Why is accessibility is important to the disability community

 

Today I am going to talk why accessibility is an important aspect in the disability community. I am also going to talk about the many different challenges and obstacles that the disability community has faced when it comes to bring accessibility into the community. Also, I am going to talk about the three different types of accessibility which includes accessibility, accommodations and resources. Finally, I am going to talk about why I feel it is important to have a better understanding when it comes to accessibility and the importance of having a voice, and letting your voice be heard in being able to make prominent changes in the near future for the disability community.

I feel that accessibility is a very important aspect for the disability community because it allows for children and adults who live with a disability the freedom, independence, and the inclusion to be able to thrive in life without any limitations, obstacles or any judgment from society. I also feel that accessibility goes hand in hand with inclusion because inclusion is where you included everyone whether they have a disability or not. Rather that inside the classroom, workplace, or the community. Therefore, I feel that all children and adults who live with a disability should be given the same equal opportunity just like everyone else. This include being able to participate in any school activity, job opportunity or just being able to go out in the community without having to worry about any obstacles or limitations due to the lack of accessibility there is in the community. 

 

Unfortunately, there is still a lack of accessibility, inclusion, and discrimination that exists today in the disability community. Even though there are laws in place to protect individuals living with a disability, I feel like people with disabilities are still getting treated unfairly at time by society even with the laws that are in place today. I feel that is unacceptable and that we need to change how we treat individuals who have a disability. Even though I feel that the disability community still faces many challenges and obstacles today, there have been some vital and promising changes that have been taking place over the last 51 years to protect individuals living with a disability. 

The very first law that the United State passed to protect individuals living with a disability is called the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was instated and was signed on September 26, 1973, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was instated in 1973 as an anti-discrimination law that implicates federal funded programs on how they treat individuals with disabilities without discrimination. There are 5 main sections of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:

 

• Section 501- Does not allow federal agents from discriminating against people who have disabilities. They also encourage businesses to give them job opportunities if they meet the job requirements. 

• Section 502- section 502 has played a major role in making public building, transporting and communication accessible for the disability community. Therefore, section 502 has created what is call The Access Board. The  Access Board is responsible for developing guidelines and standards to remove any barriers or objects that may arise in making public building, transporting and communication accessible for the disability community.

•  section 503 - This section deals with hiring, placement, and promoting people who have disabilities. In 2014, there was a new rule that was added to section 503 called the “Utilization Goal” which stated that all work places have to have about 7% of their employee be disabled, whether they qualify for the position or not. 

• Section 504-This section protects Civil Rights Acts for the disability community. Those who have disabilities that want to participate in activities and also want to receive their benefits, they have the right to do so. Their workplace and school environment also needs to supply them with proper accommodations that they need so that they can have a proper education in the public school system

• Section 508-  This section requires federal agencies to make technology such as telephones, computers, and Word Documents more accessible and usable for people who have disabilities. 

The second law that the United State pass to protect individuals living with a disability is called the Americans with Disability act. The Americans with Disability  Act was instated and signed on  July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. The Americans with Disability Act was instated in 1990 to protect individuals living with a disability from being discriminate against  and to provide equal opportunities to the disability community. There are 5 titles to The Americans with Disability Act:

• Title I -Employment-This title helps people with disabilities to access the same employment opportunities and benefits available to people without disabilities. Therefore, it requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities who are able to work. 

• Title II - Public Services- This title Prohibits discrimination on the disability community by  the general public. Therefore, this title requires the public  to make all of their programs, services and activities accessible to the disability community.

•  Title III -Public Accommodations- This title requires that all  restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, retail stores, doctors' offices,  day care centers, movie theaters, etc. must be made accessible and accommodate the needs of individuals  who live with a disability. Therefore, this title also require for public and private businesses to remove any barriers that may exist in a private or public building making it more accessible to the disability community. 

• Title IV - Telecommunications- This title requires telephone and Internet companies to provide a telecommunication service to allow individuals who are deaf or have a speech impairment to be able to communicate over the phone.

• Title V- Miscellaneous-This title ensures that no one can legally intimidate or punish a individual who has a disability for asserting their ADA rights. Therefore, employers, service providers, and or anyone else who tries to throw an individual who lives a with a disability under the bus can face serious consequences. Therefore, the Department of Justice  and the  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are like the bodyguards for Title V in making sure that a person with a disability is protected under the ADA law.

 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disability act has made it possible for children and adults who live with a disability to be able to receive accessible accommodations and resources in their community. There are a variety of  accessibilities that are offer to the disability community.

• accessible-  is when you  remove  any barrier that may prevent the disability community from participating in everyday activities.

There are three different types of accessibility that are offer to the disability community which include Physical accessibility, Digital accessibility, and Technology accessibility

• Physical accessibility- Are features like  ramps, elevators, automatic doors, curb cuts, accessible parking spaces, grab bars, wide doorways, accessible restrooms, lowered counters, and adjustable furniture.

• Digital accessibility- Are features like closed captioning, screen reader, voice control, switch access, and virtual translator apps.

• Technology accessibility-  are features like Braille displays, Electronic pointing devices, and Magnification applications.

There are a variety of reasonable accommodation that is offer to the disability community. The two main places that offer reasonable accommodations if requested is the workplace and schools this include K-12 public schools  and University/Community colleges.

• reasonable accommodations-Are changes or adjustment that allow for the disability community to participate in the same equal opportunities just like anyone else who doesn't have a disability.

• requesting accommodations in the workplace- for a person to be able to request reasonable accommodations for their disability in the workplace, they will have to contact their employer directly. This can either be done by  having a sit down conversation with their employer or by writing a request letter to request reasonable accommodations at their place of employment for their disability. Also, the person that is requesting reasonable accommodations for their disability at their place of employment they may also have to show documentation of their disability to their employer to be able to receive reasonable accommodations at their place of employment.

• reasonable accommodations in the workplace- Some reasonable accommodations that an employer may offer to an employee who happen to have a disability is finding a job position that work best for them, creating a work schedule that suit their needs, getting accommodating equipment for their needs, providing accommodating training material, assistive technology and visual communication supports.

For children that have a disability that attend K- 12 public schools are protected under the law called IDEA. IDEA stands for The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA was signed into law by President Gerald Ford on November 29, 1975. IDEA  is a federal law that guarantees students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act aims to ensure that students with disabilities have the same equal educational opportunities just like any other student who doesn't have a disability. Therefore, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has make it possible for students with disabilities that are in the age group of 3-21 to be able to receive services that meet the needs for students with disabilities. These services include special education, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, applied behavior analysis therapy, orientation and mobility training and accommodations. All of these services that I have mention a student with a disability must have an IEP to receive any of those services beside accommodations. 

• Individualized Education Plan (also known as IEP)- is a written plan that outlines a special ed student  goals, the specialized instruction and support that they have been receiving. The public school also  measure that child progress. 

• 504 plan- is a written document that is created by the school for a child that is going to that school to provide accommodations for the student who happen to have a disability. Therefore, a 504 plan  ensures that the child will have equal access to education within a regular classroom setting, without any significant barriers due to their disability. Also, a 504 plan doesn't include  special ed services or any other services that I had mention earlier.

• How to request an IEP or an 504 plan- For a parent  to request a 504 plan or an IEP for their child, the parent should submit a written request to the school designed 504 or IEP coordinator. When a parent writes a written request for an IEP or 504 plan for their child, the parent should clearly outline concerns about their child's educational needs in the request letter and provide any supporting documentation  along with the request letter. 

When it come to college on the other hand students with disabilities who enter college can request for reasonable accommodation in college. But once you enter college students who have disabilities can no longer use their IEP or 504 plan that they had in high school if they received any type of services  while they were in public school. The main reason why college only offer accommodation to college students is because your college degree is not handed to you you got to earn it and work hard for it. But not only that your professors, and your family/friends believe in you and I even believe in all of you who have a disability that you can still go after your dreams and goals in life with living with a disability. So, don't ever let your disability get in the way from achieving whatever you want to achieve in life.

• How to request accommodations in college-To request accommodations at a college, a student with a disability should contact their college's disability services and resource office (DRS), They should also provide any necessary documentation to prove that they are in fact disable. Once the student fill out a application and give the necessary documentation to DRS. The student will then sit down with an advisor to discuss any specific accommodations that will help them while they are in college.

• Reasonable accommodation for college students-

Some reasonable accommodation that your college may offer for students with disabilities is delivering lecture notes, handouts, and texts in a different type of format. Such as, in braille, audiotape, or  electronic  Students who have disabilities may be able to get extended time on tests or be able to take their test in a designated location. Students who have disabilities may also need scribes for class lectures, sign language interpreters, or assistive listening devices. Students may need prearranged or frequent breaks, early access to syllabi and textbooks, or a notetaker. 

There a variety of resources that are available for children and adults that live with a disability.

• Resources for the disability community-   include services, programs, and information that helps the disability community to live a independent life. Therefore, these resources can help the disability community to be able to access education, employment, and other opportunities.

• Different type of resources that are available to the disability community- The following resources that are available to the disability community is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI),Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AZSILC), Atticus, Ability360, State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), family voice, Medicaid, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), and PACER Center.

Even with the laws, that we have in place to protect 

Individuals living with a disability it is still not enough. Unfortunately, children and adults who live with a disability are still faced with many obstacles and challenges such, as inaccessible, getting a lack of an education, getting discrimination against, getting a lack of resources or services, and many people who live with a disability end up deal with mental health issues due to the challenges and obstacles that the disability community still face today on a daily basis. Now you are probably wondering why the disability community still faced exclusion issues in today society? Well that question is a very complex answer because  there are a lot of facts that come in to play as to why the disability community still face exclusion issues such as geographic, stereotyping, prejudice, physical barriers in accessibility, lack of inclusive policies, and inadequate support systems. These are just the many factors that still come into play when it come to exclusion issues for

the disability community.

For example, there is a 2020 article called "Many of America’s Schools Aren’t Fully Accessible for Students With Disabilities"  there is a two-thirds of U.S. public school districts across the country that has violated that ADA law by not having every school accessible for every child that has a disability. Another example of exclusion issues for the disability community is when I went to a public library that was in a wealthy area the library and the wealthy area was 100% accessible. But once you go into a middle class/poor area in the Phoenix area you will find that it is not 100% accessible all because the United State access board give more funding to wealthy area than middle class/poor areas.

I feel that advocate work, education and policy changes are very crucial when it come to making America a much more inclusive and accessible country for people with disabilities to live in. Therefore, are over 70 million people that live in America who live with a disability. I always look at the disability community as a very cultural diverse community. Because  a disability is spectrum ,and there are many different types of disabilities. A disability is not a one size fit all scenario. In other words their are many  people that live with a disability that is  invisible and, you may not be able to notice that person  have a disability in the first place.  A person with a invisible disability may have the following diagnose such as cancer, ADHD, a learning difference, anxiety, depression, Bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, personality disorder, etc. While there are other people that have a disability that their disability may be more noticeable due to the fact that person may have to use a mobility aid.  A person that use a mobility aid  may use the following such as a walker, a wheelchair, a cane, a guide dog, a service dog, etc. I feel it is very important for the disability community to have a voice and to let their voices be heard. Because at the end day I feel that all the disability community ever wants is to be accept and love for who they are, and to be able to have equal opportunity just like  anyone else in the community.

Remember we are unique, different and special in our own unique way, I love you all, see you next time💚💚💚💚