The Accessibility Of The Environment

Everyday tools like computers, telephones and other aids can all present barriers”(“About the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act”, 2005). Technology is rapidly growing, and is changing. Making the lives of people better and changing how people communicate, and function day-to-day . However, there is a minority of people who cannot access this technology, or utilize it due to disability. The AODA sets out to ensure that accommodation is met across the board, for disabled people to be able access and utilize services, access facilities, and be embraced as functioning members of

1.2- identify aspects of everyday life in which, traditionally, individuals with disabilities were not encouraged to take risks

The researched proposal by Manasi Deshpande entitled “A Call to Improve Campus Accessibility for the Mobility Impaired,” is a reasonable argument, by this student, to improve campus accessibility at the University of Texas. I believe this student supports her argument very well by using interviews and campus observations. The proposal emphasizes the challenges students with mobility impairments encounter while attending classes on campus. Ms. Deshpande includes her personal experiences, as well as the experiences of fellow students as supporting evidence. Frankly, it was a bit shocking to learn this student changed her major due to accessibility issues. This fact alone should be a strong argument for change. The proposal details the benefits for improving campus accessibility not only for students, but also faculty. Moreover, Ms. Deshpande adds to her argument by including statistics regarding the

Barriers and challenges to disabled children and young people’s participation sit within three broad areas: training, support and resources; knowledge, understanding and attitudes; process, systems and structures. Identifying and recognizing the barriers and challenges provides a good basis for planning to further disabled children’s participation.

Physical barriers in a built up environment could be not having access into buildings, narrow doorways, or the absence of lifts and accessible toilets.

In the book, The Short Bus, Jonathan Mooney’s thesis is that there is more to people than their disabilities, it is not restricting nor is it shameful but infact it is beautiful in its own way. With a plan to travel the United States, Mooney decides to travel in a Short bus with intentions of collecting experiences from people who have overcome--or not overcome--being labeled disabled or abnormal. In this Mooney reinvents this concept that normal people suck; that a simple small message of “you’re not normal” could have a destructive and deteriorating effect. With an idea of what disabilities are, Mooney’s trip gives light to disabilities even he was not prepared to face, that he feared.

1.2 Explain why, traditionally, people with disabilities have been discouraged or prevented from taking risks.

3.1 Describe environmental and social barriers that can have a disabling effect on an individual with a physical disability

Merit One (M1): Assess barriers which may be experienced by individuals with additional needs, with reference to models of disability

Organisational barriers can be unclear structures so adults do not know who to communicate with, inefficient communication systems and lack of clarification of what each persons job role is within the setting. Attitudinal barriers are conflicts between adults, lack of consultation, lack of motivation or positive attitude to work or different views about practice. Personal barriers are adults with personal problems such as relationship issues, health issues such as depression and close friendships among colleagues. Language and culture barriers can be things like adults who have English as an additional language, poor explanations resulting in confusion and different cultures having different expectations of communication. |

4) Complexity of the structure: More complex the structure, more are the levels in it. In a complex structure it takes longer for any communication to reach the correct destination from the sender.

Formerly, persons with disabilities were kept private and out of public view. In recent years, the number of people living with disabilities has increased due to longer life expectancy and advancement of medical treatments for life-threatening illness. With the transition of persons with a disabilities into more conventional lifestyles, they are now thriving in society. Disabled persons can be increasingly independent through an assisting device such a cane or wheelchair, though cultural barriers still exist between disabled and able-bodied persons.

Disability in a socio-cultural context can be defined as "a barrier to participation of people with impairments or chronic illnesses arising from an interaction of the impairment or illness with discriminatory attitudes, cultures, policies or institutional practices" (Booth, 2000). The traditional view of disability often focuses on the individual, highlighting incapacities or failings, a defect, or impairment. This focus creates obstacles to participation on equal terms since an individual who seems to lack certain capacities may not be able to attain autonomy.

III. “Determine how well the needs of adults with disabilities are being met by the travel industry” (1).

    A person with a disability, or handicap, can be defined as someone with a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial or long-term adverse affect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (Employment 2). Handicap workers face many challenges in the work place that the average person overlooks. Also, many special arrangements and alterations have been made to the workplace for people with handicaps. Accessibility, transportation, workload, and salary are just some of the many issues that must be considered with the prospect of employing the handicap.