Making Your Garden Accessible
Barrier Free Gardens
Barriers free gardens are gardens that are designed in such a way that all people in your neighborhood can participate. Your garden may be designed to eliminate some of the barriers that prevent people from participating in a community garden. There are basic steps you can do to make your garden physically accessible; See this guide for more detials.
What is a barrier?
A barrier is anything that prevents an individual or group from participating in community gardening. Three main barriers may be physical, cultural or language barriers.
What are examples of barriers?
- Having paths that are too narrow or bumpy that prevents wheelchair use
- Having fliers for events only in English, with writing above a grade six level
- Holding stereotypes about certain groups
- Not including raised beds
Who in our community may encounter barriers?
- individuals with disabilities
- migrants to Waterloo Region and immigrant newcomers
- individuals whose first language is not English
- individuals with low literacy
- individuals with injuries or short-term disabilities
People who may be affected by physical barriers In
In 2001, about 70, 541 individuals were estimated to have a physical disability in our Region. That number is expected to rise by 5.3% in the next 25 years signifying a greater number of people who may experience a barrier. Consider designing your community garden to be physically accessible and barrier free.
Looking for funding to make your garden more accessible? Check out the Enabling Accessibility Fund