Does accessibility apply to you?
Listen to the audio version by clicking the play button above.
You may be surprised to find it does!
When you think of accessibility, what comes to mind?
Do you think of “special” provisions designed to help people who have a disability - things like ramps for wheelchairs and toilets with grab rails?
Of course, good accessibility is most acutely needed by people living with disability - whether temporary or permanent. For them, a lack of accessibility has a far more negative impact than for many..
But if you are not living with an impairment, does accessibility apply to you? Yes, it does.
I am a non-disabled person and get along as one would expect of someone like me; pretty smoothly, without a lot of forward planning needed to carry out day-to-day tasks. However, even with a reasonably high level of functionality, I encounter access challenges on occasion.
Recently, I met some friends for dinner at a nice restaurant to unwind at the end of the week. It was a lovely place. The décor was suitably indulgent to make us feel special after the stresses of a work week. The staff were attentive, and the food was fabulous.
There was one problem, though. I nearly did not get into the place. The door to this fine establishment was a standard glass hinged door, but it was exceptionally difficult to pull open. After successfully entering, I sat facing the door during my meal.
Of course, I was engaged in scintillating conversation with my friends, but being an accessibility consultant, I couldn’t help but notice that every customer who came to the restaurant struggled to open that door.
Even strong-looking men were caught out because it was much more difficult to open than it appeared. We were all unprepared for the level of effort needed and had to try twice to budge it.
The rest of the entrance was beautifully accessible, with flat access over the threshold, a wide opening, and robust manifestations on the glass door to make it readily visible.
In this instance, ensuring the door could be opened with minimum effort would provide a finishing touch to a barrier-free entrance for anyone with a disability and benefit everyone else who battled to get in and out. None of us should be disadvantaged by something as easily remedied as a reluctant door.
This situation is just one example of how a lack of accessibility can affect all of us.
There are many more. So if you think accessibility does not apply to you, think again.
