The Poster that lists accessibility barriers

Full Image Description follows

The Alex and AAWEAR are living accessibility by listing the accessibility barriers to access the space on this event poster. Ideally, we would live in a society that doesn’t have access barriers, but we all know that is not the reality.

So, how is saying that many people will not be able to access the space…. accessibility? It seems like the opposite? There are lots of reasons that we will list below:

1. Consideration: Having it listed means they thought about it and have considered how people with different disabilities will interact with the space. It lets those who struggle with stairs know that they might not be able to get in.
2. Agency: Mobility is not always the same for people. Some people might be able to handle stairs today, but not tomorrow. It also gives the person a choice to decide if the event will be worth the energy or not depending on the day.
3. Respect: Time and energy are important resources we all have. Letting people know that they cannot get in the building prevents them from wasting their time and energy to get to the space just to find out they can’t get in.
4. Awareness: Someone who has never thought about stairs being a barrier is being able to see it plainly on this poster. It might lead to questions about other barriers. It shows other program leaders or business owners that this is an issue, and we need to work together to change it.
5. Inclusion: We know not all people with disabilities have mobility challenges. We also know that not all people with mobility challenges identify as having a disability. This poster shares the required information plainly for anyone to interpret. For example, someone with low vision might now ask where the stairs are when they get there to avoid tripping or falling.

Again, not having stairs or having a way around the stairs is always preferred. Still, many things go into making events, programs, and other things happen, and sometimes barriers are not avoidable. However, we hope this post has shown why acknowledging what the barriers are is better than ignoring them. We hope more people will follow the Alex and AAWEAR’s lead in putting it upfront.

If you want to learn how you can better live accessibility, reach out to us at accessibility@vadsociety.ca or 780-488-9088.

Full Image Description with information on the event:

Top banner has the logos for the City of Calgary, the Alex and AAWEAR next to an image from the shoulders up of a black man with suds on him and singing into a shower product. The text reads: Tuesday Morning Refresh. Free, all welcome! Drop-in! Beltline Community Hub 221-12th avenue SW. Every Tuesday from 10:00 am till 12:00 pm starting April 5th , 2022. Join the Alex Street Team and AAWEAR Peer Navigators. Grab a warm shower, a coffee/tea and a snack. Hang out in the gym, play some games, and have some fun. Meet with the Alex Street Team for: harm reduction supplies and education, peer support, recovery treatment planning and referrals, community resource navigation, housing support and referrals. Accessibility barriers: multiple staircases to access program space. Learn more at calgary.ca/activebeltline.