🎧 Listen to article read by Nicoletta:
When we talk about accessibility or inclusion, we immediately think to ramps, lifts and free space.
But there are invisible barriers which are not seen, and yet affect every-day life of many people.
Are attitudes, languages and beliefs excluding without realizing it.
Understanding them is the first step to build a world that is more welcoming for everyone.
What are the invisible barriers
The invisible barriers obstacles in the non-physical that prevent people from participating fully in life, social, cultural and working.
Common examples are:
- prejudices and stereotypes
- language is discriminatory
- lack of empathy,
- environments, or service is not intended for the diversity.
These barriers they are difficult to locate, but their effects are real:
- insulation
- inequality
- loss of opportunity.
Prejudices and stereotypes: the walls are built by the mind
Every time we think we “it is not capable”, “not suitable” or “it's too complicated for him/her,” let us raise a invisible barrier.
The prejudices and the stereotypes they are among the most difficult obstacles to eliminate, because they live in the way in which we interpret reality.
Recognize their the limits of cultural and educational it is the first step to knock them down.
The inclusive language as an instrument of change
The words have a power huge.
A respectful language can open spaces of dialoguewhile a language inappropriate can hurt or exclude.
Say “person with disability” instead of “handicapped” it is a choice of respect.
Use correct terms, and current is a concrete way promote a culture of inclusion.
Accessibility: not only digital
One often speaks of the accessibility thinking web sites, documents, or digital platforms.
But theaccessibility goes beyond the screen.
Be accessible means designing environments, services and activities to take account of the requirements to all, even to those who have cognitive, sensory, or relational.
The inclusion starts already in the design phase.
From empathy to action: how to overcome the invisible barriers
L’empathy it is important, but not enough.
Need to switch from consapevolezza to the action.
Here are some best practices:
- listen to the experiences of the people directly involved
- to review the language and communication internal
- form the personnel on the themes of accessibility and inclusion
- involve people with disabilities in decisions that affect them.
The only way that the inclusion becomes the real.
Look at the world with new eyes
To overcome the invisible barriers it not only means “to do something for others”, but change your perspective.
It means learning to see the diversity as a valuenot as a problem to solve.
When we learn to recognize what you see, we become part of the change.
Call to action
The invisible barriers they are everywhere: in the words, in their gestures, in the silences.
To recognize them is the first step to tear them down and build a company where everyone can feel a part, not the guest.
It becomes a part of the change with a Right for all children and adults!
Visit the get involved section on rightforinclusion.en send an email to info@rightforinclusion.it to find out how you can contribute to promoting a culture that is more inclusive.
Today we begin to build contexts, inclusive, accessible, and respectful of diversity.