Children’s Awareness of People with Disabilities and Their Barriers

In Poland, the idea of universal design, although it gained popularity in the 1990s, was previously associated with human rights and urban planning. Currently, it is a standard and legal requirement in many aspects of design. This topic also touches on the broadly understood issue of Sustainable Development (SDG 11), which promotes the creation of cities without barriers and inclusive spaces for people with disabilities. Universal design, based on the diversity and needs of all users, aims to eliminate technical, social and psychological obstacles that limit independence and participation in social life. Raising social awareness and teaching empathy remains a significant challenge, which leads to the natural design of spaces accessible to everyone. Workshops for children can be helpful, introducing awareness about people with disabilities and their barriers, as well as showing the current awareness on the given topic. The results show that children had contact with disabled people moving in wheelchairs and can indicate architectural barriers for these people, but there is less awareness of visual impairment.