Requirements
Environmental Barriers – An Environmental Scan
You can easily scan your learning environment to determine just how universally designed it is. Look for:
- Signs that can be enlarged or colors changed for better contrast
- Lack of Braille signage
- Doors that are too narrow for wheelchairs
- Difficult access to doors or elevators
- Tables that are too low or too high
- Chairs that are too low or too high (learners should be able to comfortably rest their feet on the ground)
- If a learner has short legs and/or the chair cannot be adjusted, place a foot stool at their feet. That feeling of being “grounded” provides physical comfort that allows a learner to focus.
A Moment of Truth
“I had never had to function in the face of a physical limitation until I was on crutches due to foot surgery. Then, I suddenly realized just how difficult my college campus was to navigate. My classes were in one building – the parking lot was at the north of that building only. On the north side of the building, the concrete curved upward on a hill, and every door required the use of stairs, either to the doors or once you were in to the different floors. The door by the elevators was at the south end of the building – exact opposite the parking lot. To get to the elevator, I had to climb up the hill on my crutches, travel the full length of the building, the enter the door by the elevator. By the time I got to class, I had worked up such a sweat that, with the ends of the crutches in my armpits, I was sure I stunk throughout class.”
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