Barriers are obstacles. Barriers to accessibility are obstacles that make it difficult — sometimes impossible — for people with disabilities to do the things most of us take for granted — things like going shopping, working, or taking public transit.
When we think of barriers to accessibility, most of us think of physical barriers — like a person who uses a wheelchair not being able to enter a public building because there is no ramp.
The fact is there are many kinds of barriers. Some are visible. Many are invisible.
| Type of barriers | Examples |
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Attitudinal barriers are those that discriminate against people with disabilities. |
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Information or communications barriers happen when a person can't easily understand information. |
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Technology barriers occur when a technology can't be modified to support various assistive devices. |
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Organizational barriers are an organization's policies, practices or procedures that discriminate against people with disabilities. |
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Architectural and physical barriers are features of buildings or spaces that cause problems for people with disabilities. |
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Learn more |
Customer Service Standard
Understanding Accessibility
