how to include people with disabilities: disability awareness "more than 1 billion of us live...

How to Include People with Disabilities: Disability Awareness

"More than 1 billion of us live with disabilities. We must remove all barriers that affect the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in society, including through changing attitudes

that fuel stigma and institutionalize discrimination.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,Secretary General of the U.N.

Presented by: Paula SotnikInstitute for Community Inclusion,

School for Global Inclusion and Social DevelopmentUniversity of Massachusetts Boston

paula.sotnik@umb.eduwww.serviceandinclusion.org

www.InclusiveEvents.org

Made possible through a U.S. Department of State Grant to IREX Community Solutions Program

Having a disability – the real facts!• one billion persons with disabilities face physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers that exclude participation as equal members of society • people with disabilities are the world’s poorest, and lack equal access to basic resources, such as education, employment, healthcare, social and legal support systems

• disability has remained invisible in the mainstream development agenda and processes

• lack of awareness and understanding of accessibility and accommodations remain an obstacle to the achievement of progress

Who are People with Disabilities?

Describe your vision for a world that includes EVERYONE in all aspects of

communities?

Legal term –  ’disability’• long-term health, physical or mental ‘impairment ’ that substantially limits one or more major life activity

Full Inclusion• persons with disabilities are integrated in all aspects of the public life, they are viewed as equal citizens, employees, employers, customers, students, contributors and leaders

What is the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) about and why is it so important?

• international disability treaty

• framework for creating legislation and policies around the world that embrace the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was the model for the CRPD

What is the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) about and why is it so important?

• promote, protect and ensure dignity and human rights by persons with disabilities

• key areas include accessibility, personal mobility, health, education, employment, habilitation and rehabilitation, participation in political life, and equality and non-discrimination

• uses a human rights approach to remove the barriers and prejudices that lead to the exclusion and marginalization of persons with disabilities.

IMPORTANT AREAS

Countries can be signatories (Nepal)•agrees with the main idea of the convention•not take any action to violate the main idea of the convention•interested in fully joining the convention in the future

States Parties are countries who “ratified” •legally bound to comply with its obligations under the convention, creates legislation and policies

It makes sense!• persons with disabilities are able to be employees, employers, entrepreneurs, consumers, inventors, musicians and contributors

• when excluded, we all lose out on contributions • CRPD benefits all people - universal design features such as elevators, ramps, and clear signage assist many people in addition to persons with disabilities.

Think…..Think…..• Stevie Wonder

• Vincent Van Gogh

• Ludwig van Beethoven

• Frida Kahlo

• Stephen Hawking

• Helen Keller

• Sudha Chandran

http://listverse.com/2010/01/18/top-10-extraordinary-people-with-disabilities/

Effective Outreach ~ Sending the Right Message!

Add statements such as:"Qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.”  

“We provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities and conduct all activities in accessible settings."

• planning a meeting or an event? Always ask….

• Use International symbols in materials, on websites

• Products and interior decorations include images of people with disabilities

Include quotes and/or testimonials from people with disabilities.

Communications TIPs and Disability Etiquette

• people are not necessarily “sick” or “ill” • if barriers exist, offer reasonable accommodations• okay to offer assistance, and is often welcomed, sometimes not•listen attentively when talking with people who have difficulty speaking, wait for them to finish. Never pretend to understand•give people enough time to understand or, say it another way•Always focus attention on the person, not the sign language interpreter or an assistant•Do not pet, feed or distract a service dog•Do not lean on a wheelchair, try to communicate at eye level•Identify yourself and others to someone who is blind – let the person know if you enter or exit

“See you later, Want to go for a walk” IT’S OK!!!!It’s OK to make a mistake, apologize and move on!

PLEASE SHARE YOUR GOOD TIPS and IDEAS!

The POWER of LANGUAGE is The POWER of LANGUAGE is

Important!Important!Person First Language

WHY? Politically Correct?

• emphasizes the person, not the disability• disability is no longer the primary, defining characteristic • disability is one aspect of the whole person• focuses on the person rather than the disability

I am a doctor, mother, wife, daughter and volunteer.

ACCESSIBILITY!ACCESSIBILITY!

Sites, facilities, schools, work environments, services, programs and recreation venues that are easy to approach, enter, operate, participate in, and/or use safely and with dignity by a persons with wide variety of disabilities.

ACCESSIBILITY MEANS:

• accessible path to the building?• accessible parking?• a primary entrance accessible for everyone? (Ramps - foot for an inch)?• accessible common areas?• accessible to move around? • accessible restroom?• accessible meeting, learning and conference spaces• doors either automatic, or able to be opened by pulling with average force? • accessible routes free of protruding objects? • accessible emergency plan?

Make Your Virtual Space Accessible!An accessible website allows people with disabilities to experience, navigate and interact with the website Five Basic Webpage Accessibility Tips:•Keep pages simple and consistent throughout the website•If using images, keep them to a minimum and describe with "alt" attribute•Use HTML as the default information format•Text color contrasts with page background•Only use clear, commonly used fonts

Information on how to make your website accessible: http://www.w3.org/WAI/eval/http://www.w3c.org/WAI/References/QuickTips/

Reasonable Accommodations…

•initially expressed in U.S. disability law

•modifications and adjustments to ensure persons with disabilities exercise all human rights and fundamental freedoms

•Requires steps to raise awareness to accommodate, measures that can be taken, and compliance mechanisms.

•extends to a broad array of agencies, organizations and businesses, including the State, employers, education providers, health care providers, testing and qualification bodies, providers of goods and services and private clubs.

Rationale…..Rationale…..Laws, policies and practices are not designed to

….to make more, or better than, or lower standards, or make special……

but, to EQUAL the playing field!

Most Accommodations cost very little! Examples of Accommodations:

• changes in schedules

• modified tables, desks, workspaces

• talking watches, calculators, rulers

• private, quiet space

• headphones

• technology solutions, computer software

• color coded tape

• photos and visuals with text

• verbal or audio descriptions of visuals and videos

• audio-recorded, Braille or electronic-formatted notes, handouts, and text

• instructions provided in multiple formats, including visual, auditory and tactile

• sign language interpreters

• large print materials, contract enhanced (black type on white paper, simple font)

U.S. research shows most accommodation costs are under 500.

Universally Designed products and

environments are to be made usable by all

people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

-Center for Universal Design at NC State

Outcome = seamless use of the environment

by all people, regardless of diversity or disability - a culture that includes and is welcoming to all

everyone!

•  The Seven Goals of Universal Design have been articulated by Professor Edward Steinfeld of the IDEA Center as:

• Body fit - accommodating a wide a range of body sizes and abilities

• Comfort - keeping demands within desirable limits of body function and perception

• Awareness - insuring that critical information for use is easily perceived

• Understanding - making methods of operation and use intuitive, clear and unambiguous

• Social integration - treating all groups with dignity and respect

• Personalization - incorporating opportunities for choice and the expression of individual preferences

• Appropriateness - respecting and reinforcing cultural values and the social and environmental context of any design project.

What Does Universal Design Look Like?

• Curb cuts• Closed-captioned television• Accessible restrooms• Adjustable desks•Lever door handles•Auditory crosswalks, elevators•Motion sensor door openers•International symbols

Perceptible Information

IKEA Assembly Instructions

Body Fit: Accommodate people with the widest range of body sizes, postures and movement abilities

Sufficient space between furniture, tables, etc. for maneuverability in spaces

Rea

sona

ble

Acc

omm

odat

io

ns

Different Environments and the Different Environments and the Need for Reasonable Need for Reasonable AccommodationsAccommodations

Our ULTIMATE GoalSeamless and IntentionalBeing Accessible and Inclusive in everything we do, from start to finish!

One last word…. PARTNER!!!• identify and connect with disability organizations (DPOs)• outreach, let them know you are an inclusive organization, ask their help and tell them what you can offer• conduct joint presentations • recruit board members, staff, customers and others • ask for technical assistance – how can we become inclusive?• include in planning and evaluation processes• partner to leverage resources and obtain funds• link websites• organize a joint one day community project

DPOs and Disability-Oriented Organizations, Schools, and Agencieshttp://www.widernet.org/portals/index.php?PortalID=65&view=public

COMMIT!COMMIT!An organizational commitment to planning an inclusive

space often begins with a statement or policy.

An accessibility policy shows that your organization welcomes everyone and has planned ahead in an attempt

to meet the needs of all employees, customers, participants who may work, visit or attend a meeting or

event.

THANK YOU For Your Participation!

What Can Your Organization DoWhat Can Your Organization Do??1. Tomorrow?

2. Next Week?

3. Next Month?

4. In a Year?

Paula Sotnik

Directed 12 federal and state grants supporting individuals with disabilities, including traditionally underrepresented groups, in their communities. Current focus is on capacity building and strategic planning with nonprofits to enhance culturally responsive systems that fully include all aspects of diversity, including individuals with disabilities. Currently examining how national service can serve as a path to reintegration for Wounded Warriors and Veterans with disabilities

Nationally known expertise on assessing and coordinating access and reasonable accommodation details to ensure inclusive and accessible conferences, events and meetings of all sizes. Recognized expert, trainer and author on culture brokering; outreach and recruitment strategies; team and partnership development; measurable outcome oriented strategic planning; national service, volunteerism and disability legislation, policy and practice acquired through years of personal, educational and professional life experiences.

Institute for Community Inclusionpaula.sotnik@umb.edu617-590-6409

www.serviceandinclusion.org/culturebrokering/www.serviceandinclusion.orghttp://cirrie.buffalo.edu/culture/monographs/cb.phpctedhttp://www.serviceandinclusion.org/index.php?page=access