UNIVERSAL DESIGN

ROAD SHOW

Happy to announce that I have finalized a deal to bring my unique and passionate presentation of design for all to a major event in the Great Lakes region.

I will be in my native Midwest in June, presenting Universal Design ideas to architects, planners, urban designers, transportation engineers, disability advocates and more.

My interactive and highly visual program will be a revamped and super customized version of something I've had the privilege of presenting at national and global events.

Specific details coming soon.

DESIGN FOR ALL IS WORTH IT

AND OFTEN CAN BE DONE AT A LOW COST

I don’t have statistics, but common sense would also prove that when you increase walkability/rollability, thus connectivity to education, jobs, community activities – you increase earning power.

That increases income (and the tax roll) for people with disabilities.

In the United States, people with disabilities are the most under- and unemployed of any marginalized group.

Access in the public realm isn’t just the right thing to do, it is sound public policy on many levels.

DESIGN FOR ALL IS WORTH IT

AND OFTEN CAN BE DONE AT A LOW COST

Adding curb ramps, protected crosswalks, wider sidewalks and smoother surfaces can be blended into all of those complete streets, pavement repaving, mainstreet sidewalk enhancements and other public works projects.

When done from scratch, rather than a retrofit to fix poor planning for accessibility, the cost is rarely more than fractionally more costly than not building for access for all.

DESIGN FOR ALL IS WORTH IT

AND OFTEN CAN BE DONE AT A LOW COST

Smooth, wide, safe, gently sloped surfaces also are beloved by those who wear heels (reduces tripping hazard) and the army of delivery people who wheel our daily online purchases to our doorstep.

I also want to bust the myth that making something accessible (we call it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the United States, but hundreds of nations have similar law to make life better for people with disabilities while protecting their civil rights) doesn’t mean busting the budget.

DESIGN FOR ALL IS WORTH IT

AND OFTEN CAN BE DONE AT A LOW COST

One in four, more than one billion – people have some kind of disability.

That is neither outlier or special interest, by any definition.

When you design something that makes it easier for a wheelchair user to move about your city – 

you also have made pedestrian mobility better for young children, elderly people, those with visual impairments and dozens of others (including those who use scooters, walkers or crutches.)

DESIGN FOR ALL IS WORTH IT

AND OFTEN CAN BE DONE AT A LOW COST

When I see a design that serves everyone with equity and inclusion.

Ableists (wrongly) see something that blows up traditional placemaking for a “special interest.”

Experts around the world have proven that one in four people will experience some kind of disability in their lifetime. 

There are more than one billion people on earth who have a disability that impacts their daily lives.

DESIGN FOR ALL IS WORTH IT

AND OFTEN CAN BE DONE AT A LOW COST

I have spent nearly four decades as a writer, planner, educator and advocate.

My specialty is advocating for good urban design and town planning that not only encourages walking, but also makes it easy, safe and comfortable.

I am one of the few people in my field whose prime focus is design for people with disabilities.

I’d be lying if I didn’t share that I often get frustrated by urban designers and town planners who push back on the notion of design (or retrofit) that serves all.

GRATIFIED TO BE A FEATURED SPEAKER -- ON UNIVERSAL DESIGN

AT THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION 

DELAWARE CHAPTER ANNUAL CONFERENCE

My program, with colleagues David Haight and Wiatt Bowers of Atkins, is No Person Left Behind – Truly Inclusive Design.

We presented a similar program – on Universal Design and a better built environment for people with disabilities – in the grand ballroom at the APA national conference in San Diego this spring.

We also highlighted these issues at the Florida APA conference in 2021.

I spoke about how Universal Design is the most inclusive, durable, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective approach to design and design policy – at the International Making Cities Livable Conference in Paris this year.

My award-winning reporting frequently appears in Planning magazine.

My storytelling has advised dozens of clients on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility – with a focus on creating a better built environment for people with disabilities.

In addition to keynote and major speeches, I share my passion for design for all via the groundbreaking Universal Design course that I created and teach at a major school of architecture.

PROUD TO HAVE MORE THAN 300,000 READERS and to

 BLOG DAILY ABOUT URBAN DESIGN AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY

 

We stared this blog a decade ago – when we only had one email account.

It was before we Tweeted several times a day, made Facebook posts all the time and shared Instagram stories plus LinkedIn articles.

We have made more than 3,000 posts.

We remember when we celebrated 15,000 unique visitors to the site.

Now we have shared more than 1,500 fine art images taken around the globe – showing the best in travel, town planning, inclusion, equity and accessibility.

We have taken government leaders, big business and others to task for failing to make the world wheelchair-accessible and barrier-free to all.

We have serialized national magazine cover and centerspread stories, enhanced with exclusive added information and images we took with our own digital SLR.

The combined content would fill three to four full volume nonfiction books.

The insights have influenced hundreds of urban designers, transportation engineers, town planners, landscape architects, sustainability experts, architects and policymakers.

It has shared dynamic theories on universal design, inclusive mobility and environmental justice.

Stay tuned for more.

 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 37

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

“Planners are the guardians of the future and we have an ethical obligation to go out of our way to make sure voices traditionally not heard have a voice,’ Homewood said. 

“We are the ones who are professionally trained and emotionally prepared to imagine our communities in 5, 10, 20, 100 years. 

In terms of climate change, civil unrest, wild fires, pandemics — we are most capable of addressing social and environmental issues and we must ensure we do it in a way that maximizes the health, safety and economic wellbeing of the entire community.”

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 36

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

Homewood said planners must get past the paternalism of the Great Society and Model Cities movements that whether well-intended or not, added to inequity rather than resolving it. 

He urged planners to get past the “lunacy” of zoning processes that are not inclusive and stand in the way of building communities that are diverse, walkable, bikeable, livable and mixed (incomes and uses).

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 35

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

“Cities planning for highways said (African American communities) were blight, so they were not given anything close to replacement value. 

Their ownership was taken from them and they became renters,” he continued. 

“The one thing we know the greatest source of integrational wealth transfer is homeownership. 

Even in gentrification, if the businesses and houses are owner occupied, everyone reaps the benefits. 

When bad policies took away ownership and made people renters, now a gentrifying neighborhood displaces renters and (deepens the wounds from property takings done generations ago).”

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 34

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

George Homewood

George Homewood is the planning director for Norfolk, Va., and served on the task force that created the APA equity policy guide.

“Unfortunately, a legacy that planners have to face up to — one of the key components to the equity policy guide — is the tools of our profession got co-opted and used to divide rather than bring together,” Homewood said. 

“When properties were acquired for highways, African American businesses and houses were taken. 

These were properties folks owned. 

Not only were properties taken, to further compound the crime, they were given a discounted, unfair market value. 

They were not paid what would allow them to replace their business or living conditions."

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 33

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

Andy Mills

“Serving all areas, communities and people to ensure equal access to a healthier, safer and environmentally friendly transportation options are a few of our top priorities. 

Central Ohio is known for the “Columbus Way,” public private partnerships serving the greater good of our communities and providing equal access to all.

We are proud of our work and look forward to the implementation phases of building additional trails. 

It goes without saying, we affirm our commitment to Fair Housing but we are also committed to equality and serving all neighborhoods,” said Andy Mills, 2020 Columbus REALTORS® president. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 32

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

The Columbus Association of REALTORS® (CAR) secured a smart growth grant to match other funding to support a $50,000 study to equitably build out the Central Ohio Greenways Regional Trail Vision. 

The planning effort acknowledges that many Central Ohio low-income and minority neighborhoods have traditionally been underserved and lack access to safe transportation and recreation options. 

With equity for all, benefits would include cleaner environment, health cost savings and support of a transportation mode-shift away from car dependency.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 31

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

Thompson said NAREB continues to encourage pathways to homeownership while combating the horrendous impact of historic redlining.

“Redlining still takes place today, as African Americans are in lending deserts. 

In some communities, they are twice as likely to be turned down for a mortgage as a non-African American,” he said.

We promote democracy in housing. 

Lawmakers need to pay attention to lending patterns and trends. 

Most have no idea what lending rates are, broken down by racial demographics.”

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 30

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

Another remedy is making sure stakeholders drive the planning process, not just developers.

Thompson said too many cities dedicate most of their millions in infrastructure to mega developments or new neighborhoods, instead of investing in maintaining core neighborhoods.

“Look at the demolition budget vs. housing rehab dollars. Many cities spend 10 to 1 on knocking down houses instead of spending a little to help people on upkeep,” he said. 

“People get written up for code violations. 

It’s hard to get a mortgage or rehab loan, so it drives people to walk away from their homes. 

That makes it a market for speculators who don’t have the same commitment to the neighborhood. 

In minority neighborhoods, we need comprehensive, sustainable community strategies that rehab houses; stabilize mortgages; fix curbs and sidewalks; provide convenient transit; upgrade water and sewer lines; maintain parks and streetscapes; and build arts and cultural facilities.”

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 29

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

Antoine M. Thompson

Antoine M. Thompson is executive director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the largest organization of African American real estate professionals in the United States. 

He said planning for equity can be as simple as placing caps over expressways or removing them — to reconnect communities separated by such major transportation projects that almost always were built through African American neighborhoods.

Thompson, who severed as a state legislator in Buffalo, said the planning and zoning departments of most American cities could benefit from having more diverse staffers, noting a staff that lacks diversity may have good intentions, but it’s likely to make paternal, detrimental decisions.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 28

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

“New growth practices need to consider who they are accountable to — rather than focus on financial return to investment and highest and best use of land. 

There is an opportunity to assess the broader impacts to the community — environmental, social, economic, etc.,” she said.

“If we look at the impacts of existing growth policy — often favoring big box, chains, national retailers/hotels/services, and other similar types of development — the costs of supporting infrastructure and long-term sustainability far outweigh the benefits to community.

In order to support mom and pops/local/diverse businesses, it’s imperative that local planning decisions not only prioritize these types of developments, but also support their success.”

EQUITY AND INCLUSION -- Part 27

Planning, Zoning and other Land Use Policy Best Practices to Erase Errors of the Past that Perpetuated Bias and Deepened Inequality

Guerra said addressing planning flaws requires that planners understand:

The many ripple effects of racist and inequitable planning practices;

That planning expertise offers important technical knowledge, but it should not outweigh the local, lived expertise of community members; and

Planners must look beyond the built environment as the outcome of design. That it requires engaging in meaningful conversations across disciplines to understand the deep social impacts of inequality and a path forward that centers on both place and community.