As a disability advocate, I've always believed in the power of inclusive design and accessibility. Today, I find myself reflecting on these values, especially as we approach Thanksgiving—a time to be thankful, yet also a time to acknowledge the work that remains in creating truly accessible spaces.
Recently, my experience at a newly renovated local Starbucks brought these issues into sharp focus. Starbucks often promotes its Third Place Policy, emphasizing a welcoming environment for all. While the staff's helpfulness and welcoming nature are commendable, the reality of navigating an inaccessible space independently tells a different story.
The renovation, which I had hoped would improve accessibility, resulted in narrower pathways, fewer seating options for those with disabilities, and a lack of automatic door buttons. This isn't just about convenience; it's about the fundamental right to access public spaces independently.
This experience isn't isolated. It reflects a broader issue highlighted in a Toronto Star article, where a new bike lane was criticized for its inaccessibility, raising questions about who designs and approves such projects. Similarly, Mark Raymond, Jr. CEO of the Split Second Foundation, emphasizes in FacilitiesNet/NFMT that the ADA was a "touchdown," but the game is far from over. He stresses the importance of going beyond ADA compliance to truly understanding the disabled experience.
As we near Thanksgiving, I am reminded that while we should be thankful for those who champion accessibility, gratitude should not be the endpoint. Acknowledging our rights to accessible spaces is one thing; actively ensuring these spaces are truly accessible is another.
Organizations, especially those like Starbucks that pride themselves on being a 'Third Place,' must realize that an environment cannot be welcoming if it cannot be independently navigated by all. This Thanksgiving, let's be thankful for progress made, but also commit to advocating for the changes still needed.
As we continue our journey towards a more inclusive world, let's remember that accessibility is not a privilege; it's a right. It's time for all organizations to listen, learn, and act.
‘Who designed this, who approved this?’ New Eglinton bike lane ‘illegal’, says lawyer and disability activist
Beyond Compliance: The Art of Fostering Accessibility in Your Organization
Business colleagues discussing architecture project in office.
Honored once again to be featured as a LinkedIn #TopVoice for Disability as we continue the fight for equality.
As we continue celebrating Disability Pride Month, let's address a critical issue: workplace accessibility. This isn't just about compliance; it's about fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of abilities or neurodiversity, can thrive.
A recent Forbes piece by Bérénice Magistretti notes that "80% of disabilities are invisible," including conditions like visual impairment, mental health issues, and chronic diseases. These often go unrecognized, leading to a lack of understanding and support.
Organizations can initiate change by acknowledging these invisible disabilities. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 💜 network provides a discreet method for individuals to indicate they have a non-visible disability, adopted by thousands of businesses worldwide.
However, recognition is just the first step. To genuinely prioritize accessibility, organizations must provide reasonable accommodations. These can range from assistive technology for those with visual impairments to flexible work arrangements for those with chronic conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor's Job Accommodation Network reported in May that nearly half of these accommodations can be implemented for free.
Disclosing a disability can be intimidating due to fear of discrimination. However, open communication can lead to better support and understanding, fostering a more inclusive workplace. When an employee chooses to disclose a disability, believe them. As a leader your first question should be "How can I support you in your role?" Normalize saying 'yes' instead of 'prove it.'
Psychology Today reports that "while 25 percent of employees self-identify as having a disability...most companies report that just 4 to 7 percent of their employees are people with disabilities." The latest Disability:IN 2023 DEI echoed these findings with a median 4.6 percent of companies reporting self identification of disabled employees. This discrepancy underscores the need for more open dialogue and understanding.
Furthermore, we must remember the importance of creating accessible physical spaces and promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives. Employers should ensure that their facilities accommodate individuals with physical disabilities. Encouraging the active participation of disabled employees in decision-making processes can foster a sense of belonging and representation.
Let's use Disability Pride Month as a catalyst for change, making our workplaces more inclusive and accessible for all. Prioritizing accessibility is an ongoing journey that requires commitment, adaptation, and continuous learning.
Why We Need To Bring More Visibility To Invisible Disabilities And Illnesses
Threads: A Missed Opportunity for Accessibility and Inclusion
A mobile phone with one iteration of the logo for the new social media app Threads.
As a disability advocate and a person with disabilities, I am disheartened to witness the launch of Meta's new social media platform, Threads, without the inclusion of basic accessibility features. This is especially disappointing as we celebrate Disability Pride Month.
Threads, which is being touted as a competitor to Twitter, seems to have missed the mark when it comes to accommodating users with disabilities. Chase DiBenedetto of Mashable writes, "in a strange step back for the tech giant, the hours-old platform...doesn't seem to accommodate those with disabilities well, offering few accessibility tools, customization options, or site policies on its accessibility features at large."
In 2023, launching a new product is not an excuse to ignore disability and treat those with accessibility needs as an afterthought. Threads is competing with a platform whose crumbling infrastructure is due in part to that same mindset following a takeover by Elon Musk.
As someone with a visual impairment, I rely heavily on assistive technology and accessibility tools to navigate the web. The lack of accessibility features in Threads is not just an oversight; it's a barrier that prevents individuals like me from participating in online conversations and communities. It's a far cry from Mark Zuckerberg's claim that the platform will "focus on kindness." You can't do that through exclusion.
Accessibility is not an afterthought; it is a fundamental aspect of design and development. The principle of Universal Design promotes environments and tools that prioritize use by all people without the need for specialized accommodations. Allon Mason CEO and founder of web accessibility company UserWay.org, rightly points out, "Digital platforms have a responsibility to be inclusive, and it is essential that accessibility is at the forefront of their design considerations."
Threads' lack of accessibility features is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for digital inclusion. It is imperative for social media platforms to recognize and address the diverse needs of all users, including those with disabilities.
As a community, we must hold these platforms accountable and advocate for the integration of accessibility features. It is not just about compliance; it is about creating an inclusive digital space where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can communicate, connect, and contribute.
I urge Meta to take immediate steps to address the accessibility gaps in Threads and to engage with the disability community in the development and implementation of these features. Let's work together to ensure that social media is inclusive and accessible to all.
Threads gets a failing grade from advocates on accessible design
Are E-Bikes and E-Scooters Making Our Cities Less Accessible?
A series of E-bikes and E-scooters strewn about on the ground obstructing walkways.
Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round, for I have a tale to tell. It's a tale of two-wheelers, those silent, sneaky, sidewalk-hogging e-bikes and e-scooters. They're the new-(ish) kids on the block, zipping around our cities, promising a greener future, and making pedestrians jump out of their skins. But, oh boy, they're not just giving pedestrians a good scare, they're turning our sidewalks into obstacle courses for the disabled community.
Now, let's take a trip to Seattle University, where e-bikes and scooters have exploded onto the campus scenery like a bad rash. The Spectator at Seattle University’s Natalie Kenoyer reported last fall that these contraptions from companies like Lime and Bird are strewn across campus like some kind of modern art installation, blocking ramps and walkways. It's like a bad game of Tetris where the blocks are e-bikes and e-scooters, and the players are disabled individuals just trying to get from point A to point B.
The problem isn’t limited to college campuses, either. Canine Companions® Pico and I encounter them almost daily in Washington, D.C. and when we travel across the country.
And it's not just a problem here in the U.S. Across the pond in the UK, a new report by think tank Policy Exchange tells a similar tale. Disabled parliamentarians are calling out the councils and the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom for their "passivity." It's like they're saying, "Hey, we didn't sign up for this level of Extreme Sidewalk Survivor!"
So, what's the solution? Well, Policy Exchange suggests fining users who leave their e-bikes or e-scooters obstructing the pavement. I mean, if you can't park it, don't ride it, right? In Seattle ride-sharing companies work in collaboration with the city to establish e-bike and scooter use regulation zones as a condition of their operation. However, as with all regulation, it's only as good as its enforcement.
Let's reclaim our sidewalks from these two-wheeled terrors. Let's make our cities accessible for all, because everyone deserves the right to navigate their city without feeling like they're on an episode of Wipeout.
Remember, sidewalks are for walking, not for your discarded e-bike. Let's make our cities accessible again and ensure that no one feels like a second-class citizen in their own city. And for the love of all that is good, learn to park your e-bike.
Dumped e-bikes ‘dangerous’ for the disabled, think tank report finds
From Inclusion to Exclusion: The Impact of Remote Work Reduction on Disabled Employees
A desktop computer sitting on top of a wooden desk.
As we navigate the post-pandemic world, many companies, including Farmers Insurance Group, Meta, The Walt Disney Company, Lyft, and Amazon, are scaling back remote work options. This decision, while seemingly benign, has profound implications for employees with disabilities.
The shift to remote work during the pandemic was a boon for many disabled employees. It eliminated commuting challenges, provided a comfortable work environment, and offered flexibility for medical appointments. The rollback of remote work threatens to undo these gains, potentially pushing disabled employees out of the workforce.
Meta's recent decision to require employees to return to the office three days a week starting in September is a case in point. A Meta spokesperson stated, "We're committed to distributed work, and we're confident people can make a meaningful impact both from the office and at home." However, the decision to limit remote work options contradicts this statement, particularly for disabled employees for whom "home" is not just a convenience, but a necessity.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, hinted at this change when he said that their internal analysis showed engineers who work in person "get more done." This perspective, while potentially valid for some, fails to consider the unique circumstances of disabled employees. For them, the ability to work remotely isn't about productivity alone; it's about accessibility and inclusion.
The scaling back of remote work options by these major companies sends a disheartening message to disabled employees: our needs are secondary. It's a stark reminder that the corporate world still has a long way to go in truly embracing diversity and inclusion.
We must advocate for a more inclusive approach to work arrangements, one that recognizes the unique needs and contributions of all employees, including those with disabilities.
Remote work should not be seen as a temporary pandemic measure, but as a permanent option that can foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
A New CEO Says Employees Can’t Work Remotely After All, and They Revolt
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Plane
A UK-based consortium has created a cabin concept that allows wheelchair users to use their own chair when flying on airlines
Greetings, fellow readers! I'm your friendly neighborhood wheelchair user, navigating the world with everyone’s favorite 70-pound Lab Retriever, Canine Companions® Pico. Over the near decade that we’ve been matched, we have a knack for finding ourselves in the most absurd situations.
Let's talk about flying. Not the Superman kind, but the "strapped into a metal tube hurtling through the sky" kind. It's a bit like a roller coaster, except the ride lasts for hours and there's no overpriced keepsake photo afterward proving you survived.
Now, imagine doing this while also wondering if your legs (aka my wheelchair) will still work when you land. It's like playing a game of "Wheelchair Roulette". The stakes? A cool $20,000. That's right, folks. My wheelchair costs more than a used car, and I'm entrusting it to the same people who routinely lose luggage on direct flights. In 2022 alone, 11,389 wheelchairs were mishandled by US airlines, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation February 2023 Air Travel Consumer Report.
But let's not forget my trusty sidekick, Pico. He's the Batman to my Robin, the peanut butter to my jelly, the...well, you get the idea. He's my rock, especially when turbulence hits and I'm clutching the armrests like I'm trying to strangle them. This is where the spasticity from CP can be extra fun.
Now, here's the good news. Delta Air Lines and Air 4 All are stepping up their game. They're developing a seat that allows us wheelchair users to stay in our chairs during the flight. Debuting on June 6 at the Aircraft Interiors Expo, this prototype has been a longtime coming. As PriestmanGoode director Daniel MacInnes told Insider, "Offering equal access to comfort, safety, and dignity for all passengers has always been our objective for Air 4 All."
This is a game-changer, folks. No more playing "Wheelchair Roulette". No more being transferred from chair to chair like a game of musical chairs. Just me, my wheelchair, and my trusty canine sidekick, cruising at 35,000 feet.
So, here's to Delta, Air 4 All, and all the wheelchair users who dream of flying comfortably. Keep flying high, my friends. And remember, the sky's the limit...unless you're in an airplane. Then it's more like 35,000 feet.
Share your thoughts, experiences, or your favorite airplane food (if such a thing exists) in the comments below. Let's get the conversation rolling!