Accessibility

Question 1

What is a building code?

Answer 1

• primary goal is to ensure people can actually use the environments
• specified around anthropomorphic averages or “norms”
• outline the requirements for safe environments

Question 2

Who is considered norm?

Answer 2

• able-bodied
• healthy
• english is his primary language
• a male who is 5’ 10” tall
• an arm length of around 2’
• a sturdy hand grip
• has 20/20 vision

Question 3

What are the levels of building code?

Answer 3

• federal (all federal buildings)
• provincial (modify national codes as seen fit or to meet local needs)
• municipal (have authority within their particular region)
• human rights code

Question 4

Who is a person with a disability?

Answer 4

• anyone whose activity and participation is inhibited by a change in body function and/or structure, health, and/ or contextual factors
• temporary, enduring, progressive, regressive

Question 5

What are some general considerations for someone who’s in a wheelchair?

Answer 5

• chair needs to fit in the space
• chair needs to be able to move within the space
• items should be reachable from chair

Question 6

What are some general considerations for someone who has a visual impairment?

Answer 6

• contrast in colours to identify borders
• audible cues in elevators, for walk signs
• bright lights, glare from windows

Question 7

What are some general considerations for someone who has a hearing impairment?

Answer 7

• signs with precise and
  clear messages
• visual cues along with auditory

Question 8

What are some general considerations for someone who has an intellectual disability?

Answer 8

• recognizable visual cues and images along with text

- eliminates ambiguity to eliminate confusion

Question 9

What are some less-general considerations for people with disabilities in regards to building code?

Answer 9

• do items require grip or specific movement to manipulate objects?
• is strength needed?
• are pathways safe (non- slip, clear, smooth, etc.)?

Question 10

What is universal design?

Answer 10

• universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the
  greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design

Question 11

What are the principles of universal design?

Answer 11

• equitable use: useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
• flexible in use: accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities
• simple and intuitive use: easy to understand
• perceptible information: communicates necessary information effectively
• tolerance for error
• low physical effort
• size and space for approach and use

Question 12

What are examples of some little things that can be regarded as accessible?

Answer 12

• wide interior doors and hallways
• lever handles for opening doors rather than twisting knobs
• light switches with large flat panels rather than small toggle switches
• use of meaningful icons as well as text labels

Question 13

What are some things that can often be inaccessible?

Answer 13

• height of elevator buttons
• shampoo bottles
• stupid designs for male and female washrooms