Link Associates
Help Us Eliminate Barriers

As an organization it is our goal to identify and remove/modify all barriers.  Barriers for us would be any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective; for example "intolerance is a barrier to understanding", "stairs" are a barrier to "a person utilizing a chair for mobility".  The removal of such barriers will enhance life quality for all stakeholders, effect employment practices of the community in relation to persons with disabilities, ensure our legal and regulatory requirements and improve consumer satisfaction.  To do so, we need your help, by providing us with your input.  Please take the time to observe the environments where our consumers live, work, shop, and interact within the community.  If you identify any barriers please contact us and let us know what you see and maybe together we can find a way to decrease its existence.    Each of the links below will take you to a definition of the barrier.  Give this some thought and together we can make a difference!

• Architectural

• Attitudinal

• Communication

• Employment

• Environment

• Financial

• Transportation

• Any other barriers identified by our consumers, staff, advocates and stakeholders.

Architectural Barriers:  Are physical barriers that are generally easy to identify, such as steps that prevent access to a building for an individual who uses a wheelchair, narrow doorways that need to be widened, bathrooms that need to made accessible, the absence of light alarms for individuals who have a hearing impairment, and the absence of signs in Braille for individuals who have visual impairments.  It also includes not only the ease of entering and exiting the facility, but also weather the size and design of the interior spaces, along with he furniture and any equipment, support the person served in accomplishing their goals.

 

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Attitudinal Barriers:  Are ways of thinking or feeling that result in a behavior that discriminates and limits the potential of persons with disabilities to be independent individuals.  Some examples are parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities, not making eye contact when speaking to a person with a disability, or an organization that uses terminology and language in its literature or when it communicates with persons with disabilities, other stakeholders, and the public, (e.g., does the organization use “person first” language.  You can assist with increasing attitudinal accessibility by addressing these types of misconceptions about persons with disabilities. 

 

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Communication Barriers: Are things that interfere with the exchange of information.  Examples can include having written information for people who can not read, written information in a language that is not understood, the absence of a telecommunication device for the deaf (TTY), even negative past experiences can be a communication barrier.  Communication barriers may extend to the internet and web sites as well. Does the site make sense to people who are new to the site, is input asked for on how users experience the site, what kind of input have you received or responded to, does the site serve its purpose adequately?

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Employment Barriers:  Are things that may lead to discrimination in employment practices including job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment including recruitment, advertising, tenure, layoff, leave, fringe benefits, and all other employment-related activities.  A qualified individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position should be given the same consideration as any other applicant.  Job descriptions should focus on the outcome of the job function and the essential duties.  Employment testing should be job-related for the position and consistent with the business necessity.

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Environmental Barriers:  Are barriers that are any location or characteristic of the setting that compromises, hinders, or impedes service deliver and the benefits to be gained.  Environmental barriers may include noise level, lack of sound proof counseling rooms, highly trafficked areas used for service delivery, or type or lack of furnishing and décor that impact the comfort level of the persons served and personnel.  Some possible corrections can include things like  computer controls for temperature, lights, window shades, adapting equipment to be operated by micro switches, etc.   

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Financial Barriers:  Are limits to services and opportunities due to insufficient funding.  To alleviate financial barriers organizations might advocate at a legislative level for increased funds promote activities to directly raise money for the support to a service or a person served, offer sliding-scale fees for self-referred participants, apply for grants or other funding, or use tax credits to make reasonable accommodations.

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Transportation Barriers:  Are limits on a person’s ability to reach service locations or to participate in the full range of services, the community, employment, and other activities.  To overcome transportation barriers an organization might assist persons in learning to use the public bus system, connect them to a para-transit services provider, or help to establish a ride-share system in the community.

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• Consumers and Families Home 

Funded in part by Polk County Health Services (additional information on service access in Polk County visit the Network of Care for Mental Health and Disability Services at  www.polk.ia.networkofcare.org

Link Associates, Inc.

4301 NE 14th St.
Des Moines, IA  50313
 PHONE 515.262.8888
FAX 515.262.8655

www.linkassociates.org

 © 2006 - Link Associates, Inc.