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Misconceptions about accessibility
A downside to being an accessibility advocate for nearly the entirety of my career is that I forget the majority of people don’t understand the importance of accessibility. One of the misconceptions many still unfortunately believe is that accessibility costs more than the status quo. It took talking to someone outside the community recently for me to remember I need to continue making an economic and pragmatic case for accessibility.
That got me wondering: What are some other misconceptions I’ve forgotten about that are painfully prevalent still? How do my fellow SMA community members usually combat them? I’m super keen to hear, especially if your arguments are unexpected.
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6 Replies
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I hear you. Beyond the cost, I think people often believe accessibility is only for a small percentage of the population, but that’s really not the case. Things like curb cuts, automatic doors, electric toothbrushes, and more benefit everyone but were designed specifically for people with disabilities. It just shows that when you design with accessibility in mind, you benefit everyone. I don’t think many people realize that.
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I was just talking about this with a few students of a friend today. Nondisabled people utilise accessibility. All. The. Time.
I think the only category where you can’t say accessible = universal is makeup. The type of formulas and packaging people enjoy differs exceptionally from individual to individual. Skin type alone dictates what you use. Shade ranges, too. It’s wild.
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This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Community Member.
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This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by
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Something people forget all the time is the diversity within the disability community. Our personal experience has to do with access for wheelchairs or walkers, but disability covers visual impairment, deaf community, little people and all sorts of other issues.
The economic argument is definitely the way to go. It’s always about the money. If you can make an argument that access attracts a wider customer base then you’ve got sound marketing policy.
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So true. I think oftentimes we are clumped together under the “disabled” umbrella, but what people don’t realize is that so many different diversities exist in the disability community and even across similar diagnoses.
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Where I come from, they are always quick to verbalize empathy rather than discuss pragmatic ways to ensure accessibility. For example, nearly all the new stores around me do not have ramps, but you have someone posted at the door telling you “sorry madame” as you try to navigate the entrance.
The more I try to point this out in discussions, the more they agree with me and nod their head vigorously (they never disagree) but no pragmatic result whatsoever.
Like she said here, some products such as electric toothbrush were designed for the differently abled but now even power lifters use electric toothbrush.
Accessibility involves everyone, you might not think you need it but at least one day you will grow old, or someone you love will and what has been eschewed or termed unnecessary waste of time and resources, will become invaluable to everyone.
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This reply was modified 1 month ago by Community Member.
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That’s interesting. The empathetic argument here may be a forgone conclusion for where I live. “In an ideal world…” as people always say. Then costs and resources are brought up. Sigh. It’s like people listen but they don’t.
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This reply was modified 1 month ago by
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