Disability Friendly

1Disability Inclusion Benefits Everyone

How many times a day do you ask Siri or Alexa to look something up for you? Send a text? How about asking it to play music? If you're like me, it's multiple times a day. The convenience of hands‐free technology has exponentially made my life easier. Ever use a cart at the grocery store or at the airport? Curb cuts indeed make lugging those things around more maneuverable. They also help parents with strollers and kids and adults on bikes and scooters. Many of the things we use to simplify or quicken daily tasks were initially designed for disability access. Our complex and busy lives become more manageable and enjoyable when they are designed for all cases. Disability Inclusion benefits everyone.

I am a person who wears four artificial limbs, as I was born without most of my arms and legs. I've used prostheses since I was two years of age and my only childhood recollection is putting on my prostheses in the morning and wanting to get them off as quickly as possible in the evening! I definitely needed them to function as independently as possible.

When you think of physical spaces, what do you notice? I look for a combination of aesthetics and functionality. I want to feel welcomed, that I belong there. Whether I'm going someplace with a clear purpose in mind or wandering for leisure, I hope to enjoy the experience. Beyond the aesthetics, one key element I hope for is ease of use. How easy is it for me to do what I wanted to do? Do I feel ...