· Resource 1
Is that how things appear from your context?
Accessibility related legislation = needs of disabled students
Accessibility guidelines = recommendations of good practice
Accessibility standards = a set of benchmarks or rules against which to judge our practice
Going in my own context, I think that accessibility is a relatively new term in Cyprus that still needs adequate legislation, guidelines and standards in order to say that we have achieved a great level of accessibility. I tend to agree with Seale (2006) that only the introduction to the above, did not actually lead to a significant change on accessibility.
· Resource 2
Which do you think benefits more from legislation: disabled students or educational institutions?
I believe that educational institutions benefit far more than disabled students due to the fact that institutions have to follow the legal procedures either they want it or not. But what it matter is whether this legislation followed by the institution is actually followed word by word in order for disabled students to really benefit from the legislation.
If you don't have such legislation in your country, what difference do you think it would make?
I think that institutions will become more worried and ask more questions whether they are ready to identify, support and offer all that are required by disabled students or non disabled too. They will have to face a considerable challenge in order to make it work, not only for them, but for their students too, either disabled or not.
· Resource 3
Has your country ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
No, my country has not ratified to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
If it hasn't, why do you think that might be?
I am not sure of the reasons why they had not yet ratified it since they have signed it in 2007 and now it is 2010!!!
· Resource 4
Look at the author's concluding comments. What common factor or factors does she identify as hindering progress?
Effort, dedication, allocation of resources, active participation, implementation process, leadership training, education of leaders.
· Resource 5
Do you think that there are specific issues relating to disability and accessibility that are different from those arising with regard to other aspects of equality and human rights, such as racial discrimination?
Racial discrimination exists everywhere. In my opinion, it does not matter whether you are a disabled person or non-disabled because racial discrimination is still there. I believe that when someone is disabled the discrimination might not be in that extent, if someone is a non-disabled person due to the fact that people will concentrate more on the disability someone has rather on their race.