In our last article, we explored how physical barriers limit access for people with various disabilities. In this article, we will consider how organizations can prevent or remove barriers. Preventing and removing physical disability barriers makes organizations welcoming to people of all abilities.
All posts by Lisa Kovac
Disability and Physical Barriers
Many barriers that people with disabilities face are physical or architectural barriers. Physical barriers happen when features of buildings or spaces limit people’s access. For instance, some physical disability barriers are:
- Steps without ramps, elevators, or lifts
- Lack of automatic or push-button doors
- Low lighting or weak colour contrast
- Narrow sidewalks, doorways, or aisles
- High shelves
- Tables without knee and toe clearance
Disability Barriers
Many mandates in the AODA are designed to help organizations recognize, prevent, or remove disability barriers. In our next series of articles, we will explore what some types of disability barriers are. Moreover, we will also consider how to recognize, prevent, and remove them.
Overcoming STEM barriers in school
In Part 1 of this article, we explained that every student should learn science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects in school. A strong background in these subjects can lead to more opportunities for careers. However, students with disabilities face many barriers to learning STEM and to pursuing career paths involving STEM. In Part 2, we discuss how teachers and support staff can work together to overcome these barriers.
STEM Accessibility in School
The AODA does not yet have an education standard. Two committees are making recommendations about what an education standard should include. Our recent articles have considered how the education standards can build on requirements from the AODA’s existing standards. Now, we will explore new mandates that the education standards could create. One area that an education standard should address is an accessible Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum. Students with disabilities, including students with print disabilities, need STEM accessibility in school.