Accessibility: Identifying Accessibility Barriers

Below are hypothetical examples of potential accessibility barriers found in schools across BC.

Learning Barriers

1.     Educators do not consistently allow for alternative ways for students to represent their learning.

2.     Communication with students and parents/guardians about assignments was provided inconsistently in various classes, resulting in some students not knowing or understanding what they needed to do for homework.

3.     Some community members identified that it was difficult to navigate the school website and to locate information they hoped to access. 

Physical and Architecture Environment Barriers

1.     Many classrooms have noise issues that make it difficult for some students due to auditory sensitivities.

2.     Most classrooms do not have sound fields to support students with hearing impairments or attention issues. 

3.     Some larger spaces within the school have sound echo issues.

Attitudinal Barriers

1.     Some students identified that they felt misunderstood by staff who made assumptions that they were lazy or uncooperative or lacked motivation.

Resource Barriers

1.     Teachers and students are not familiar with the accessibility features on school laptops/computers such as voice to text, text to voice, web readers and other features.

School Policy and Practice Barriers

1.     Parents/guardians and staff identified a gap in staff training on a variety of disabilities and accessibility issues.

2.     Systematic transition planning processes are not evident for all students with disabilities.

3.     Emergency evacuation protocols, individual plans and evacuation equipment are not in place for students with physical disabilities.