On The International Day of People with Disability, celebrated every year on December 3, is an occasion to recognize and promote the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. This year’s theme is ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world’. This theme emphasizes the need for innovation in promoting accessibility and inclusion.
At Ream Community Services, we are committed to innovation in our services and support for people with disabilities. Accessibility is critical to every aspect of life, from education and employment to daily tasks like shopping and visiting the doctor. However, accessibility needs are unique to individuals, and they require continuous improvement and evolution as people move through different life stages. Therefore, innovative thinking is necessary to build an accessible and inclusive future.
The first step towards building an accessible world is to start by asking how we can better support the needs of people with disabilities. Here are a few ways that individuals and businesses can improve accessibility:
- Assistive technology
There is a wide range of assistive technology available that can be used in workplaces and learning environments. For instance, our School Leaver Employment Supports program uses C-Pen Readers, which use AI technology for text-to-speech. Students can scan the text, and the pen will read it out loud, translate it into a different language or explain the definition. Assistive technology plays a crucial role in improving access to education and employment for people with disabilities.
- Social media
Social media is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to promote accessibility and inclusion. Some easy techniques to make social media more accessible include adding closed captions to videos, Alt text to images, and capitalizing hashtags like #InternationalDayOfPeopleWithDisability. By doing this, you will be showing your support for people with disabilities.
- Clear signage
Installing braille and tactile signage is a great start, but it’s also essential to consider colour combinations. Certain background and foreground colour combinations can be a disadvantage for people with visual limitations. There are many online tools that can assist in checking colour combinations.
- Conduct a workplace audit
By conducting an audit of your workplace, you can identify areas that can be modified to better meet the needs of people with disabilities. Some changes may include providing accessible parking, accessible bathrooms, ramps, tactile indicators, or assistance for staircases. Updating the environment of the office to include accessible equipment can also be helpful.
In conclusion, accessibility and inclusion are everyone’s responsibility. On this International Day of People with Disability, let’s pledge to work together to promote accessibility and inclusion in every aspect of life. By doing so, we can create a world that is accessible and equitable for all.
