Good Accessibility – Here’s How!

Good Accessibility is extremely important. Many people have preconceived ideas about disability. These are generally due to the lack of knowledge or understanding. Here are some guidelines:

Attitude & Awareness

– Make sure to never park in a disabled spot. You never know when someone could need this space.

– Here’s a tip; don’t be concerned about using common expressions which might relate to a person’s impairment, such as “see you later”, “did you hear about?” or “I’ll be running along”. Disabled people don’t want excessive attention brought to them, but neither do they want self-conscious avoidance.

– Move around to the front of high counters or desks

– A person’s wheelchair is usually considered as part of their body space so don’t lean on or interfere with it unless this is appropriate.

Access to Information

– Use bullet points as a way of breaking up information where appropriate.

– Express things positively rather than negatively. Rather than say ‘the office is not open in the afternoon’ say ‘the office is open in the morning only’.

– Avoid technical words, jargon, acronyms and abbreviations.

– Avoid words contracted with apostrophes like ‘don’t’ or ‘can’t’

– Avoid figures of speech, verbal noise and clichés, e.g. ‘at the end of the day’, ‘basically’, ‘taking pot luck’.

– Avoid using quantities unless it is necessary. Use phrases like ‘a few’, ‘a lot’ instead.

– When using numbers, use numerals rather than words in your text, e.g. ‘Each group has 7 people’ rather than ‘Each group has seven people’.

– Write in large text.

– If possible use Braille.

Communication

– Do not use the word “Handicapped” which has a disempowering connotation.

– Audio versions of your document can be useful for people with vision impairments, people with literacy difficulties and people with intellectual disabilities.

– A good website will allow a person with vision  impairment to customise web pages to their own needs.

– Videos should have signing from either Irish Sign Language or LÁMH

The Built Environment

Do not block entryways to apartment buildings or community areas. What may be easy to walk around might be impossible for a walker or perhaps a wheelchair.

– Position street furniture where it will not obstruct access routes.

– Have a tactile paving for people who are partially sighted or who are blind.

Read more: mediabox.ie