Accessibility and Universal Design
A continuum of environments, programs and services
Exclusion segregation integration inclusion
- Few spaces, programs, services at extremes
- Segregated not necessarily ‘negative’
- Full inclusion might not always be possible within current structures
Exclusion
- The act, instance or state of being excluded
o To prevent someone from doing something or being a part of a group
o To leave out
o To not include
o To think that someone is not worth attention
E.g. rec facility
Segregation
- The practice or policy of keeping people of different races, religions, people etc.,
separate from each other
o E.g. two-tier soccer league
o School PE classes or mainstream classes
Integration
- Incorporate, amalgamate or mix with an existing community
- Absorb into an existing whole
o “having people with disabilities learn, work and recreate among persons without
disabilities”
inclusion
- a relation between two classes that exists when all members of the first are also
members of the second
- “Meaningful participation in an environment where every participant belongs, is
accepted, supports, and is supported by one’s peers and other members of that
environment in the course of having one’s needs for participation met.”
Reverse integration
- common in education setting
- used when attempted integration placement has been proven overly difficult
, o e.g. if student is unable to communicate, uncomfortable in large groups, or
exhibits violent behaviour
Accessibility
- “… giving people of all abilities opportunities to participate fully in everyday life”
- “possibility to take part in something desirable”
Core principles of Accessibility
Accessibility allows individuals with disabilities (AODA)
Independence
- to do things on their own without unnecessary help or interference from others
integration
- to benefit in the same place and in the same or similar manner to others
dignity
- to maintain self-respect and the rest of others
equality
- to have equal access to that given to others
Dimensions of accessibility
Built and natural environment
- physical aspects of the built and natural environment – structure, design, lay-out, etc.
- lighting (safety)
- parking
- internal structure and set up (e.g. seating, position of equipment)
information and technology
- signage – size, clarity, colour, type and size of font, contrast between font and
background, location of signs etc.
- brochures
- websites
- materials in alternate format
- directional signage
- sign language interpreters
- captioning – open and closed
o difference between open and closed
o open caption is burned onto video, always there
o closed gives you the option, you can turn captions on and off
support and relationships
- customer service
- staff training
- provisions to support persons
systems, services and policies
- maintenance and up-keep
A continuum of environments, programs and services
Exclusion segregation integration inclusion
- Few spaces, programs, services at extremes
- Segregated not necessarily ‘negative’
- Full inclusion might not always be possible within current structures
Exclusion
- The act, instance or state of being excluded
o To prevent someone from doing something or being a part of a group
o To leave out
o To not include
o To think that someone is not worth attention
E.g. rec facility
Segregation
- The practice or policy of keeping people of different races, religions, people etc.,
separate from each other
o E.g. two-tier soccer league
o School PE classes or mainstream classes
Integration
- Incorporate, amalgamate or mix with an existing community
- Absorb into an existing whole
o “having people with disabilities learn, work and recreate among persons without
disabilities”
inclusion
- a relation between two classes that exists when all members of the first are also
members of the second
- “Meaningful participation in an environment where every participant belongs, is
accepted, supports, and is supported by one’s peers and other members of that
environment in the course of having one’s needs for participation met.”
Reverse integration
- common in education setting
- used when attempted integration placement has been proven overly difficult
, o e.g. if student is unable to communicate, uncomfortable in large groups, or
exhibits violent behaviour
Accessibility
- “… giving people of all abilities opportunities to participate fully in everyday life”
- “possibility to take part in something desirable”
Core principles of Accessibility
Accessibility allows individuals with disabilities (AODA)
Independence
- to do things on their own without unnecessary help or interference from others
integration
- to benefit in the same place and in the same or similar manner to others
dignity
- to maintain self-respect and the rest of others
equality
- to have equal access to that given to others
Dimensions of accessibility
Built and natural environment
- physical aspects of the built and natural environment – structure, design, lay-out, etc.
- lighting (safety)
- parking
- internal structure and set up (e.g. seating, position of equipment)
information and technology
- signage – size, clarity, colour, type and size of font, contrast between font and
background, location of signs etc.
- brochures
- websites
- materials in alternate format
- directional signage
- sign language interpreters
- captioning – open and closed
o difference between open and closed
o open caption is burned onto video, always there
o closed gives you the option, you can turn captions on and off
support and relationships
- customer service
- staff training
- provisions to support persons
systems, services and policies
- maintenance and up-keep
