Volunteering and Accessibility

Source: http://moresettlement.org/aodaeng2/story_html5.html

Define Accessibility and Importance

• Remove barriers for people with disabilities through:
  • Physical access
  • Information access
  • Attitudes
  • Opportunities like using technology
• Benefits to everyone, 15.5% (1/7 people) in Ontario have disabilities
• Range of disabilities:
  • Mobility, Vision, Hearing, Intellectual/developmental, speech/language/communications, mental health
• Goals
  • Create great experiences (volunteer with and for people)
  • Make difference in attitudes
  • Ontario Legal compliance
    • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
    • Ontario Human Rights Code
    • Code and laws, higher level of accessibility comes first in a conflict

Communication with and about people with disabilities - “Put the Person First”

• See the person as a whole, not just disability - all people are capable
  • Example: people is author, mentor, athlete, wheelchair user, sister, volunteer, mother - person is all things
• Use person first language examples:
  • Person with a disability
  • Person with visual impairment
  • Person with speech impairment
  • Athlete with disability
  • Accessible washroom
  • Accessible parking
  • Has polio

Assist people with disability - “Just ask, Just Listen”

• Just ask
  • Can I help you
  • How can I help
    • Ask what kind of help they want
    • Take initiative for situations that might come up
    • Repeat or try different approaches
• Just listen
  • Can you repeat that
  • Are you saying