ENERGIZED BY THIS ENDORSEMENT OF MY UNIVERSAL DESIGN SKILLS

 AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PLANNING CONSULTANT

"I am writing to provide a recommendation for Steve Wright and the services he provided during his engagement with the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP).

Steve's expertise in Universal Design and his commitment to promoting inclusivity have had an important impact on our organization and the Downtown Detroit community as DDP continues its stewardship of our downtown."

--Eric Larson, CEO, Downtown Detroit Partnership, 2023

The Downtown Detroit Partnership is a group of diverse business and community leaders committed to supporting a vibrant, thriving and welcoming urban center through innovation, investment, philanthropy and community building. 

Having observed its centennial in 2022, the DDP is one of the oldest and most successful downtown organizations in the nation.

UTILITY POLE SMACK DAB IN MIDDLE OF MIAMI SIDEWALK

CREATES ACCESS ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

I’m proud to work every day, fighting the good fight for Universal Design, safe streets and equitable mobility.

Cities MUST design for all people.

Streets cannot be just for cars.

They must have wide sidewalks, safe crosswalks and free of barriers that rob people with disabilities of the basic human right of independence, mobility and dignity.

Check out this Local 10 Miami/ABC News profile of my activism and expertise:

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/12/18/utility-pole-smack-dab-in-middle-of-miami-sidewalk-creates-access-issues/

ACCESSIBILITY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMPLOYMENT

BARRIERS HINDER EMPLOYEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The bottom line is there are more qualified workers with disabilities than one can count.

Too many are unemployed or under-employed.

This is not because of their disability; it is because the built environment – including buildings designed and built long after the ADA was the law of the land – literally blocks their access to the workplace.

This must change.

Architects, engineers, planners and other designers have a gift.

They must use that gift to create truly inclusive Universal Design.

So, as businesses get prepared for a lot of activity in October for Disability Employment Month, I would encourage all businesses to assess their environments and identify the barriers you have that keeping people with disabilities from full participation.

ACCESSIBILITY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMPLOYMENT

BARRIERS HINDER EMPLOYEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

When I complain to architects about lifts, they say “it meets the code and passes inspection.”

This is a horribly disingenuous answer.

Would they design a roof that passes inspection then collapses within six months of the building opening?

Because at least nine out of 10 times, outdoor lifts are not functional less than six months after installation.

If architects, engineers, planners and the city officials who regulate them truly cared about inclusion and equality, they would change the code and do away with an accessibility device that fails to provide access.

ACCESSIBILITY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMPLOYMENT

BARRIERS HINDER EMPLOYEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Outdoor lifts segregate and rarely function.

I’m not talking about enclosed, full elevators. I’m talking about those open-air lifts meant to go up a half story or less.

Virtually all of these require a key to operate.

The key gets lost.

At best, the wheelchair users have to shout and beg for the key holder to come out and operate the lift.

Imagine being the newest hire, trying to fit in and learn the corporate culture while climbing the ladder – but being reduced to a beggar to get in the building in the morning, leave for client appointments and head home after a long workday.

ACCESSIBILITY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMPLOYMENT

BARRIERS HINDER EMPLOYEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

All main entrances should be level with the ground.

When topography or flood plain issues (a rapidly increasing issue in my home state of Florida) and the entrance must be raised – a ramp for all is the only solution.

Secondary entrances tend to get locked or blocked.

In high traffic areas, retailers and restaurants don’t want to have to watch two doors for thieves and those dashing out without paying.

The ableist “solution” to lock or block the accessible entrance.

Not only does this cut out the opportunity to serve customers with disabilities, but it also discriminates in making it impossible for a person with a mobility disability to ever become an employee.

ACCESSIBILITY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMPLOYMENT

BARRIERS HINDER EMPLOYEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The Florida Department of Health Miami-Dade County main office does this. Clients and workers with mobility disabilities cannot use the main entrance.

I thought about my career and how sometimes lunch with the boss, or just chatting in the hallway on the way to run an errand – has resulted in an opportunity to pitch myself for a key project that led to a promotion.

If I had to roll the opposite direction, to the ramp segregated by design, I wouldn’t have that opportunity.

If I used a manual wheelchair, I’d have to race and huff and puff just to catch up to my lunch companions.

ACCESSIBILITY IS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EMPLOYMENT

BARRIERS HINDER EMPLOYEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

As a writer/planner/educator/activist focused on the intersection of urban design and universal design, I often get into heated debates with architects, engineers and planners that create designs that segregate people with disabilities.

I cannot stand it when a brand-new building, built decades after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law, has poor design that places a series of steps in the front, then hides the wheelchair access ramp in back of the building.

MARK, A CALL TO ACTION

A DOCUMENTARY ON DISABILITY AND INCLUSION

Mark Bookman

Proud to be a part of Ron Small's pitch perfect documentary on disability inclusion and Mark Bookman's life well lived.

The 90-minute full feature debuts in early 2024.

I appear on camera talking about Universal Design and its benefits.

I hope to travel to Tokyo for the premier.

Mark, A Call to Action - The Glide Fund.

Here’s a short clip (I’m not in it, but it sets the scene for great storytelling)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tk8fKAJxo&t=253s

Ron Small

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA:

STEVE WRIGHT PHOTO EXHIBIT AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM

For Steve Wright, this is also a full circle moment, as he is now having his work displayed at one of the institutions that inspired him to fully relocate to the Magic City.

“I can’t tell you what a dream it is… it’s wonderful coming back to where it all began for my journey in Miami,” he says.   

“You cannot stop progress, but you can protect history and authenticity. 

This exhibit is in Miami Beach, which has done a world-renowned exemplary job of balancing growth with protecting its famous, incomparable Art Deco District.”

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA:

STEVE WRIGHT PHOTO EXHIBIT AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM

“There is a humanity and a human scale to these 3 story buildings.

I don’t want to see these little charming buildings become faceless towers.”

Steve Wright hopes to inspire visitors to become more involved in the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of Little Havana’s unique architecture, as many of the buildings are in need of intensive care.

 

 

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA:

STEVE WRIGHT PHOTO EXHIBIT AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM

Steve Wright is passionate about helping to preserve what makes Little Havana special. 

As the city continues to grow and expand, and neighborhoods like Brickell continue to urbanize the city, he hopes to raise awareness of the hidden gems of the edifices that have graced his neighborhood for the past century.

“There’s been so much explosive growth in Miami.

I fear that these gorgeous buildings will be torn down because it’s not as photogenic as Ocean Drive… 

I feel a strong sense of community from that authenticity and heritage,” he adds.

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA:

STEVE WRIGHT PHOTO EXHIBIT AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM

For the exhibition, Steve Wright was inspired by the rehabilitation of his own home in Little Havana. 

He is the owner of a 1920s Spanish Mission-style home in the Shenandoah section of Little Havana.

“When it was time to find a house and put down roots here, I settled for Little Havana because it has great architecture and great culture.”

With this series of photographs, Wright aimed to capture Little Havana’s hidden historic gems, saying

“There are several Art Deco buildings in Little Havana that are on par with the Art Deco district in Miami Beach.”

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA:

STEVE WRIGHT PHOTO EXHIBIT AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM

An Ohio native who first came to Miami Beach while working on a story on a local cruise ship, Steve Wright says a guided MDPL tour he took in the late 1990s inspired him to relocate to the Magic City.

I went to the gift shop and went on a tour and was kind of sold for life, and moved out here by 2000,” he says.

Wright, who previously worked for former City Commissioner Joe Sanchez, is an advocate for disability rights.

SHARING A YEAR OF SUCCESS

IN STORYTELLING, PLANNING, KEYNOTE SPEAKING, EDUCATING, INFLUENCING AND EXHIBITING AS A VISUAL ARTIST AND ACTIVIST

I’d like to reflect on a year of unprecedented travel, workshops, projects, publishing and appearing in the media – all aimed at making the world a better place for all.

So, appropriating the 12 Days of Christmas into the 12 months of Activism, here goes:

On the first month of creating a better built environment for people with disabilities, my passionate hard work gave to me:

1 School of architecture guest lecture

2 Proclamations praising

3 Acclaimed photography exhibits

4 TV appearances as an expert

5 Keynote speeches

6 Passport stamps from international consulting

7 Global radio broadcasts

8 Universal design workshops

9  New design inclusion clients

10 Daily social media posts on design and DEI

11 Podcasts on planning

12 Published cover articles

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL 

WHO HAVE SUPPORTED MY PASSIONATE WORK

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA:

STEVE WRIGHT PHOTO EXHIBIT AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM

A vibrant new photography exhibit headlined the Art Deco Museum at the Art Deco Welcome Center, as part of its revamped Featured Local Artist Program.

“Save My Little Havana” by writer and photographer Steve Wright tells the story of his neighborhood’s many historic residential and commercial buildings.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

MY FINE ART PHOTOS OF LITTLE HAVANA

Dozens of fine art images are available for sale at the Art Deco Museum Miami Beach, Ocean Drive and 10th Street.

Large photos from exhibit $60-$400.
Small matted in adjacent gift shop $20-$40.

My photo exhibit has been extended to Dec. 31. The gallery and gift shop are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Free museum admission for Miami-Dade Residents.

50% of sales support the Miami Design Preservation League.

Buy local and support Miami artists when you do you Holiday Shopping.

https://mdpl.org/blog/2023/12/save-my-little-havana-exhibit-photographs-on-sale-through-december-31st/

MEET STEVE WRIGHT (PROFILE FROM SHOUTOUT MIAMI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I would start at the Ball and Chain in the heart of Little Havana’s Calle Ocho. It was a big key to the turnaround of this famous main street of Miami’s most famous neighborhood.

I live within walking distance.

The owners are super community minded. They buy historic buildings and rebuild them — so they don’t fall prey to the wrecking ball.
The music, drinks and bar food are great too.

I would then go on a walking tour of Shenandoah — the part of Little Havana that I’ve lived in for 20+ years. There are tons of unique houses and apartments. You can see Spanish Mission, Mediterranean, Art Deco, Belvedere Bungalow and all kinds of unique, built from scratch homes from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s.

For a great meal and a fair price, I’d go to La Camaronera on Flagler Street. I remember when this was a little standup counter with maybe a half dozen total food items — all fresh from the sea. The seafood is still fresh caught, but now there are more than a dozen tables. And along with the signature fried fish and shrimp sandwiches, there are some gourmet plates and even craft beer. It’s a nice transition of a very longtime family business into one that’s perfect for locals and visitors.

I’d also take a stroll north of Calle Ocho toward the Miami River. This area also has great old 1920s apartments, houses, churches and businesses. It’s still a bit hard scrabble, but perfectly safe. My photo exhibit at the Miami Beach Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive at 10th Avenue showcased my images of this area.

I would enjoy the heart of Calle Ocho — roughly between 12 and 17 Avenues — though a lot of new development is heading east of 12th — and stop at SW 13 Ave. There, you can walk a meandering path among mature trees and many public monuments that cover the history of the Cuban exile experience in Miami.

Many of the old homes have been restored, though there are not any shops or restaurants on the area known as Cuban Memorial Boulevard. When you reach Coral Way on the south end of the path, you are rewarded by another tree-lined main street with tons of mom and pop restaurants, bakeries and shops.

Everybody knows Miami Beach and nearby Little Havana neighborhoods of Coconut Grove and the city of Coral Gables, so I’ll reserve my tips solely for la Pequena Habana.

 

MEET STEVE WRIGHT (PROFILE FROM SHOUTOUT MIAMI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR

For more than 20 years, I have been the go-to writer on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — through the lens of a better built environment for people with disabilities — for the National Association of REALTORS.

My Pulitzer-nominated, award-winning writing has been featured in Planning Magazine, the publication of the American Planning Association.

I have been a speaker on Universal Design and inclusion at a nationwide APA conference.

MEET STEVE WRIGHT (PROFILE FROM SHOUTOUT MIAMI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR

I have had the privilege of working as a featured contributing writer to the United Spinal Association and its New Mobility Magazine for more than two decades. 

United Spinal is the premier nonprofit for people with spinal cord injuries and all who use a wheelchair for mobility.

I very much enjoyed writing legislation and create public policy for the better part of a decade for Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez, who represented Little Havana.

MEET STEVE WRIGHT (PROFILE FROM SHOUTOUT MIAMI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR

My disability advocacy was rewarded when I co-created the groundbreaking Universal Design course for graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

My advice is to turn your passion into your career. 

You may not get Bill Gates rich, but you will have a very rewarding career.

I’ve also learned to be flexible. 

When I started at a newspaper, I figured I’d work as a daily journalist for more than half a century…till I slumped over my desk after filing a front page story.

The internet greatly reduced the profitability of newspapers, so I later pursued careers in public service, marketing, business development, content creation and creative arts.

MEET STEVE WRIGHT (PROFILE FROM SHOUTOUT MIAMI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR

Learning about town planning and urban design shaped my career as a writer.

I have published thousands of stories about how to make our cities a better place to live — for all people of all abilities, backgrounds and incomes.

I bought a camera to illustrate my stories, even though the Columbus Dispatch newspaper had a staff of top-nothing photojournalists.

When I moved to Miami in 2000, I started having exhibits of my photos — from my trips to Spain and South and Central America.

I got to work with the greatest photographer of the 20th century — Ara Guler, The Eye of Istanbul. 

I edited the English language version of his biography.

MEET STEVE WRIGHT (PROFILE FROM SHOUTOUT MIAMI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER/UNIVERSAL DESIGN THOUGHT LEADER/PLANNER/EDUCATOR

I am from Ohio, so I am grounded, loyal and show up on time.

My late mother struggled with severe mental illness for her entire adult life.

I became a writer because I wanted to tell the stories of all people — including those that struggled each day of their life.

I later became a leading disability advocate, clearly an outgrowth as a child who served as his mom’s caregiver.

I started out as a daily newspaper reporter for a large paper in my native Ohio.

I wanted to be a pro sports team beat writer, but got started covering suburban government and zoning meetings.

DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP USES STEVE WRIGHT’S     UNIVERSAL DESIGN EXPERTISE TO BE MORE WELCOMING TO ALL

The Downtown Detroit Partnership has been doing award-winning urban space work for more than a century.

Eric Larson is a visionary leader with top-of-his-field private and public sector experience.

I am honored to be cited as a Universal Design thought leader in Eric's spot-on DDP article.

Using Inclusive Design to Improve Our Public Spaces - Downtown Detroit Partnership:

https://downtowndetroit.org/news-insights/using-inclusive-design-to-improve-our-public-spaces/

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad Hack 2: Locate local hotels and chain restaurants.

Though they prefer unique mom-and-pop restaurants, Lakshmee said chain restaurants are likelier to have wheelchair-accessible restrooms – especially facilities large enough for both a wheelchair user and their caregiver. 

She said hotels are another good bet for finding accessible restrooms while traveling since accessible public toilets are few and far between.

“We never just go to a show and wander around for a meal – we always plan ahead to ensure there is access to dining and a restroom,” she said.

“I narrow down the search by user-sourced Google and Instagram images, then call directly to confirm.”

 

 

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad serves on an accessibility committee for the Metropolitan Transit Authority and was honored by New York City Mayor Eric Adams for her work.

But unlike the other hackers in this post, she is not a wheelchair user. 

Her blog focuses on the adventures she and her sister, Annie, a manual wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, enjoy together in New York City.

Hack 1: Sign up for paratransit.

Because barely 25 percent of New York City train stations are wheelchair accessible, Lakshmee and Annie travel by bus and paratransit. 

She notes that most transit agencies have reciprocity, meaning if you qualify for paratransit in your hometown and make advance arrangements, you may be able to avoid the high cost of accessible taxis and shuttles by using paratransit on the road.

USING INCLUSIVE DESIGN TO IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SPACES

DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP USES STEVE WRIGHT’S    UNIVERSAL DESIGN EXPERTISE TO BE MORE WELCOMING TO ALL

The Downtown Detroit Partnership has been making award-winning urban spaces for more than a century.

Eric Larson is a visionary leader with top-of-his-field private and public sector experience.

I am honored to be cited as a Universal Design thought leader in Eric's spot-on DDP article.

Using Inclusive Design to Improve Our Public Spaces - Downtown Detroit Partnership:

https://downtowndetroit.org/news-insights/using-inclusive-design-to-improve-our-public-spaces/

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Cory Lee Hack 5: Ask the locals

“I also suggest that people reach out to local disability advocacy organizations. 

They will know what unique things are available in their community,” he says.

“This has led me to adaptive rock climbing in Wisconsin, adaptive water skiing in Tennessee and learning that an old-world European city is very inclusive.

Helsinki, Finland, has smooth sidewalks and curb cuts, accessibility on all public buses and 300 wheelchair-accessible taxis.

 

 

 

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Cory Lee Hack 3: Plan ahead

“I call and ask a million questions about the attractions, the transport and especially the hotel,” he says. 

“Think about the accessibility you need in your own house and duplicate it as much as possible. 

Ask specific questions and request photos and videos of accessible features. 

With smartphones and connectivity, it is easy and inexpensive for properties to do this for you.”

Hack 4: Make it a beach day

Cory says beach access is improving, with many coastal cities placing mats across the sand for wheelchair access. 

Lifeguard stations often have beach wheelchairs for free use, and some of them can go in the water.

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Cory Lee Hack 1: Buy a 220-volt charger

If you don’t want your wheelchair battery to blow up, like Cory’s did in Europe, consider purchasing a 220-volt portable charger.

This way, you don’t have to worry about a converter failing and frying your 110-volt U.S.-style charger.

Hack 2: Splurge on non-stops

“I book nonstops,” says Cory, whose home base Hartsfield Airport is one of the world’s largest and has hundreds of connections.

“It’s a little more expensive but worth it. 

Fewer flights mean less worrying about your wheelchair getting stuck below or broken.”

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Cory Lee is one of the few, if not the only, wheelchair users who can say he has visited all seven continents, including Antarctica. 

He is a life-long powerchair user with spinal muscular atrophy who’s visited over 45 countries and publishes his travel stories on his two-time Lowell Thomas Award-winning blog, Curb Free with Cory Lee.

JUST IN TIME FOR ART BASEL MIAMI

 A POP UP ART SHOW IN THE HEART OF LITTLE HAVANA

--WHEN THE ART WORLD IS FOCUSED ON THE MAGIC CITY

I’m honored to be one of the featured artists at Art & Design Gallery’s event during Art Basel Miami.

It takes place 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday December 8 and Saturday December 9 at 2380 SW 9 Street Miami – footsteps from my historic Little Havana home and just a block south of wonderful Calle Ocho.

The free event will feature art displays and sales, live music, food and more at Art by Hurley.

RSVP at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/miami-art-exhibit-tickets-764844840507

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Ashley Lyn Olson Hack 4: Protect your chair

“Be prepared, fold down, wrap in foam and secure anything that can be broken – especially the joystick that controls a power chair,” she says.

Hack 5: Communicate directly with your hotel

Ashley says to beware of chain hotel websites and their pictures of accessible rooms.

“They use generic pictures, so what you see may not be your room,” she says.

“Call ahead and make sure the room has a roll-in shower if that’s what you need. 

Have them send cell phone pictures to prove there is a level entrance to the property or the space you require in your room. 

Call direct to tell them you need the accessible room, so they don’t give it away if your flight is delayed and you arrive late at night.”

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Ashley Lyn Olson Hack 2: Consider a folding manual:

A lot of manual wheelchairs fold in half. Once the leg rests are removed, the chair will fit in an airline jet’s closet. 

“Airlines are legally required to store the chair on board if it fits in the closet. 

Some crews are reluctant, but it’s the law,” says Ashley.

Hack 3: Educate, educate, educate

“Quickly, firmly and politely educate the person taking your wheelchair from the gate downstairs to store in the plane’s cargo hold that it is a costly piece of equipment and that it is your legs,” says Ashley. 

They must understand what your wheelchair means to you.

 

 

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Ashley Lyn Olson Hack 1: Embrace the Vibe

“Traveling in a wheelchair can be magical because you don’t know what to expect,” says Ashley.

She embraces flexibility and a love of the unexpected. 

“The main route is blocked, so you take a different route and stumble on things.”

She recounts a trip to Berlin with a friend.

“Not every train station was accessible, so we stopped a mile away from our destination and made our way back. 

We stumbled on this festival with music playing, a beer garden and art – all with this amazing vibe.”

5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PROS

SHARE THEIR BEST “HACKS”

Ashley Lyn Olson crafted wheelchairtraveling.com in 2006 to share her love of traveling.

She shares info on destinations, products and tips from herself and other wheelchair users.

Ashley, a paraplegic since age 14, is also behind the Access 2 Parks Project, which seeks to increase accessibility to outdoor recreation at national, state and local parks.