There are so many excuses people and companies make for not providing accessibility or accommodations. Here are some examples: “Why do we need ramps when we don’t have people with disabilities using our services?” Because people with disabilities can’t get into the building or cannot get around in the neighborhood! The built environment is not set up in an equitable way for people to be consumers just like everyone else. “We don’t need to caption movies because we have never received a request for captioning.” Well, that is a lame excuse! Captions benefit EVERYONE and people with disabilities DO like to go to movies! And don't tell me it is too expensive to caption them. Think universal design- build it in from the very beginning and account for it in the budget. “We provided X,Y,Z but nobody came.” That’s because there was no publicity or communications about the event. Publicize it from the mountaintops! If there is not a well-executed (and accessible!) communications plan, people with disabilities won’t find out and therefore, won't come. Consistency is the key- keep communicating and keep doing that outreach to develop key community relationships! "We never get requests for ASL for these programs, so we don't need it." Again, the service is not being publicized. And Deaf consumers are excluded from participating in events just like everyone else. Some people think the solution is to make a standalone events specifically for people with disabilities. EG; storytime programs only for Deaf children or specific days and times for museum sensory friendly events for people with autism or other sensory disabilities. While this can be great, it also sets up the expectation that being separate is better. Being part of the mainstream culture is what we all desire. Baking in accessibility into programs, exhibits, and events means that you don’t have to create “separate” programming. #WednesdayThoughts #accessibility #SeparateButEqual #disability #inclusion
Julie Chapko
1y
So frustrating! I've request captions every time I go to the theatre and they hand me a device that is super not great. Also I've signed petitions for years begging for captions. Lastly, I'm not asking for captions on every movie or every showing. I'm asking for a specific time that promises captions will be on for every movie and I promise I would go way more often. Otherwise I pay a fortune for nothing, I miss most of the plot cause I have no idea what's going on. I agree its a lame excuse. (Also to point out - my family has good hearing and they love that we have captions on. No one ever complains that its distracting.)
Such a timely post. When I hear excuses, it’s lack of will a lack of knowledge, or both. lack of funds is corporate speak, for lack of will. And the often coded no one with disabilities participate in our events is lack of knowledge because many disabilities are invisible.
Marketing, Business Development, and Revenue Growth Strategist for Subscription-Based Spinal CSF Leak Care Business Models in Private Practice
1yI like the third point. Working with physicians in marketing campaigns, I see that they often falsely believe that there aren't many people who need accessible services. (There are. They just can't get to you.) They also believe that there is not a need for a certain service that is in high demand. I just talked with an anesthesiologist who said there isn't much demand for epidural blood patches in her community. There is. I'm inundated with requests from other patients on where to find epidural blood patches. In a poll we ran, it is the most commonly desired procedure in pain management by patients and it is the only procedure backed by research as an actual fix to an issue. The problem is that I have to spend a great deal of time reaching out to these doctors individually to quiz them on their knowledge of blood patches and willingness to provide one. If they are willing, they typically are not advertising this openly.