Accessibility 101

People may have a different preference for how they’d like to be addressed, therefore it’s always best to communicate and understand that preference. However, without knowing individual preferences, what’s the most appropriate language?

Person-First Language

When referring to disability, person-first language puts the person first and uses “people with disabilities” or “people with vision impairments”, as opposed to “disabled people” or “visually impaired people”. This language puts the focus on the human and avoids defining them with a disability.

Identity-First Language

While some people within the disability community use person-first language, others prefer to use identity-first language, advocating for the use of “disabled people” or “blind people”. These people take pride in their identity as a disabled person and find the person-first language to be overly reductionary.

Avoid patronizing language

The language we use is often associated with the attitudes we have towards people with disabilities. Avoid language that victimizes or belittles people while at the same time, avoid overly praising language which would patronize and isolate someone. Disability is only one part of a person’s life and doesn’t define who they are so try to see the whole person.

Disability, Impairment, & Handicap

Disability

“Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function.”

Impairment

“Any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.”

Handicap

"A disadvantage for a given individual that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal."

Impairment refers to the person’s physical or psychological state. Disability refers to any functional difficulties caused by impairments at a personal level. Whereas handicap refers to the surrounding environment. The accessibility issues in the physical world and society overall create handicaps for people. The word “handicapped” can not be used to define a person, as they can only be “handicapped” when the inaccessible environment hinders their lives.

Impairments don't define who they are.

Mobility Impairments

Mobility Aids

There are quite a few different devices that are mobility aids but they all are designed to help people in need enjoy greater freedoms and ability to navigate independently. Everyone’s needs are different and each device supports different needs. So what are different types of mobility aids?

Canes are a very common mobility aid and come in many different types to help provide an extra bit of balance and stability. For example, quad canes are designed to provide extra stability for someone when walking.

Walkers are commonly a four-legged metal frame that provide stability and this type of stability aid is used by 4.6% of older adults in the US. There are also other types of walkers that include a seat or cushion but all types provide stability when walking.

Crutches help take weight off of the lower body and transfer it to the upper body and are used in both temporary and permanent situations. Crutches can also be used singly or in pairs. While the most common temporary solution is underarm crutches, there are other types such as forearm crutches to better help long term situations.

Wheelchairs can be manually propelled or driven by a motor, depending on the person’s upper body strength and preference. Wheelchairs are designed to help people who can not put weight on their lower limbs for a long period of time. Often, wheelchairs can be customized to accommodate specific impairments and needs.

Common Misconceptions

"They don't feel their legs."
It’s always a spectrum. Some people do feel their legs, some can use crutches, some can stand and walk for a short distance. Using a wheelchair is a choice that many people make for convenience.

"They are wheelchair-bound.”
A lot of wheelchair users can get out of their chairs and can transfer themselves with upper body strength. “Wheelchair-bound” isn’t the appropriate language to refer to wheelchair users in any circumstances.

“They can not live independently.”
Although the built environment isn't always designed with accessibility in mind, people are capable and creative. Many manual wheelchair users have developed skills to go down big slopes or jump up over curbs. Other people find creative ways to work around obstacles and terrain issues. Some power wheelchair users have accessible vans where they drive their chairs into the driver's seat while some people drive a normal car with hand controls. Tools are constantly being adapted to best serve the person using them.

A Little Disclaimer

Why we’re focusing on mobility

We acknowledge that mobility impairments do not encapsulate the full spectrum of disability. While there are many disabilities and a large range of accessibility issues, we are focusing on mobility impairments because they have a large impact on our particular area of accessibility advocacy: pedestrian navigation.