Created by the Surrey Schools accessibility working group and advisory committee, the four videos are intended to create a common understanding of the terms disability, barriers, accessibility and inclusion in school communities across Surrey and White Rock. The third video shows what accessibility looks like for persons with disabilities, namely:
- being provided the same opportunities as someone without a disability;
- interacting with others, accessing information and enjoying services; and
- being treated equally and not encountering barriers that make participating in everyday activities difficult.
"Where our last video helped to explain and define what a barrier is, we hope this video helps to build a greater understanding of how removing those barriers can create a more accessible school, school district and community," said Colin Reid, District Principal with Student Support. "We once again tried to share a broad range of disabilities and the wide variety of barriers that can be removed to create greater accessibility."
The last video established three types of barriers: physical, sensory and attitudinal. The latest video conveys the limitations that inaccessible environments create for people with disabilities, contrasted by a world where those barriers are removed.
Some people without disabilities may not realize when accessibility isn't adequate. The video illustrates how the addition of elevators, wheelchair ramps, door buttons, signs in braille and closed captioning can improve accessibility and ensure that environments are physically accessible and sensory-friendly.
"The work of our accessibility working group and advisory committee has largely been focused on identifying, reducing and removing barriers for staff, students, families and community members with disabilities," said Reid. "In this video, we wanted that message to come across loud and clear, but we also wanted to make sure we communicated that greater accessibility is better for everyone - whether you have a disability or not."
The videos on disability and barriers are available now, and the final video on inclusion will be published the week of March 17th. Stay tuned for more in our accessibility video series!
