DISABILITY VISIBILITY PROJECT – PHOTO IMAGE NUMBER 100

CONEY ISLAND JULY 4, 2026

Disability Visibility July 4, 2026 at the original Nathan’s hot dogs Coney Island. Celebrating diversity as part of our nation’s 250th.

Annual hot dog eating contest took place right around the corner.

INTRODUCING A TRIPPING HAZARD IS NOT GOOD MOBILITY DESIGN

REMOVE BUMPY SURFACES THAT ENDANGER WHEELCHAIR USERS

It’s time to say goodbye to the pavers that are a wheelchair mobility hazard on the sidewalk hugging Central Park on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

A smooth, pedestrian friendly surface is urgently needed.

NU STADIUM: HOME OF INTERMIAMI CF

GREAT SIGHT LINES, LOVE TO ROOF CANOPY PROTECTION FROM RAIN

I can now say I saw Lionel Messi play in live in MLS competition.

Great time at my first game at NU Stadium.

InterMiamiCF played to draw vs. my former hometown Columbus Crew.

Great sight lines, concessions, restrooms.

Canopy roof saved us from the rain.

While waiting years for the pedestrian bridge, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County MUST do a better job for pedestrians walking from the north parking lots.

The sidewalk on 37 Avenue over the Miami River branch is narrow and dangerous for pedestrians.

Close the westernmost south bound lane of 37^th/Douglas Road – to create a safe pathway to the stadium.

I am still evaluating wheelchair access at the stadium.

For the record, I still think it was a boondoggle for City of Miami to give up precious park land for a mega development of hotels, retail, etc. that happens to have a soccer stadium.

I also believe the billionaire developers got a sweetheart dimes on the dollar deal.

But I still want to see a games.

DISABILITY VISIBILITY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

WHEELCHAIR USERS IN DIVERSE PLACES ALL OVER THE WORLD

Disability Visibility Project: The High Line New York. 

Internationally acclaimed linear green space created from a former elevated railway. 

It features multiple elevators and ramps for wheelchair access.

ARCHITECTS THAT WANT TO HIDE WHEELCHAIR RAMPS TO THE SIDE

OR BACK OF BUILDINGS ARE BIGOTED ABLEISTS. PERIOD.

Wheelchair ramps are an abomination.

They ruin the façade.

Fire escapes.

So sculptural, they enhance the façade.

If the same architect makes both of these statements, they hate disabled people.

Only ableists reject access ramps.

BARELY 25% OF NEW YORK’S ESSENTIAL SUBWAY TRAINS

ARE ACCESSED BY ELEVATORS – FIX THIS MAYOR MAMDANI

The MTA's 2025-2029 Capital Plan commits nearly $7.1 billion to station accessibility.

This phase of the plan will make 60 additional stations newly ADA-accessible while modernizing dozens of older elevators.

Long overdue.

The MTA is not under the New York mayor’s office, but its high profile progressive Mayor Mamdani MUST ensure this work does not fall behind.

PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY IS THE FUTURE

MORE THAN 1/3 OF AMERICANS CANNOT/DO NOT DRIVE

Bicycle delivery bike parking lot at 11th Street and 1st Avenue in the Lower East Side.

Each of the hundreds of bikes takes a delivery vehicle off the street and reduces pollution and congestion.

The more we emphasize multimodal mobility, the more we can design wide sidewalks to accommodate wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.

The more we reduce car dependency, the more critical mass we’ll have for train, bus and gondola transportation that is fully accessible and inclusive to all.

FAULTY CURB RAMPS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

THEY ARE ESSENTIAL TO INCLUSIVE MOBILITY WITH DIGNITY

Too much patchwork, narrow & dangerous curb ramp in one of the busiest places in Manhattan.

E. Union Square & E. 16 St. — next to the Union Square subway station, the 4th busiest in all of New York.

Mayor Mamdani must make wheelchair access a priority.

PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY MUST BE MAINTAINED

DURING SIDEWALK REPAIRS AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

This is a great way to safely maintain wheelchair accessible pedestrian mobility when the sidewalk is closed.

New York uses these all the time, but they are virtually nonexistent in Miami.

PROUD TO HAVE CREATED MORE THAN 5,000 BLOG POSTS

MOST ADDRESS HOW TO CREATE A BETTER BUILT ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHILE UPLIFTING URBAN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL

In the past decade and a half, I have created 5,000+ original posts for my blog – “Urban Travel, Sustainability & Accessibility.”

 

I have shared travel images from nearly 50 major cities, where I have worked to increase awareness of Universal Design and Inclusive Mobility.

 

While I have certainly posted on typical resiliency, sustainability and green building techniques – I define sustainability primarily as wheelchair access.

 

Because making something accessible from the start creates a home, office, school, park, store, etc. – the most flexible, adaptable and cost effective facility possible.

 

My posts have totaled well more than 1.3 million words.

 

That’s equal to the word count in 20 non-fiction books.

 

All of my content is posted free, virtually always with my own images – drawn from an  archive of 40,000+ fine art photographs, some of which have been featured at major galleries.

 

My blog has drawn more than 4 million unique visitors, starting with a few dozen per day and now building to well more than 30,000 each day.

 

That number rivals the average daily paid digital circulation of most major newspapers, including my hometown Miami Herald.

 

 

IS SEGREGATION EVER A GOOD THING? THE ANSWER IS NO

DISABLED AND NON DISABLED PATRONS SHOULD SHARE THE SAME MAINSTREAMED, INCLUSIVE ENTRANCE TO A MUSEUM

Reflection in twin pools/fountains in front of The Metropolitan Museum of Art along Fifth Avenue.

MET has a ground level wheelchair accessible entrance.

But wish it would stop using the stairs as a segregated entrance.

TRUE, DURABLE ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT A CHECK MARK

IT IS BORN OF INPUT FROM END USERS

I hate the use of this limited access lift at Temple of Dendur.

Does the Metropolitan Museum of Art not work with wheelchair users when designing?

This cavernous room could accommodate a simple ramp.

Lifts break down all the time.

Lifts are an example of disability compliance by checkmark.

A device meets minimum standards & that’s all the facility cares about.

Ableists could care less than lifts require a key that always goes missing and assistance that robs wheelchair users of dignity & independence.

REFUSING TO DESIGN CITIES FOR ALL IS NOT HEALTHY

IT IS TOXIC ABLEISM

Many ableists think now that we have home delivery of food, medicine, clothes, etc. — there is no need to make the built environment wheelchair accessible.

But isolation prevents chance encounters/diverse experiences that maintain mental health.

Only 25 percent of MTA subway stations are accessible.

Adding broken down lifts and people with disabilities are denied chance encounters and societal immersions that other commuters enjoy.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT BUILDING ACCESS

THAT IS DURABLE, RELIABLE AND SIMPLE

THE MORE GADGETS, THE MORE LIKELY THE DEVICE WILL FAIL

NEVER trust an architect that wants to create wheelchair access via a complex contraption.

Bells & whistles feed ego.

They also are high maintenance, cost prohibitive & prone to fail.

A simple, durable ramp works 95% of the time. 

This ramp provides access within historic St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan.

THE HIGH LINE NYC GETS THUMBS UP FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

PATH OF TRAVEL IS LEVEL, GENTLY GRADED, UNOBSTRUCTED & OVERALL OUTSTANDING & RAMPED/ELEVATOR ACCESS IS GOOD

The High Line has five public elevators for barrier-free access.

This one is at 14th Street and 10th Avenue.

At any given time, at least one elevator is out of service.

Check https://thehighline.org/elevator-status

“THAT SILLY WHEELCHAIR USER IS PLAYING IN THE STREET/BIKE LANE”

NO, THEY ARE THERE BECAUSE THE SIDEWALK IS NOT SAFE

99 times out of 100, when a wheelchair user takes the bike lane instead of the sidewalk—risking injury from cyclists/adjacent traffic—

the sidewalk is buckled, blocked or otherwise obstructed.

LES— Chrystie & Stanton. 

Sure hope NYC Mayor Mamdani's campaign to go to bat for the marginalized includes  millions of disabled constituents.

CITY OF MIAMI COMMITS TO KEEPING SIDEWALKS PROTECTED AND OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION

NO MORE CLOSED SIDEWALKS FORCING WHEELCHAIR USERS AND ALL PEDESTRIANS TO UNNECESSARILY CROSS DANGEROUS TRAFFIC

“…the City Commission approved our legislation requiring overhead pedestrian protection instead of simply closing sidewalks during construction.

Thank you to my colleagues who co-sponsored this important safety and quality-of-life initiative.” -- Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo.

Kudos to Commissioner Damián Pardo and fellow Miami City Commissioners for approving this.

It is a crucial element of mobility for people with disabilities. 

I was proud to discuss this with Commissioner Pardo during a Miami DDA downtown block walk, to offer Universal Design insights to Alexandra Alexieva and to speak about the economic benefits of a walkable city in front of Mayor Eileen Higgins and the Commission at the first reading of this legislation.

I stand with this leadership to convince Miami-Dade County to adopt similar legislation to prevent the dangers of closed sidewalks on County streets.

 

OPPOSITION TO WHEELCHAIR RAMPS IS ABLEISM

ABLEISM IS BIGOTRY (THAT’S BAD, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING)

Screaming proof that architects, planners, engineers and builders with disdain for wheelchair ramps are bigoted ableists.

Two fit NYC cops chose the ramp, as did 98 of 100 people at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Universal Design works.

ALL MOBILITY DEVICES ARE COOL

WHEELCHAIRS = FREEDOM, NOT LIMITATION

Industrial Designer Kazuo Kawasaki's goal was to create a wheelchair that felt as good, and looked as cool, as the newest pair of sneakers.

The Carna, on display at MOMA, is colorful & has high–tech style.

Since it had to be light and easy to carry, an improvement over most collapsible wheelchairs, Kawasaki used a titanium frame, with aluminum honeycomb–core wheels and rubber seat and tires.

HISTORIC DOES NOT MEAN PERPETUALLY INACCESSIBLE

SORRY ABLEISTS: THERE IS NO GRANDFATHERING A LACK OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESS AT OLD TRANSIT STATIONS

Exploring Universal Design and Wheelchair Access via the myriad ramps and elevators of Grand Central Station.

Overall grade of B for inclusiveness of train hall, dining concourse, Grand Central Market and restrooms.

ADDING WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO YOUR BUSINESS

PROVIDES A HUGE RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Missed opportunity for barrier-free access into Decor Art Gallery on 3rd Ave. & 37 St.

If the southern wall were removed, there would be plenty of space for a gentle ramp to go down the 2 small steps to the commercial space.

NEW YORK IS ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST WALKABLE AND TRANSIT RICH CITIES

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THOUSANDS OF BLOCKADES TO WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

Nightmare scenario for people with disabilities in the Lower East Side.

Poorly maintained landscaping = flood zone around tree.

Coupled with unregulated overturned trash bin plus mountain of recycling = no wheelchair access.

Ludlow at Houston.

 

OPPOSITION TO WHEELCHAIR RAMPS IS ABLEISM – PART 2

THE ABILITY TO DESIGN IS A GIFT

DESIGNING IN WAYS THAT EXCLUDE IS THROWING AWAY THAT GIFT

The ableist architect: “Retrofitted wheelchair ramp=terrible, ruins the facade.” “Fire escape=sculptural urban beauty.”

Both are add-ons.

If disability access offends the designer—he is prejudiced against people with disabilities.

DANGEROUS BY DESIGN

UNTIL MIAMI LEADERS CARE ABOUT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY --                    FATALITIES ARE A MATTER OF WHEN AND HOW MANY, NOT IF

Photo shared on Nextdoor public forum

This gruesome picture is a human being in the throes of death.

It was posted on Nextdoor by a neighbor.

She lost the father of her child and ex-husband to a hit and run driver.

Raul Daizi was struck while crossing the major Miami intersection of Coral Way and 27th Avenue.

He and his family suffered in agony for nearly two weeks, before he succumbed.

I have lost multiple neighbors to dangerous design and lax enforcement on greater Miami’s mean streets.

Certainly, a hit and run driver is at fault.

But I also blame the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County for designing dangerous streets -- built for cars to drive as fast and recklessly as possible.

The safety of pedestrians is way down on the priority list.

Plus, very few of our police will  ticket speeders and out of control drivers. 

I've seen people make left turns out of the far right, blast through red lights 30 seconds after it has turned full red -- with cop cars right next to me.

They do nothing.

Finally, when people behind the wheel kill -- our judicial system acts like it is an accident, not a person driving like a maniac with intent to kill anything in the way.

If we elect mayors and commissioners who care about human beings on foot, on bike, using wheelchairs or crutches -- we will stop losing our loved ones.

Until then, the blood of pedestrian killing and maiming is on the hands of leaders who allow our roads to be intentionally dangerous by design.

We could take giant steps to fix this, if we dedicated a full-time person to protect pedestrian mobility:

https://urbantravelandaccessibility.blogspot.com/2026/02/create-chief-mobility-officer.html

DISABILITY INCLUSION IN URBAN DESIGN AND TOWN PLANNING

IS NOT AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH TO BE IGNORED – PART II

Image is NYC mural by Yok & Sheryo

The award to the biggest rat bastard town planner goes to this ableist: 

I asked why his plan only showed stairs and no wheelchair access.

“Well, maybe if people walked more, they would never need wheelchairs, he said.

While exercise is great, imagine a renowned urban designer being so opposed to ADA inclusion that they created myths.

In their absurd world, a lack of ramps & elevators is a 100% protective shield against spinal cord injury, MS, MD, CP, aging & all mobility impairments!

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU A PACK OF IDIOTS DESIGNED AND BUILT SOMETHING TOTALLY OFF LIMITS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LONG AFTER THE ADA WAS ENACTED?

THEY ONLY ADDED CRAPPY, BEGRUDGING ACCESS AFTER A LAWSUIT

The Vessel, a $200 million, 150-foot tall eyesore that serves as a monument to ableism.

As we celebrated the 36^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act this summer, remember that this giant middle finger to the ADA opened with virtually no wheelchair access. 

This supposedly immersive (but not inclusive) public art reopened after a massive redesign (not for more wheelchair access, but to prevent frequent suicides). 

It remains a gross example of toxic ableism in my book. 

PEOPLE DESERVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES AND SPACES

IF A GIANT FACILITY CAN RETROFIT FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, SURELY A POSTAGE STAMP SIZED PARK COULD MAKE THIS A FUNDING PRIORITY

Greenacre Park is a privately owned, publicly accessible "vest-pocket" park in Midtown Manhattan.

The urban oasis features a 25-foot waterfall that masks city noise.

It has a small cafe on East 51st St. between 2nd-3rd Aves.

Sadly, it does not have ramped access to the lower waterfall viewing area.

The elevated seating, under a canopy, that serves the café also is not accessible.

Though it was built before the ADA in 1971, surely this landmarked park could do some simple fundraising to become inclusive to all locals and visitors.

THE MET NYC FIFTH AVENUE

DISABILITY VISIBILITY PROJECT BY STEVE WRIGHT

Disability Visibility Project: Metropolitan Museum of Art NYC.

The MET has a ground level wheelchair accessible entrance.

Art on display is accessible throughout.

And there are many elevators to reach upper floor galleries.

But I wish it would stop using the stairs as the main, but terribly segregated entrance.

DISABILITY INCLUSION IN TOWN PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN

IS NOT AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH TO BE IGNORED

My impression of the typical town planner who neglects wheelchair access as part of multimodal mobility:

The sidewalks are narrow & obstructed.

“It has a bike lane.”

Most shops are inaccessible to people with disabilities.

“Pretty green bike lane.”

To make things abundantly clear.

I support cyclists and bike lanes.

I love cities where a major amount of people commute by bike and transit.

What I can't stand is so-called bike-ped experts who look at wheelchair access as an inconvenient truth to be ignored.

FUNKY SHOPS CAN ADD TO NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER

WHILE RESPECTING THE MOBILITY NEEDS OF WHEELCHAIR USERS

Broadway Home Appliances (aka The New Jason Appliance) displays dozens of used appliances on the sidewalks at Broadway and Suydam Streets in Bushwick Brooklyn.

The display maintains a wheelchair accessible pathway.

STREET DESIGN: THE SECRET TO GREAT CITIES AND TOWNS

MY EXPERTISE IS CITED IN THE SECOND EDITION

James Dougherty's fabulous and inclusive cover painting

I am gratified to be quoted as an advocate with expertise in Universal Design and mobility for people with disabilities in Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, 2nd Edition.

I will share my insights, based on working on inclusion and better policy around the world, at a Universal Design summit this fall.

I am honored that my urban/architectural photography is featured in The Art of the New Urbanism Volume 2 published by Wiley.

The book is by James Dougherty, Charles C. Bohl & Victor Dover.

It features my Street Photography from Istanbul, Morocco and Cairo.

I am proud to collaborate with Victor Dover.

He has been a friend and mentor for more than two decades.

He has sought my guidance on matters of Universal Design and Wheelchair Access.

We both are featured in the disability positive film Mark -- A Call to Action:

https://youtu.be/M-TBzsOK5VY?si=knwhkRossJlW7xT-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TZIKI SOUVLAKI – AUTHENTIC GREEK FOODIE HEAVEN IN MANHATTAN

TASTIEST FAIR PRICED CASUAL DINING IN ALL OF CHELSEA AND BEYOND

It was hard to pick one thing among the delicious options for my meal at Tziki in NYC.

I settled on tasty oyster mushrooms grilled with garlic oil on a Greek pita with peeled tomatoes, yogurt, smoked paprika & side dip of spicy tomato saltsa.

Washed it down with EPSA Sour Cherry.

The best veggie meal I've had in years!

TZIKI SOUVLAKI – AUTHENTIC GREEK FOODIE HEAVEN IN MANHATTAN

TASTIEST FAIR PRICED CASUAL DINING IN ALL OF CHELSEA AND BEYOND

I walked a mile out of my way -- in blazing 100+ degree heat index weather on the Independence Day weekend -- to sample Tziki's highly rated fare.

The beautifully decorated Chelsea restaurant -- at W 22nd St. and 7th Ave. -- has succulent, authentic Greek dishes.

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

The obligatory nighttime neon walk along Times Square was a close by walk from The Jewel Hotel NYC.

Central Park, a cool oasis in a heat wave, is 8 short city blocks north.

I also walked to Grand Central Station and took photos of the nearby Chrysler Building.

The AC worked great in stifling hot weather.

And the shower water was plenty warm for washing off the sweat from a long day of urban exploring.

 

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

Each floor of The Jewel Hotel NYC has a dispenser for cold, filtered water plus clean bottles for you to fill. It was 100 out so I used dozens.

The lobby is tiny, but the staff was great about running up an extra bed sheet, some plastic cutlery for in room dining, etc.

The MET and other classic galleries on Museum Mile are walking distance or 20 minutes via train/bus.

Even in the heat, I was close enough to walk to a pair of dramas in the Theater District.

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

The Jewel Hotel had one of the quietest rooms I've ever enjoyed in more than two dozen trips to NYC.

The bed was super comfy.

The room has all kinds of surfaces by the desk and bed -- perfect for your laptop, in room eating, noise machine and bottle of water next to the bed.

The room has a microwave (perfect for warming that leftover bagel or NYC pizza slice) and a mini fridge upon request.

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING 

The Jewel Hotel was the perfect base of operations for 5 days in New York City.

Next to Rockefeller Center, it is near every great subway and transit option in the city.

Under the Rock provides nearby breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

MOMA and 5th Avenue shopping are very close by.

GLOBAL DISABILITY INCLUSION HONORED ME ON ITS LIST OF THE TOP 3 DOZEN

DISABILITY ADVOCATES, ACTIVISTS, LEADERS & CHANGE MAKERS

It is the honor of a lifetime to make Global Disability Inclusion's "list of 36 people to know who are advancing accessibility and disability inclusion."

I have used my urban design and storytelling skills to create a better built environment for all.

"Steve Wright - a universal design expert helping cities and organizations understand that accessible design benefits everyone. A world traveler who is seeking out some of the world's most accessible and innovative designs."

--Bio by Meg O'Connell, CEO, Global Disability Inclusion.

Being recognized as one of the top 3 dozen disability-forward leaders/influencers is special, coming from a great inclusion expert such as Meg O'Connell, PHR.

Award winning Global Disability Inclusion is the premier firm for organizations creating more inclusive, accessible and engaged workplaces for people with disabilities.

I am the only town planner/storyteller on the Global Disability Inclusion list.

Humbled to be in the company of: John D. Kemp, James LeBrecht, Maria Town, Jack McElaney, Tiffany A. Yu, the Hon. Mike Lake, M.P.,  and the late Judy Heumann.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7487479566723198976/