ACCESSIBILITY VS DISABILITY INCLUSION

The CDC defines Disability Inclusion as “understanding the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society, and making sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires.”

Accessibility is most commonly defined as the practice of making information, activities, and/or environments sensible, meaningful, and usable for as many people as possible.

The difference between these two is subtle, but important. Disability inclusion is about normalizing the experiences of people with disabilities and working to ensure they are afforded equitable opportunities to do anything that any other member of our society is able to do.

Accessibility is the practical application of removing barriers that exist specifically in physical and digital environments. Both have a goal to ensure people with disabilities are able to participate as efficiently and effectively as everyone else. Both are extremely important to the changes we want to see in the world around us. And both come with considerable complexity.

I see so many people trying to be an expert in both of them. Doing that will burn you out. We still have too much to do to fully realize the potential and impact of both of these things to let each other burn out. So here is my advice: choose one, become an expert in that, and surround yourself with others whose expertise offsets your own so that you can collectively make progress.

No matter which you choose to focus on, invest in gaining a deep understanding of people with disabilities and the various barriers they face. Think about the types of barriers you’re going to focus on removing. If you lean more towards wanting to address topics like representation, equal education and employment opportunities, or societal biases related to disability, a focus on broader disability inclusion topics will likely resonate with you more. If you want to dive deeper into specific functional or technical barriers people face within their environments, the technologies they use, and how to better enable them, I suspect accessibility will be more of what you’re looking for.

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About Daniella-Jade Lowe

Hello, My name is Daniella Jade Lowe. I am a PURSUN researcher and I am working on marketing myself as an Accessibility Consultant. Journalism and Politics are my passion. I have a BA degree in History and Politics. What type of disability do you have? At birth, I was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus which are neurological conditions. As a result, I use a wheelchair for mobility. What is disability to you? The only disability is a bad attitude. I have a disability. It doesn’t completely define me; it just enhances me in a way which differentiates and strengthens me. My disability should be viewed as an ability: to see the world in a different way. I don’t really like the term because sometimes it indirectly implies someone is dysfunctional or helpless. The most important thing is to never make assumptions. Someone with a disability can be very, physically, fit and strong, highly intelligent and articulate. What has been your experience from the time you remember till now? - positive and negative experiences. My life as a wheelchair user has been generally okay. Wheelchair Accessibility is frustrating. I was teased a little in school. Other than that, life is great. How do you cope with: -daily activities - your disability, do you have times when you are down - people's reactions towards you. I have carers, a Social worker, District Nurses, a GP, and extended family in this country. I am also in contact with a local disability charity in Yorkshire. I also have a friendly landlord. How do you keep yourself motivated? I must stay organised and practice good time management. I also prioritise my plans. What is your word or advice - to those with disabilities? - to the society Don’t let people put you in a box. You have a voice, use it. 10. Tell us about your platforms if you have any- Blog: The View from Where I Sit Facebook: Daniella Jade Lowe Instagram: @daniellajadelowe/@theviewfromwheresitblog Thank you!