Alternatives to Physical Barrier Removal

Removing a barrier that is preventing someone with a disability from receiving goods or services does not necessarily require the physical removal of the barrier.  It may be possible to provide an additional service, or "work around", for those individuals with a disability that will effectively deliver the goods and services you offer.  The objective is to deliver the goods and/or services to someone, not to create an expensive project. 

The person with a disability is visiting your business because they want what you have to offer.  Their customer satisfaction will be measured not by how much is spent to physically remove barriers. But rather, their customer satisfaction will be based upon; if the goods and/or services are delivered and how satisfied they are with them... just like anyone else you serve.

Here are some examples of what we're talking about:

Restaurant: A self service restaurant that normally requires customers to order, pay and/or get drinks at a counter will accommodate people with a disability by taking their order and payment while they are seated and obtain drinks if necessary.  

Supermarket: A supermarket provides employee assistance to people who are unable to reach goods on upper shelves, and provides adequate notice of the availability of this service.  The store suggests that, when possible, shoppers with disabilities make a list of unreachable items while shopping, so that an employee can retrieve all of the items at one time. 

Drug Store: An inaccessible pharmacy offers home delivery of orders of prescription medications and other products.

Hair Salon: Several days during the month, at the end of regular shop hours, an inaccessible salon provides haircutting and other services in patrons’ homes.

The key to making this work: Shared Expectations!    

• The business owner knows what is expected of them in order to deliver their goods or services to an individual with disabilities.
• The employee knows what their employer expects of them in order to deliver goods or services  to an individual with disabilities.
• The customer with a disability knows what they can expect from the business in order to receive the goods or services.

It's as easy as 1,2,3...

2. Fill out the Shared Expectations form to describe alternatives you offer to physical barrier removal.

           - Post alternative description in view of customers at place of business

           - Barrier Busters will post alternative to Barrier Buster Website

  More information on Alternatives to Barrier Removal.          

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