Manitoba Access Awareness Week is May 30-June 5, 2021, and to celebrate, our ambassadors, Téo and Alex, are breaking down stigma and fact checking some common assumptions about accessibility and disability with the MAAW Mythbusters Series.

You can view the full series in the video below. A full text transcript is published below.

Video 1: Physical and architectural barriers

Teo and Alex can be seen on a zoom style call. Upbeat music plays in the background.

TEO:     It’s Manitoba Access Awareness Week

ALEX: Also known as MAAW.  I’m Alex - 

TEO:     And I’m Téo.

BOTH: We’re Manitoba Possible’s Ambassadors.

A purple image flashes across the screen, pictured are Téo in a sport wheelchair & Alex in his motorized wheelchair. White text above them reads MAAW Mythbusters with Teo and Alex. Text beneath reads: Episode 1: Physical and architectural barriers. Navy text in the white frame reads: Manitoba Access Awareness Week.

ALEX: This MAAW, we’re busting myths and common assumptions about accessibility barriers and disability.

TEO:     Did you know that there are 5 types of accessibility barriers? Follow along this week to learn about each kind: physical and architectural, technological, systemic, informational and communication, and attitudinal.

ALEX: We’re going to start with the barrier most people think of first: physical and architectural.

TEO:     Can you tell us what that means?

ALEX: These barriers are physical obstacles that make it difficult for some to easily access a place. 

BOTH: TIME FOR A MYTH!

An animated text clip pops onto the screen with the words “TIME FOR A MYTH”

ALEX:  Physical barriers can be summed up with one word: ramps.

TEO:     Not true! Ramps are a good example of a way to address a physical obstacle like stairs for wheelchair users, those who use mobility aids or devices, and others who may have difficulty climbing stairs. But it’s not the whole picture.

ALEX: You’re right. Another physical barrier might be a doorknob that can’t be turned by a person with limited mobility or strength

TEO:     Other things like washrooms, parking, lighting and signage can be physical and architectural barriers too. 

ALEX: Tune in tomorrow for another episode!

TEO:     And remember, accessibility benefits everyone.

 

Video 2:  Information & Communication Barriers

Teo and Alex can be seen on a zoom style call. Upbeat music plays in the background.

ALEX: It’s Manitoba Access Awareness Week

TEO:     Also known as MAAW.  I’m Téo - 

ALEX: And I’m Alex.

BOTH: We’re Manitoba Possible’s Ambassadors.

A mint image flashes across the screen, pictured are Téo in a sport wheelchair & Alex in his motorized wheelchair. Navy text above them reads MAAW Mythbusters with Teo and Alex. Text beneath reads: Episode 2: information and communication barriers. Navy text in the white frame reads: Manitoba Access Awareness Week.

ALEX: This MAAW, we’re busting myths and common assumptions about the 5 types accessibility barriers and disability.

TEO:     Today is all about communication and information barriers.         

ALEX: What are those?

TEO:     These barriers come up when information is offered in a form that works for some, but not all, of the population.

BOTH: TIME FOR A MYTH!

An animated text clip pops onto the screen with the words “TIME FOR A MYTH”

TEO:     All information on the web is accessible, right?

ALEX:  False! Written content that doesn’t have high contrast colours could be inaccessible for people with vision loss. Videos without captions may be inaccessible for Deaf and hard of hearing folks. Information presented without using plain language may be inaccessible to a lot of people! 

TEO:     You’re right! This goes for things offline too, like signs, TV, and even the people we see represented in marketing or films and art.

ALEX: Representation is important in communicating. Including photos and testimonials and reflecting diverse people with a range of abilities and ages is a good way to show your commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

TEO:     Inclusion benefits everyone.                

ALEX:  We’ve got 3 more barriers to go this week. Tune in tomorrow to learn about technological barriers! 

 

Video 3: Technological barriers

Teo and Alex can be seen on a zoom style call, they are wearing red. Upbeat music plays in the background.

TEO:     It’s Manitoba Access Awareness Week

ALEX: Also known as MAAW.  And today is also Red Shirt Day for AccessAbility. I’m Alex - 

TEO:     And I’m Téo.

BOTH: We’re Manitoba Possible’s Ambassadors.

An orange image flashes across the screen, pictured are Téo in a sport wheelchair & Alex in his motorized wheelchair. White text above them reads MAAW Mythbusters with Teo and Alex. Text beneath reads: Episode 3: technological barriers. Red text in the white frame reads: Manitoba Access Awareness Week + Red Shirt Day.

ALEX: Before we dive into our MAAW Mythbusters segment, let’s talk about Red Shirt Day.

TEO:     As the provincial affiliate of Easter Seals Canada, Manitoba Possible is participating in Red Shirt Day for Accessibility, an initiative launched by Easter Seals in 2019.

ALEX: It’s a social media awareness campaign where people all across the country snap a selfie wearing a red shirt and share on social with the hashtags #RedShirtDay, #RedForAccessAbility, and #EasterSeals.

TEO:     This year, it happens during MAAW. For today’s episode, we’re talking about technological barriers.

ALEX: That’s where technology prevents accessibility, right?

TEO:     Almost! It’s when technology, or the way it is used, cannot be accessed by people with disabilities. So it doesn’t prevent it outright, but rather the use of it doesn’t meet the needs of people with disabilities.         

BOTH: TIME FOR A MYTH!

An animated text clip pops onto the screen with the words “TIME FOR A MYTH”

ALEX:  Technological barriers are just websites that can’t be read by screenreaders.

TEO:     That’s one technological barrier, but there are others! Images without descriptions or ALT text are inaccessible to people with vision loss. Another barrier that we might not think of often is having only one way for people to contact an organization. Like only using a phone number or only using an online form. These are technological barriers. . 

ALEX: And ones that are easy to solve! The more ways someone can contact you, the more accessible you are. 

TEO:     Tune in tomorrow for another episode! And remember, wear red today for accessibility!

 

Video 4:  Systemic Barriers

Teo and Alex can be seen on a zoom style call. Upbeat music plays in the background.

ALEX: It’s Manitoba Access Awareness Week

TEO:     Also known as MAAW.  I’m Téo - 

ALEX: And I’m Alex.

BOTH: We’re Manitoba Possible’s Ambassadors.

A pink image flashes across the screen, pictured are Téo in a sport wheelchair & Alex in his motorized wheelchair. White text above them reads MAAW Mythbusters with Teo and Alex. Text beneath reads: Episode 4: systemic barriers. Navy text in the white frame reads: Manitoba Access Awareness Week. 

ALEX: We’ve learned about 3 of the 5 accessibility barriers so far.

TEO:     Next up are systemic barriers. 

ALEX: Policies, practices or procedures that exclude people or prevent equal access. 

BOTH: TIME FOR A MYTH!

An animated text clip pops onto the screen with the words “TIME FOR A MYTH”

TEO:     These barriers don’t really exist in 2021, right?

ALEX:  They do! While a lot of progress has been made for accessibility, there’s still lots to do.

TEO:     A systemic barrier might be… planning events and not considering the needs of people with disabilities and then choosing a location that’s not accessible.

ALEX: Yes! Another example in a workplace may be not encouraging people with disabilities to apply or not being aware of accommodations applicants or employees may need. 

TEO:     That leads into the assumptions society may have about people with disabilities… Which in itself is another barrier, an attitudinal one.

ALEX:  It’s the last barrier we’ll be talking about this week, so be sure to tune in tomorrow!

TEO:     But how can we solve systemic barriers?

ALEX:  Through learning and consultation. Include people with disabilities in the process of creating policies to remove barriers.

 TEO:     And take it upon yourself, your workplace, your friends, your sports team, to learn about accessibility and breaking down barriers to participation.

ALEX:  Accessibility benefits everyone.

 

Video 5: Attitudinal barriers

Teo and Alex can be seen on a zoom style call. Upbeat music plays in the background.

TEO:     It’s Manitoba Access Awareness Week 

ALEX: Also known as MAAW.  I’m Alex - 

TEO:     And I’m Téo.

BOTH: We’re Manitoba Possible’s Ambassadors.

A purple image flashes across the screen, pictured are Téo in a sport wheelchair & Alex in his motorized wheelchair. White text above them reads MAAW Mythbusters with Teo and Alex. Text beneath reads: Episode 5: Attitudinal barriers. Navy text in the white frame reads: Manitoba Access Awareness Week.

ALEX: This MAAW, we’re busting myths and common assumptions about accessibility barriers and disability.

TEO:     We’ve talked about physical and architectural barriers, information and communication barriers, technological barriers, and systemic ones.

ALEX: There’s only one left: attitudinal barriers.

TEO:     When people think and act based on false assumptions, stereotypes, and myths, that’s an attitudinal barrier.

BOTH: SPEAKING ABOUT MYTHS

An animated text clip pops onto the screen with the words “SPEAKING ABOUT MYTHS”

ALEX:  There are so many! Like: “you should avoid people with disabilities for fear of saying the wrong thing.”

TEO:     Or, “accommodating people with disabilities is expensive”

ALEX: Or, “people with disabilities can’t do things or make decisions”

TEO:     These assumptions are false, so let’s clear them up. 

ALEX: If you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing, educate yourself. If you make an error, apologize, and move on. 

TEO:     Accommodations also don’t mean you have to open your wallet. You can caption your videos for free with several apps or just by taking a few minutes to do it yourself. There are many different types of accommodations for people with disabilities. If you take time to learn about them, you’ll find out that many are low or no cost.

ALEX:  Never assume what people with disabilities can or can’t do. Ask them directly!  

TEO:     Thanks for joining us this week to talk about the 5 types of accessibility barriers. One way you can help us work towards and inclusive and accessible society is by continuing to learn about accessibility and what it means for Manitobans. Some places you can check out are manitobapossible.ca and accessibililtymb.ca 

ALEX: Thanks for joining us and have a great day!