DisAbled Women's Network Ontario Home Page
Text Version of the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
What's New on the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario site
DisAbled Women's Network Ontario Resources on Women with Disabilities
Online Publications relevant to Women with Disabilities
Justice Issues relevant to Women with Disabilities
Health Issues relevant to Women with Disabilities
DisAbled Women's Network Ontario Inclusion Leadership Award
DisAbled Women's Network Ontario ACCESS Checklist
DisAbled Women's Network Ontario Online Discussion List About Issues relevant to Women with Disabilities
Research Postings on the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario site
Who We Are - About DAWN Ontario - DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
What the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario Does
Vision of DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
Story of the DisAbled Women's Network
Fact Sheet on Women with Disabilities
DAWN Ontario ACTION Alerts
Membership Form to Join the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
Join the Discussion List for Women With DisAbilities
Please Sign the Guestbook of the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
Follow this link to provide Feedback on the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario website
Contact Information of the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
Alphabetical Links Page of the DisAbled Women's Network Ontario
Our Credits Page
Canada Flag image
DisAbled Women's Network: DAWN ONTARIO


What is ACCESS?



Follow this link for the Full Version of DAWN Ontario's Access Checklist

Follow this link for the full version en français

Follow this link for the Abridged Version of DAWN Ontario's Access Checklist

Follow this link for the abridged version en français


Follow this link for Planning for Accessible Meetings & General Guidelines When Serving Anyone with Special Needs


Follow this link for Tips for Equal Access Presentations: Suggestions for making your presentation accessible

Follow these links for an additional access checklists for:

Customer Service / Accommodation Practices
Communications Accessibility Checklist
Existing Facilities Checklist



What is ACCESS?

Access is more than just a wheelchair ramp. It can be:

  • the use of sign language and a teletypewriter (TTY);

  • the use of blissymbolics;

  • the use of print materials in braille, large print, on tape, and in plain language;

  • the use of ALT tags (Alternative text) to identify Internet images;

Access, though, is not just all about physical access and technical devices.

Access is acceptance and understanding, a social environment in which Women with disAbilities are free to be ourselves.

Access may be defined by the person. For example, people with environmental illnesses may have serious reactions to scents. People with epilepsy may have a seizure because of the use of flashbulbs.


DEFINING ACCESS

Physical:
Examples are: ramps, accessible washrooms, wide doorways, accessible transportation, etc.

Procedural:
Examples are: taking extra time to communicate with someone with an intellectual disability, arranging interviews at times when an individual may be less affected by medications, etc.

Communication:
Examples are: access to American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, material in alternate formats such as large print, audiotape, Braille, computer disk; communication aids like word boards, etc.

Attitudinal:
Awareness of and sensitivity to the experiences and needs of Women with disAbilities.

Financial:
Availability of services at no cost or low fees - many Women with disAbilities have low incomes.

from the Dawn Ontario publication, "We are Those Women!"




TOP of page

 

Website designed & maintained courtesy of Barbara Anello