Human Accessibility
Accessibility is the design of devices, environments, services, and products for people with disabilities that include a range of physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, developmental or intellectual impairments. In an effort to best provide equal access to physical spaces and environments as well as social, political, and economic resources, accessibility design attempts to offer both direct (unassisted) and indirect (assisted with technology) universal access to the world. Common forms of assistive technologies for humans include mobility technologies such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, walkers, canes, visual technologies like braille and screen readers, auditory technologies in hearing aids and listening devices, and cognitive aids from software to memory devices.
Accessibility in relation to design refers to how easily one who is disabled can navigate a building or structure. The ultimate aim of accessible design is to present both equal opportunity and equal use of the built environment for those with and without a disability, temporary or permanent. Accessibility in the design of houses has become of more importance due to aging seniors’ desires to continue to age and live independently. As such, it is the responsibility of developers and designers to consider wishes such as these and make sure accessible design features are implemented in their buildings and projects where necessary.
ADA stands for the American with Disabilities Act and is a federal law that was enacted to prohibit discrimination against any individual with a disability. This includes employment, hiring, promotions, discharge, training, and benefits of employment. ADA is enforced by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Under the ADA a disability is defined as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who may have a record of an impairment, but do not currently have a disability. A disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movement, senses, or activities.
Short term disability lasts only a specific period of time, which is typically several months and up to 1 year. Generally, you receive benefits for a short term disability from your insurance after a waiting period of up to 14 days.
