ADEEAR-L

About ADEEAR-L
ADEEAR-L (Accessibility by Default in Education and Economic Inclusion Advocacy Rights by Lukwago) is currently in the process of becoming formally established as a not-for-profit organisation in Ireland. As an emerging initiative with a broader European and international vision, ADEEAR-L is currently seeking founding/proposed Directors (Trustees) to help establish its governance structure, guide its development and support the organisation in achieving its long-term mission.

ADEEAR-L is an advocacy, accessibility and inclusion initiative focused on advancing Accessibility by Default in education, employment, public services and wider society, while promoting economic inclusion and equal participation.
ADEEAR-L seeks to advance equality, accessibility and economic inclusion for people experiencing sensory accessibility barriers. It advocates for systems in which sensory accessibility is built into education, employment, public services and economic opportunities as a standard, rather than being dependent primarily on individual disclosure and reactive reasonable accommodation.

ADEEAR-L believes that sensory disability should not determine a person's educational achievement, employment potential, independence or economic future. People should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, abilities, skills, effort and performance fairly, without being disadvantaged by barriers created by inaccessible systems.
ADEEAR-L Principle: Accessibility by Default
ADEEAR-L advocates that sensory accessibility should be built into systems, education, employment, public services and opportunities as a standard and by default, rather than relying primarily on reactive reasonable accommodation after a person discloses a sensory disability.
Just as ramps are incorporated into buildings as a standard form of physical accessibility, ADEEAR-L advocates for systematic sensory accessibility to be embedded by default in system design and service delivery from the outset.
The objective is to create systems that enable people with sensory disabilities to access education, employment, public services and opportunities directly, equally and independently, without unnecessary reliance on third parties, unnecessary disclosure of personal information, or individual requests for reasonable accommodation where standard accessible design and delivery could provide access to everyone.
ADEEAR-L does not seek to eliminate reasonable accommodation.
Reasonable accommodation should remain available where it is genuinely required. However, it should supplement standard, systematic sensory accessibility rather than compensate for inaccessible systems or replace the system's responsibility to provide accessible design and service delivery.
ADEEAR-L therefore seeks to distinguish between.
Accessibility by Default accessibility is incorporated into the system, environment, teaching method, service or opportunity from the outset.
Reasonable Accommodation an additional individual measure provided where a person requires something beyond the standard accessible system.
The aim is to ensure that accessibility is not treated solely as an individual problem to be solved after disclosure, but as a responsibility that is considered when systems are designed and services are delivered.
Shifting Responsibility from the Individual to the System
ADEEAR-L seeks to shift responsibility for accessibility from the individual towards the design and delivery of systems.
Too often, people with disabilities are expected to disclose personal information and repeatedly request individual accommodations because the underlying environment, system or service is not accessible.
ADEEAR-L promotes proactive and inclusive system design and service delivery that supports.
• dignity and confidentiality.
• privacy and reduced unnecessary disclosure.
• independence and direct access.
• equal participation and meaningful inclusion.
• fair opportunities to demonstrate abilities and qualifications
• proactive sensory accessibility.
• reduced reliance on discretionary or mediated services.
• reduced dependence on reactive accommodation.
• the maximisation of individual potential.
What ADEEAR-L Seeks to Advance
ADEEAR-L seeks to.
• reduce unnecessary disclosure of sensory disability and related stigma.
• protect privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
• strengthen independence and maximise individual potential.
• promote proactive inclusion and meaningful participation.
• proactively advance sensory accessibility, equality and inclusion;
• reduce unnecessary reliance on discretionary, mediated or reactive services.
• increase access for people with sensory disabilities to education, particularly higher education.
• improve educational attainment and progression.
• improve employment opportunities and economic participation.
• promote economic independence and improved standards of living.
• improve access to appropriate welfare and public service.
• help reduce disability related mental health challenges arising from inaccessible system design and service delivery.
• enable people to demonstrate their abilities, qualifications, skills and performance fairly.
• promote stronger educational, employment and economic outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
• advance equality, freedom and rights through inclusive and accessible system design and service delivery.
ADEEAR-L Vision
ADEEAR-L envisions an inclusive society where standard, systematic sensory accessibility is embedded into system design and service delivery from the outset, enabling people with sensory disabilities to access education, employment, public services and economic opportunities directly, equally and independently.
ADEEAR-L Mission
ADEEAR-L aims to advance sensory accessibility, equality and economic inclusion through advocacy, research, public awareness, policy engagement, stakeholder collaboration and the promotion of sensory accessibility by default through system design and service delivery.
Policy and Systems Reform
ADEEAR-L advocates for policy and systems reform that moves beyond an approach in which accessibility is primarily addressed through reactive reasonable accommodation following sensory disability disclosure.
It seeks to promote a proactive approach in which sensory accessibility is considered and incorporated into the design and delivery of systems from the outset.
This approach recognises that accessibility is not simply an additional service provided to an individual. It can be a fundamental characteristic of how education, employment, public services and economic opportunities are designed and delivered.
Ireland, Europe and International Collaboration
ADEEAR-L is progressing towards formal establishment as a charity in Ireland while maintaining a broader European and international vision.
The sensory accessibility barriers that ADEEAR-L seeks to address are not limited to Ireland. ADEEAR-L therefore seeks to encourage wider discussion, learning, advocacy and collaboration on sensory accessibility by default across different systems and societies.
Proposed Board of Trustees
As ADEEAR-L progresses towards formal establishment, it is seeking committed and independent individuals with professional expertise, advocacy experience and relevant lived experience to contribute to its proposed Board of Trustees.
Relevant areas of expertise may include.
• law and legal policy.
• human rights.
• equality and non-discrimination.
• disability inclusion.
• sensory accessibility.
• education and inclusive learning.
• public policy.
• charity governance.
• Finance, fundraising and financial oversight.
• accessible communication.
• health and public services.
• technology and accessibility.
• employment and economic inclusion.
• community development.
• Public service delivery.
Proposed trustees would be expected to act in the best interests of ADEEAR-L, provide appropriate accountability, good governance and oversight, contribute relevant skills and experience, support strategic development, manage conflicts of interest appropriately and help ensure that ADEEAR-L develops and operates in furtherance of its charitable purposes and public benefit.
As an emerging initiative, ADEEAR-L offers prospective trustees an opportunity to contribute to the development of a new approach to sensory accessibility, one that seeks to move accessibility from being treated primarily as an additional support or reasonable accommodation towards being a standard part of how systems are designed and services are delivered.
ADEEAR-L Core Message
Advancing Equality through Systematic Sensory Accessibility Design and Service Delivery in Education and Economic Inclusion.
Love Sensory Accessibility by Default for an Independent, Bright Future.
Design and Deliver for Independence, Not Dependence.
Fix Systems by Default Access, Before Fixing People by Accommodation.