditory impairments. Moreover, societal stigmas and misconceptions about disability often result in exclusion and discrimination.
Achieving full accessibility requires continuous efforts to remove these barriers, promote awareness, and implement inclusive policies and practices. It’s an ongoing journey towards creating a world where every individual can participate and thrive without limitations or prejudices. Making things accessible for everyone often involves thinking outside the box and considering unique solutions to accommodate diverse needs. Because all disabilities are different, there will never be a one-size-fits all solution.
Accessibility Examples:
Here are 25 examples of things that can make the world more accessible to all:
- Grocery Baskets in Addition to Carts: Offering baskets alongside traditional shopping carts in grocery stores would improve accessibility. It provides a lightweight and manageable option for individuals who may have difficulty maneuvering larger carts. Many stores near me have stopped providing baskets, either to lower thefts or to encourage shoppers to buy more. Unfortunately, I can’t really push a grocery cart easily. Because I don’t eat much, my shopping trips are always small. As such, I juse my own reusable bag as a basket in the store.
- Allowing Adults to Order Off the Kids Menu: Allowing adults to order from the kids’ menu provides smaller portion sizes and simplified choices. This can be helpful for individuals with smaller appetites, dietary restrictions, or sensory sensitivities. Many restaurants do not allow adults to order off the kids’ menu because they want you to spend more money. However, for people like me, who have feeding tubes and can’t eat a lot, this is not a very inclusive practice. I can’t even finish a full appetizer, let alone a meal. Ordering off the kids menu would still give me leftovers for several meals.
- Quiet or Sensory-Friendly Hours: Some establishments, particularly restaurants and entertainment venues, offer designated hours or days with reduced sensory stimuli. Dimmed lighting, lowered music volumes, and fewer crowded spaces can enhance the experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities or autism.
- Universal Design in Restrooms: Incorporating universal design features in restrooms, such as large changing tables and accessible sinks would be more inclusive. It benefits not only individuals with disabilities but also caregivers of young children or aging family members.
- Assistive Listening Devices in Theaters: Theatres can provide assistive listening devices for patrons with hearing impairments. This allows them to better enjoy live performances or movies.
- Water Dispensers at Different Heights: In public spaces like airports, schools, and workplaces, having water dispensers at varying heights ensures accessibility for individuals using wheelchairs or mobility devices.
- Variable Seat Heights in Waiting Areas: Offering seating with different seat heights allows individuals to choose a chair that suits their comfort and mobility needs.
- Alternative Communication Methods: Restaurants can provide communication cards or tablet apps for patrons. This allows non-verbal customers to place orders or communicate with staff.
- Accessible Menus: Many places now offer QR codes that patrons can scan with their smartphones to access digital menus. This benefits individuals with visual impairments who may use screen-reading apps and who require larger fonts.
- Visual and Tactile Signage: Implementing both visual and tactile signage in public spaces assists individuals with visual or cognitive impairments in navigating the environment.
- Accessible Playgrounds: Inclusive playgrounds are ones that have inclusive equipment. These playgrounds can be enjoyed by children of all abilities. Features like wheelchair-accessible swings, ramps, and sensory play elements create a more inclusive play environment for all kids. A full list of accessible playgrounds in Ontario can be found here.
- Sensory Rooms or Quiet Spaces: Some public spaces have sensory rooms with calming features. These can include dim lighting and sensory toys, catering to individuals with sensory sensitivities. Providing quiet, secluded spaces allows individuals with sensory sensitivities to take a break from bustling public environments.
- Virtual Queues for Attractions: Theme parks and museums can offer virtual queue systems, allowing visitors to reserve their spot in line through a mobile app. This reduces the need to stand in long lines, benefiting individuals with mobility issues or sensory sensitivities.
- Scent-Free Zones: Establishing scent-free areas in public spaces, like libraries or offices, can accommodate individuals with fragrance allergies or sensitivities. As someone whose illness causes extreme nausea, scent-free zones are super helpful for me.
- Offering Drink Options: To be more accessible, events should include non-alcoholic options for those who cannot or do not want to drink alcohol. If your event will have pop or soda, diet options should be included. If there will be coffee drinks, alternative milk options like almond milk or soy milk could be offered as well.
- Offering Events that Don’t Revolve Around Food: Similar to the above point, try planning events that don’t necessarily revolve around food. As I can’t really eat with my illness, there are many events with food that I can’t fully participate in. There are so many team building events that are not just a team lunch. Instead of going out for dinner and drinks, go out for a walk or a movie.
- Taking Sensitivities, Restrictions, and Allergies Seriously: Building on the last two points, if food and drinks are involved, sensitivities, diet restrictions, and allergies should be taken seriously and accounted for. Individuals should be allowed to enjoy their preferences without having to over explain themselves. This is especially true now that there are so many alternative options available.
- Accessible Voting Stations: During elections, polling stations can offer accessible voting machines equipped with features like audio prompts and tactile interfaces for voters with disabilities. Allowing people to vote online would also promote inclusivity and accessibility.
- Captioned Live Events: Live performances, such as theater shows or sports events, can provide real-time captioning or sign language interpreters to make the content accessible to individuals with hearing impairments.
- Grocery Store Assistance: Grocery stores can offer personal shopping assistance for individuals with disabilities or others who may find it challenging to navigate the store independently. Some grocery stores have started offering “sensory friendly shopping” hours. During this time, the lights are dimmed and noise is limited.
- Sensory Navigation Apps: Some airports and large venues offer smartphone apps with sensory navigation features, guiding individuals with sensory sensitivities through the venue while avoiding overwhelming areas. Implementing this in a wide variety of large public areas could make these spaces more inclusive.
- Quiet Dining Hours: Restaurants could designate specific hours for quieter dining experiences, accommodating individuals with sensory sensitivities or noise aversions.
- Seat Belt Extenders on Public Transportation: Public transportation systems, including airplanes and trains, can provide seat belt extenders for passengers who may require additional length for seat belt use.
- Service Animal Relief Areas: Airports and public spaces can designate relief areas for service animals, ensuring the comfort and well-being of these important companions. Knowing that there are easily accessible spots for service dogs can make places more accessible for their humans as well.
- Accessible Content and Blogs: Blogs can be made more accessible by including alt text, simple layouts, and clear language.
What Can I Do To Be More Inclusive?
There are several things that individuals can do to help the world become more inclusive and accessible for all. My best recommendation is to ask individuals how you can assist them. If you know someone has a chronic illness or disability, ask them what they are most comfortable with! This is always better than assuming things. For example, you can ask whether they would prefer to take the stairs or an elevator, whether they would like to sit or stand, or if they need help carrying things. If you’re planning a group event, ask them for suggestions of things they can participate in. What someone prefers or is able to do one day may not be the same the next day or week. They know themselves best, so when in doubt, just ask!
These innovative accommodations reflect the ongoing commitment to making spaces and services more inclusive for individuals with diverse needs and preferences. By embracing such measures, individuals, businesses, institutions, and communities can create environments that make things accessible and inclusive for all, creating more welcoming environments for everyone.