Almost everyone faces difficulties and hardships at one time or another. However, for people with disabilities, barriers aren’t just frequent but have a greater impact. According to WHO (the World Health Organization), barriers are more than just physical obstacles; they are:
“Factors in an individual’s environment that, through their presence/absence, create disability and limit functioning.” These include elements like:
- Policies, systems, and services that are either non-existent or hinder the involvement of all people with a health condition in every area of life
- Negative attitudes of individuals toward disability
- Lack of appropriate assistive technology (rehabilitative, adaptive, and assistive devices)
- An inaccessible physical environment
As a leading NDIS provider in Melbourne, we discuss five disability barriers:
1. Social
These are barriers related to where someone learns, works, and grows up — their income, education, employment, and safety. People with disabilities are less likely to complete high school or get jobs. Plus, compared to people without a disability, they are at a greater risk of experiencing family violence. Unfortunately, these barriers can be detrimental to a general sense of well-being, leading to barriers that prevent happiness, earning potential, and growth.
2. Policy
These types of barriers occur when there is a lack of inclusion/awareness when it comes to programs or activities being accessible to people with disabilities. Whether it comes to opportunities, accommodations, or federally funded services, policies should be inclusive of disabled people to remove barriers and increase access to programs/services that people with disabilities require.
3. Physical
Physical barriers are any structures or objects that block or prevent access and ability. For example, a piece of medical equipment requires a physically disabled person to stand up to use it or steps that someone in a wheelchair can’t use.
4. Communication
Barriers to communication for people with disabilities comprise anything that affects understanding, speaking, hearing, reading, and writing. For example, technical language that prevents a disabled person from understanding a message, no large print option for people with vision difficulties, videos without captions, and more.
5. Attitude
One of the most fundamental barriers is people’s perception of what it is like to live with a disability. Prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, and stigma are some examples that can make it challenging for a disabled person to be able to participate in everyday life.
My Disability Provider offers high-quality NDIS services in Melbourne
As a leading disability support organization in Melbourne, My Disability Provider believes everyone has the right to choose their own path in life. This is why we go the extra mile to offer NDIS participants the support and care they need to accomplish their goals.
Get in touch with us now for more information on our disability services in
