Accessible Environments student's book | Section 1. Barriers | Architectural and Communication Barriers and the Disabled.

1.3. Architectural and Communication Barriers and the Disabled

Architectural and communication barriers affect three different types of disabilities:
Sensory, Manipulatory and Locomotor

A sensory disability is a permanent illness or injury related to two of the five physical senses: sight and hearing.

:: It is the case when somebody has total or partial loss of sight or hearing:
e.g. the blind or the deaf.

A Manipulatory disability is a permanent illness or injury related to the upper limbs.

:: It is the case when somebody has difficulties using one or both hands or arms:
e.g. a one-armed person, or someone with no fingers.

A Locomotor disability is a permanent illness or injury related to the lower limbs.

:: It is the case when somebody has total or partial loss of the use of his/her legs or feet:
e.g. a person using crutches or the chairbound disabled.

Architectural barriers hinder the equal participation of disabled people in everyday life.