Inequitable Access

Inequitable access describes the situation where accommodations or accessibility measures are provided but fail to adequately address the underlying inaccessibility, leaving people with disabilities with access that is significantly inferior to what nondisabled people experience. Having an accommodation does not necessarily mean having effective access — accommodations may add their own burdens (scheduling, management, training), may not address all aspects of inaccessibility, or may create new barriers. The concept challenges organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of their accommodations, not just their existence.