Barrier-free approach. How to make life convenient for everyone
True barrier-free accessibility covers all areas of public life. Find out about the main areas that create an accessible environment for all groups of people.
A barrier-free environment is an environment that is comfortable and safe for everyone. It is an opportunity to participate fully in society, regardless of health status, age, gender, etc. It is a human-centred approach to every decision.
Barrier-free accessibility is about all of us. It is needed by a pensioner with a cane and a girl in a wheelchair, a mother with a small child, a veteran after an injury, a guy with a big suitcase and a man tired after work.
True barrier-free accessibility is comprehensive. It is not just about removing physical barriers and installing ramps at the entrance to every building. It's also about everyone's ability to get an education, use smartphone apps, and get a job.
That is why, according to the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine until 2030, 6 main areas of accessibility and adaptability have been identified.
Physical accessibility
The physical accessibility of a space means that anyone can use it and go up a floor, get to the other side of the street, sit down comfortably, etc. Such solutions include ramps, the absence of thresholds at the entrance, tactile flooring, and universal bathrooms.
Information accessibility
Information materials (websites, mobile application interfaces, media files, etc.) should be accessible to all people, regardless of their functional impairments or communication capabilities. For example, videos should have subtitles, and texts should have an audio version. Equally important is the use of Braille on information boards and the availability of sign language interpretation at public events.
Digital accessibility
Access to the Internet, public digital services and information is only part of digital inclusion. It is important to enable people to use these resources: create training courses for different categories, develop sign language applications and adaptive websites that allow visually impaired people to use special readers.
Social and civic accessibility
Every person is valuable regardless of age, gender, origin, health status or other characteristics. And everyone should have equal opportunities to be involved in the life of society and the state. For example, polling stations should be accessible to everyone, and concerts should be organised with due regard for the needs of different categories of people.
Educational accessibility
Education, professional development, or additional skills training should be open, inclusive and accessible to anyone. This can be achieved through using educational materials in various formats, creating inclusive programmes and mentoring support.
Economic inclusion
People should have equal opportunities to earn money, get a job and start their own business. To achieve this, companies can adapt their workplaces for people with disabilities, introduce flexible working hours for parents with young children, and offer remote work to people with limited mobility.
Barrier-free accessibility is not limited to laws or regulations. It includes respecting other people's boundaries, caring about everyone's comfort, and understanding that your needs are being noticed.
Barrier-free accessibility should take into account the diversity of human needs and requirements. We can talk about full inclusiveness only when everyone has unimpeded access to buildings, education, or the Internet and the opportunity to work and use transport freely. The veteran-centric state that Ukraine is to become cannot be non-inclusive.