Accessible Widget

September 16, 2022

Redefining Equity, an illustration

Redefining Equity, an illustration

"Equality" is when we assume everyone benefits from the same support.

 "Equity" is when everyone gets the support they need. 

"Justice" is when all experience life without support or accommodations as the barrier has been removed; universal access.  


6 images contrasting equality, equity and justice. Shows how universal design levels the playing field. 1st and 4th image three people stand before a fence or store, and only one person sees and get in the building. 2nd and 5th image show a makeshift ramp and box so all can see the game and awkwardly access a building treating people differently, the 3rd and 6th image show all people enjoying the game through a see through fence and universal accessible entrance.

Text description: 

Six images on a yellow background contrast how three people watch a baseball game and the storefront entrance. Three people stand before a fence or store, and only one person sees and gets into the building. 2nd and 5th images show a makeshift ramp and box so all can see the game and awkwardly access a building treating people differently, the 3rd and 6th images show all people enjoying the game through a see-through fence and universal accessible entrance to the store. 

Each image shows levels of access for each person depending on the support provided. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd images are of three people watching a baseball game over a fence. The 4th, 5th and 6th images are of the same three people facing a storefront either through stairs, a ramp, or a flat sloped sidewalk of a store. 

1st person is standing and average adult height. They are able  to access the building and game no matter what type of entrance and treats everyone the same (Equality). 

2nd person smaller in height:

The second person in the first and fourth images is smaller in height and cannot see the game over the fence or get into the store due to the stairs. In the second image, they can see over the fence given a box to stand on but still cannot get into the store due to the height of the stairs without help (The image is about equity). Justice is when we remove the barrier to have a see-through fence to watch the game or get into the store with a flat entrance.  

3rd person in a motorized chair: 

The 3rd person is using a motorized chair and cannot see the game through the fence or gain access to the building due to the stairs. In the second image and 4th image, the person in the chair and  4th image the person in the wheelchair have a makeshift ramp and a separate way to get into the building (equality) 

In the third image, the person in the motorized chair can also see the game through the fence and gain access to the store because of universal design as the barriers have been removed (Justice) 

September 2, 2022