In the past 15 years or so, a major change in U.S. policy with respect to citizens with disabilities has occurred. Between 1968 and 1980, Congress passed a series of laws aimed at enhancing the quality of life for disabled Americans through various measures, including the removal of architectural barriers, the improvement of educational opportunities for disabled children and the encouragement of self-help organizations for people with disabilities. This disability legislation is based on familiar civil rights principles such as equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, integration, free choice and self-help, to name a few.
Architectural barriers compromise access.
They are seen in this context as obstacles that limit opportunity, promote discrimination, prevent integration, restrict choice and frustrate self-help. Because of our ability to provide universal access by eliminating architectural barriers, design professionals are in a unique position to shape public image of people with disabilities. But we must first understand what is disability. And we must use words and images that create a straightforward, positive view of people with disabilities. These guidelines offer suggestions for appropriate ways to address or describe people with disabilities and explain the preferred terminology.