DAILY READERS
I learned journalism at the storied Akron Beacon Journal.
Its daily print circulation is below
22,000.
It’s not an apples to apples comparison
-- but I am proud to be getting so many readers.
My blog focuses on building a better environment for people with disabilities, placemaking and urban photography.
It began more than a decade ago and
has had nearly 1.5 million unique visitors.
I HOPE I HAVE MADE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
The year ahead will be one of difficult and challenging transition.
Details about major changes will be
shared in early 2023.
I always try to write a blog post tied
to my birthday, something different than the other 364 posts of the year.
I have long contemplated writing my own
obituary.
I have pre-written obits of well-known
people when I was a journalist.
It’s common practice to have them at
the ready with a significant person is very old or ill.
But I keep thinking if I post it, maybe
someone will think I’ve expired, am about to or am in the mood to expedite the journey
to the other side.
Not the case on all counts.
So how to do a bit of an I love me
post without crafting my own obituary in paragraph structure.
Well, how about bullet points.
To date, 40 years living as an adult, I have:
1. Completed projects in some of the greatest cities
of the world
2. Traveled – solo and together – to even more of
the best cities on earth
3. Written a one-of-kind special section on one
of Columbus, Ohio’s poorest hardscrabble neighborhoods
4. Won major awards for my journalism
5. Been my editor’s nominee for the Pulitzer
Prize
6. Had my work published in more than 100
newspapers and magazines
7. Posted daily to a blog for nearly a decade
8. Produced cover stories on diversity, equity,
inclusion and accessibility
9. Produced center-spread major feature articles
on urban design, planning, architecture, engineering, mobility, sustainability,
housing and growth
10. Ghost written trade journal article and op-ed
pieces for clients
12. Given a key lecture in Paris at the
International Making Cities Livable global gathering
13. Spoken about Universal Design in planning at
the APA Florida statewide conference
14. Written a winning proposal for presentation
at the American Institute of Architects national conference
15. Written an award submission that won the APA’s
highest nationwide honor for a client
16. Been on planning teams recognized with APA
statewide and regional awards
17. Led the communications for an urban design
studio that more than doubled in size during my tenure
18. Led marketing for a globally honored international
architecture firm
19. Led business development for a legacy engineering
firm that expanded its walkability and multimodal practice
20. Served as the senior policy advisor to the
chair of the Miami City Commission – within three years of moving from Ohio
22. Contributed to a project that created a
pedestrian walkway connecting Miami’s greats historic main streets – Calle Ocho
and Coral Way
23. Served as point person for the elected
official who cast the deciding vote to adopt Miami 21, the first citywide
form-based code in America
24. Created a groundbreaking Universal Design
course for the undergraduate and graduate levels
25. Taught the revolutionary Universal Design
course at a top 10 school of architecture
26. Contributed writing and research to the largest
trade association in America for two decades
27. Contributed content to the nation’s largest
non-profit for people with spinal cord injuries for 20-plus years
28. Advised world leaders on how to improve
housing, transit, workplaces, parks, services and daily living for people with
disabilities
29. Advised corporations on diversity, equity and
inclusion – through the lens of disability advocacy
That’s 29, half of 58.
I’d like to
think there are 29 more great accomplishments, but there’s no need to keep
writing.
I thank
those who read this essay to completion.
COVERING PLANNING, URBAN DESIGN, MOBILITY, TRAVEL, PHOTOGRAPHY, ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MORE
This blog started a decade ago.
Social media
was big, but not nearly as big as it is now.
We might not
even have owned a modern smart phone when we first started marrying images to
words within a template on Blogger.
We have had more than 333,333 unique visitors to these pages.
We have
gotten to share advocacy writing on planning, urban design and mobility from
Planning Magazine, On Common Ground Magazine, Strong Towns, CNU Public Square
and the Miami New Times to name a few.
We have
shared disability-positive profiles and research stories from United Spinal,
New Mobility, Designs 4 Living and a host of online publications.
In 2022, we have posted links to more than a half dozen podcast appearances.
We’ve also
posted live from key speeches given to packed audiences at the American
Planning Association National Conference in San Diego and the International
Making Cities Livable event in Paris.
Each year,
we post more than 400 high quality urbanism photos taken from our extensive
travels to promote Universal Design.
FOR OUR ADVOCACY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Thanks
Commissioner Manolo Reyes for recognizing our hard work including our creation
and team teaching of a groundbreaking course on Universal Design at the
University of Miami School of Architecture.
We were
humbled to be recognized in front of hundreds of our neighbors gathered at
historic William Jennings Bryan Park.
We appreciate
being recognized for a lifetime of work in public service, journalism, planning, education and
advocacy.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
It would be nothing short of unjust, in this era of heightened awareness, to report on every aspect of inclusion
— with the exception of people with disabilities and the
landmark ADA.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
We must press on. We must protect the ADA and hope for more.
Inclusion is the name of the game in America.
Every right-minded, good-hearted person is
peacefully marching, voting with their dollars and making changes in their
workplaces and personal behavior to ramp up equality.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
I am happy we have the ADA.
When it passed, did I think the built environment would be 100-fold more accessible after 30 years of it on the books?
Yes.
Am I deeply disappointed that sidewalks, parks, pools and other public spaces — as well as restaurants, retailers, hotels and taxi/rideshare vehicles — are still routinely inaccessible to my wife and others who use wheelchairs for mobility?
A disgusted, resounding yes is the unfortunate answer.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
I hope every newspaper, from the great old newspapers of record to the smallest daily in Middle America;
every television station, from the highest rated network news to the smallest cable access show;
and every radio news program, from Washington D.C. to low watt operation in the Rocky Mountains;
has its best
reporters, columnists and anchors working on ADA stories.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
Countless people of all ages have died of COVID in nursing homes and similar facilities — because despite being the wealthiest of nations, we prefer to warehouse people with disabilities in substandard conditions.
The rights
of people with disabilities must be researched, explored and explained by
dogged journalists.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
Incredibly GOP’s standard bearer, while serving as president of the U.S., willfully mocked disabled people in front of the entire nation.
He then rubbed salt in the wounds
by smirkingly acting like nothing was wrong with it, while steadfastly refusing
to apologize.
This is why the ADA — its gains, its failures, its impact, its future and any threats to its existence — MUST be explored in depth by every news organization.
The media
is our last defense in protecting diversity while ensuring rights for all.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
The ADA has accomplished a lot over the three decades that it has been enforced as federal civil rights legislation.
It should be
noted that it was approved with bipartisan support, with a Republican in the
White House.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
I am urging journalists to be aware of this lack in coverage.
When the 30th anniversary of
unique legislation to protect civil rights of people with disabilities took
place in 2020, the lack of coverage was glaring.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
Do people suffer from housing discrimination because of race, gender, orientation?
Yes.
Is there any minority (other than people with disabilities) limited to less than one percent of all housing?
The answer is a resounding no.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
People with disabilities have long been the most unemployed and under employed of all minority groups.
Less than one percent of all housing in the United States is readily accessible to people who use wheelchairs.
Let that sink in.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
Inequality, discrimination and bigotry — based on race, physical ability, gender, identity, belief system — denies education, housing, jobs and opportunity to deserving people.
At its worst, bigotry can cut a life short.
In a time
when America is taking a long look at police brutality, an out of balance
justice system and fractured public policy — we must all join together to
eliminate all inequities.
THAT’S A MAJOR NEWS STORY
For people
with disabilities, the ADA is their federal civil rights protection — equal to
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, landmark civil rights and labor law that outlaws
discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Inclusion of
all people is a key topic of the turbulent times.
