Society is a place where every individual must feel welcomed and have access to all the facilities developed or created by the government. Hence, accessibility is considered a fundamental right that is not biased based on individuals’ physical or mental conditions.
However, many public spaces do not provide accessibility to individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments. In a country like India, it is important to create an all-inclusive and equitable society that provides accessibility to every individual in the same manner as it does to others. However, to create or enhance accessibility, it is important to understand accessibility. This blog will help you learn about accessibility as a fundamental right.
What is accessibility
Accessibility means providing equal access to every individual in public places, digital platforms, education, healthcare, and employment without bias. It also means that individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities are provided with facilities so that they can easily access them and utilise all the services.
For example, the concept of accessibility believes that a person who is blind has the same right to enter a mall and enjoy all its services as a person without any disability. However, the government is responsible for enhancing accessibility, especially in public spaces, to ensure that all spaces, facilities, and services are accessible to everyone.
The importance of accessibility
Accessibility is important because it allows individuals with disabilities or impairments to live their lives with dignity and independence. If spaces are more accessible, people with disabilities do not have to depend on others for help. For example, if a person has a cognitive disability, a big sign with clear fonts at a parking lot or a mall can help them navigate better.
Furthermore, accessibility is not limited to supporting or helping people with disabilities. It can also help other individuals, such as elderly people, people with children, and people recovering from injuries. It can help them use environments and products in the best way possible without having to depend on anyone else.
Key accessibility areas
Here are the key accessibility areas:
Physical and mental accessibility
Physical accessibility includes designing or updating spaces to ensure they can be used by people who have physical disabilities. Such design includes ramps, elevators, accessible toilets and wide entry doors. The government generally designs public spaces such as bus stations, train stations, and airports to be physically accessible. Furthermore, cognitive accessibility includes designing and updating places with clear signs, braille facilities and big fonts to help people with cognitive disabilities.
Educational accessibility
Education is also a fundamental right and is included in the accessibility factor. Education should be available to all, irrespective of their physical and mental situation. Schools and colleges must ensure they have special processes and systems in place to help students with special needs gain the same education as others. For example, a school can convert their textbooks to braille for a student who is blind. Furthermore, educational institutes can hire teachers or train current teachers to ensure they know sign language for students with hearing impairments.
Employment accessibility
Similar to education accessibility, employment accessibility is also part of the accessibility concept. Every individual must be given equal employment opportunities based on their qualifications and skills without being judged on their disabilities, which are irrelevant to a particular job. For example, a person who can not walk but has the same qualifications and skills as a person with walking abilities must be considered for a bank job based on the qualifications and not the disability. Furthermore, organisations can offer remote jobs to people who can not come to the office daily due to a certain temporary or permanent impairment.
Implementation of accessibility practices
One of the best ways to implement accessibility practices across India is through collaboration between the public and private sectors. Every workplace or organisation can develop and implement accessibility-enhancing practices, which can help people with disabilities be more inclusive. Furthermore, the government can develop accessibility policies and ensure they are implemented in public spaces for a comprehensive approach.
Conclusion
Accessibility is the concept of providing equal access to everyone in physical places such as malls or digital places such as online marketplaces. It is a common myth that accessibility is a privilege when it is a fundamental right. India is the biggest democracy in the world and is responsible for ensuring that every public place is accessible to everyone, irrespective of their disabilities. For example, if a person is physically impaired and in a wheelchair, he is as entitled to enter a mall or a financial institution such as a NBFC as anyone else. Furthermore, the private sector can also help enhance accessibility to support people with disabilities and provide them with equal opportunities to anyone else. Now that you know accessibility as a fundamental right, you can understand its effect on society in a better way.
