33 AMAZING THINGS TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA

FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AT GLOBAL DISABILITY INCLUSION

The ADA is the most important civil rights legislation for people with disabilities.

The ADA ensures access to schools and public places like shopping centers, banks and office buildings.

It requires access to public transportation and has made our cities more accessible for everyone.

Access for people with disabilities is critical because access to buildings, transportation and public spaces ensures employment opportunities are available for people with disabilities, this elevates the independence and financial security of people with disabilities.

https://www.globaldisabilityinclusion.com/post/33-amazing-things-to-celebrate-the-anniversary-of-the-ada

FATIMA, NAZARE, OBIDOS AND MOSTEIRO DA BATALHA

THE BEST DAY TRIP FROM LISBON PORTUGAL VIA VIATOR

The side stop at Mosteiro da Batalha was a great bonus.

As the only solo adventurer in the group, I sat up front next to the tour guide.

Her English was great.

When not speaking to the group, sharing wonderful insights about the next stop, our guide indulged my storytelling.

She also answered my myriad questions about cost of living, culture, taxes, healthcare, etc. in Portugal -- as I am considering buying a place there.

Bravo Viator.

You have won over the do-it-yourselfer skeptic.

 

FATIMA, NAZARE, OBIDOS AND MOSTEIRO DA BATALHA

THE BEST DAY TRIP FROM LISBON PORTUGAL VIA VIATOR

Spending about two hours in Nazare was ideal.

We saw the upper and lower towns.

The lunch break on our own led to a meal with new friends.

We shared a huge stew of monkfish in tomato rice, washed down with local red wine.

The Fatima pilgrimage city stop was a great way to start the day and focused on history, not just the religious aspect.

FATIMA, NAZARE, OBIDOS AND MOSTEIRO DA BATALHA

THE BEST DAY TRIP FROM LISBON PORTUGAL VIA VIATOR

The Viator Portugal tour took us to four sites.

We parked as close as you could to the attraction and had plenty of free time, so you didn't feel like you were glued to your fellow travelers.

If you wanted to stand in one corner and take photos of the most interesting part of the building or grounds -- you could do so.

I love walled cities and thought I wanted a half or full day in Obidos.

To be honest, it is so small, the 90 or so minutes we spent there was ideal.

FATIMA, NAZARE, OBIDOS AND MOSTEIRO DA BATALHA

THE BEST DAY TRIP FROM LISBON PORTUGAL VIA VIATOR 

The Viator Portugal tour group was fewer than a dozen.

The guide was excellent. 

She was University trained, so there was no memorized narration.

She was interactive, warm, insightful and much more.

The people on the tour were generally my age (pushing 60 and up) and all were well read and well-traveled.

So chatting on the sidelines or while in the van was engaging as well.

FATIMA, NAZARE, OBIDOS AND MOSTEIRO DA BATALHA

THE BEST DAY TRIP FROM LISBON PORTUGAL VIA VIATOR

I am not one to go on group tours.

I travel all the time and have probably booked a guide and van transport with others maybe five times in my life.

So I was not certain about going on a Viator tour.

I worried what was billed as a small tour would end up on a huge bus.

I was pleasantly surprised.

THRILLED TO BE WORKING WITH THE DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARTNERSHIP

THIS MONTH'S WALKING WORKSHOP AND 

UNIVERSAL DESIGN PRESENTATIONS ARE 

THE COMMENCEMENT OF A LONG COLLABORATION

I enjoyed every moment of my work on inclusive design and urban planning for all with the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP).

I was on the street in the urban core as the sun rose just before 6 a.m. on a Sunday.

I logged nearly 10 miles walked each day, as I marveled at the rebirth of Woodward Avenue and dozens of architecturally exquisite buildings that used to be abandoned.

I worked with outstanding DDP staff as I saw its programming of world class public space such at Campus Martius Park and the evolving Capitol Square Park.

I got insights on the future plans to revitalize Grand Circus Park.

During a pair of hourlong presentations to senior staff, I shared my thoughts on nearly two dozen good elements of downtown that could be made greater with better access for people with disabilities to transit, promenades, public spaces and wide sidewalks.

I look forward to future work on best practices with the DDP under the outstanding leadership of CEO Eric Larson and his staff.

The DDP celebrated its centennial last year.

Its mission is to cultivate economic and social impact in Downtown Detroit by connecting public, private and philanthropic sectors, providing stewardship of public spaces, and developing programs that engage and benefit all.

https://downtowndetroit.org/

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM INCLUSION

THE ADA MAKES US STRONGER

AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION

An accessibility program would create jobs for certified contractors who remove barriers and make commercial spaces accessible to all. 

It would increase revenue for businesses that get new customers that can now access their products and services.

Federal HUD money could possibly be introduced to supply some matching funds for qualifying small businesses.

For more than half a century, Miami has proudly been a beacon for people leaving dictatorships and disasters — to make a better life for their families. 

With this program, it could be a model of inclusion for people with disabilities.

 

 

 

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM INCLUSION

THE ADA MAKES US STRONGER

AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION

Accessibility often costs far less than the horror stories that falsely portray it as cost prohibitive. 

The tiniest corner store, over time, spends tens of thousands to keep its plumbing, HVAC, roof and floor space safe and up to code. 

If it can afford that cost of doing business, it can afford ADA compliant access.

To make access even easier, I challenge our local county and city mayors to create an accessibility program similar to Ygrene PACE Clean & Green Energy Home Improvements. 

That program allows the expense of upgrades to be amortized over 20 years and paid with one’s property tax bill.

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM INCLUSION

THE ADA MAKES US STRONGER

AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION

Ableism is devaluing a person with a disability because they are disabled. It is exactly like racism, which devalues on skin color and culture.

Both are indefensible and sometimes lethal.

Resisting making a shop, restaurant, or corner store accessible to all is not only ableism, but also a horrible business decision.

The CDC has documented that one in four adults has some form of disability.

Larger corporations spend millions of dollars to increase market share by one percent.

What business, even a small one, wouldn’t want to get more customers?

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM INCLUSION

THE ADA MAKES US STRONGER

AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION

Why even hint at eroding the fragile rights that people with disabilities enjoy via the ADA?

It would be a colossal throw the baby out with the bathwater bad move.

In reading the sidebar, I am aghast that a city would use taxpayer dollars to fight ADA compliance.

This smacks of the southern states that used every resource thinkable to deny African Americans access to integrated schools.

Exclusion and segregation is NEVER a good move.

But when people with disabilities cannot travel barrier-free sidewalks, when they cannot cross the street safely, when they cannot enter a pool accessibly — they are being segregated.

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM INCLUSION

THE ADA MAKES US STRONGER

AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION

As a writer/planner/educator/activist involved in the disability community since before the ADA was enacted in 1990, the headline of the main story concerned me.

I wonder if a story about people suing to uphold their basic civil rights — were it based on gender or race — would have the word extortion in the headline.

I think not.

Certainly, there may be some very aggressive lawyers and like anything on earth, the ADA and its enforcement is imperfect.

Government in these parts often is poorly executed and a good many public officials come up on corruption charges. 

But I don’t see anyone calling for disbanding government.

EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM INCLUSION

THE ADA MAKES US STRONGER

AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION

I read with great interest the Miami Herald’s local coverage of perceived abuses of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ADA is the only civil rights legislation on the books for people with disabilities.

People with disabilities had to wait a quarter century after the great civil rights legislation of the 1960s to get their rights protected by federal law.

For better or worse, those who framed and adopted the ADA forced people with disabilities to litigate to uphold their rights. 

There is no ADA police, no ADA code compliance unit.

GRATIFIED TO SPEAK AT THE COMMENCEMENT FOR URBAN LAND INSTITUTE MICHIGAN'S

LARSON CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP 

I was in Detroit to conduct a Universal Design walking workshop plus senior staff presentation on design for people with disabilities to the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

Eric Larson, CEO of DDP, graciously invited me to be the challenge speaker at the end of the daylong graduation of the latest class of ULI leaders.

I was honored to compose an hourlong, visual and interactive speech in one day’s time on the road.

I look forward to future collaborations with Michigan leaders who are invested in inclusion and design for all.

https://michigan.uli.org/get-involved/larsonleadership/

LISBON, PORTUGAL

 MERCADO DA RIBEIRA

Mercado da Ribeira at Cais do Sodré in Lisbon, Portugal. The old fish, produce and flowers market remains.

Half the historic structure houses the upscale Time Out Market that draws visitors by the throngs.

SOLAR ANTIGO LUXURY COIMBRA

PERFECT LOCATION, PERSONAL SERVICE, COMFY BEDS

AND AN AMAZING VALUE 

I'm exacting and demanding.

If I feel this happy with the Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra, you will be very pleased and comfortable.

When you fill out your review at Booking.com – they ask you to list negatives or things you would change.

This is the first time I’ve ever said I would not change one thing.

Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra is the best value I have ever experienced.

 

 

SOLAR ANTIGO LUXURY COIMBRA

PERFECT LOCATION, PERSONAL SERVICE, COMFY BEDS

AND AN AMAZING VALUE 

The Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra apartment, were it a tiny bit bigger, is something one could live in year round.

I cannot believe the value. It was under 100 euros including tax and everything.

The chocolate tort+champagne on check-in plus the lavish breakfast is worth 25-30 euros alone. So you are barely paying 60 euros to sleep in an historic and magical city in a privileged location.

SOLAR ANTIGO LUXURY COIMBRA

PERFECT LOCATION, PERSONAL SERVICE, COMFY BEDS

AND AN AMAZING VALUE 

The kind staff at Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra warned me it was the time of year when students party into the night -- and the road they are located on is a route the revelers use.

 I'm a light sleeper, but dozed like a baby.

The shower water was plenty warm. 

The staff is like family.

SOLAR ANTIGO LUXURY COIMBRA

PERFECT LOCATION, PERSONAL SERVICE, COMFY BEDS

AND AN AMAZING VALUE 

The Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra location is very close to the famous University of Coimbra, the museum on its grounds and the main shopping streets and historic churches in Coimbra.

On check-in, they brought me a glass of champagne and a tasty chocolate torte.

They bring breakfast to the room and it may well be worth 20 euros. Coffee, cereal, croissants, bread, jam, butter, bread, meat, cheese, fruit, juice.

I'm probably leaving something out. I certainly broke my diet for this dazzling treat!

SOLAR ANTIGO LUXURY COIMBRA

PERFECT LOCATION, PERSONAL SERVICE, COMFY BEDS

AND AN AMAZING VALUE 

The thoughtful staff at Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra put me in the apartment across the street from the boutique hotel.

It had an elegant spiral staircase, old world decor and a jacuzzi. Upstairs there was a super comfortable bed and super clean bathroom.

There were bottled waters, beers and juices free in the fridge. 

THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE

UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND THE AIA

I have worked for more than a decade to get AIA continuing credit for my Universal Design presentation.

The American Planning Association has done so, but this is the first by the American Institute of Architects.

A full hour credit for my 55-minute program.

https://www.aia.org/events/6634919-fifth-annual-absolutely-accessible-kent-te

TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE (AND HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE)

 

Delivery bots, too, could benefit our community — if the delivery systems are accessible.

“During the pandemic, home delivery kept many people safe. But what if the delivery bot — whether it is bringing home supplies, fresh produce, or a warm meal from a restaurant — doesn’t have a height that I can reach from my wheelchair and a convenient way to hand over the products being delivered?”

It’s all very exciting, says United Spinal Policy Fellow Kent Keyser.

“The great news is that almost everyone leading AV research and development is young — and young engineers see access and inclusion as a natural.

It’s rewarding to work with people who know about access, believe it’s the right thing to do, and know how to achieve it.”

 

 

 

TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE (AND HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE)

United Spinal Policy Fellow Kent Keyser says a fully automated passenger vehicle must have these four accessible components :

• An automated ramp to board and depart the vehicle safely.
• An automated securement system for wheelchairs and the person in the wheelchair.
• A redundant emergency response system to get assistance promptly in an emergency on the road.
• A fully accessible communications system on board so passengers can reach a human being for assistance. And wheelchair users must be able to access all the assets — think wifi, artificial intelligence, and advanced information and entertainment technologies.

United Spinal partners with big names in AV toward these goals, including Waymo, Beep and May Mobility.

May Mobility partnered with BraunAbility, to make its Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS (S-AM) vehicles wheelchair accessible.

The company uses the modified vehicles at its Grand Rapids, Minnesota, project. 

Also, United Spinal is a founding member of Cruise’s cross-disability Accessibility Council.

TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE (AND HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE)

United Spinal Policy Fellow Kent Keyser the nonprofit’s point person for automated passenger vehicles.

He’s passionate about ensuring accessibility is a built-in feature, not a clunky retrofitted add-on.

“Separate but equal doesn’t work — AV fleets must be 100% accessible,” says Kent.

“The moment you segregate wheelchair users and only provide a small number of vehicles accessible to us, we face delays, being stranded and all the health and safety hazards that arise from that lack of services.”

A quadriplegic injured from a 2007 fall in his home, Kent was a senior policy advisor and chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall II before joining United Spinal.

He spools out ways that accessible AV fleets could save our nation money.

Think of all the medical appointments missed when accessible transportation falls through or doesn’t exist.

That costs our nation billions.

“Accessible automated fleets could be part of the answer,’ he says.

TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE (AND HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE)

Why shouldn’t wheelchair users be able to shape the built environment to be more accessible on demand?

“I see a time when people with disabilities will design and create a comprehensive series of criteria to measure the accessibility of a building or a space,” says Brooke Ellison, United Spinal’s Vice President of Tech Access and Innovation.

“We could use it to isolate the quickest path from the elevator to our desk, from our house to transit to our office.”

That’s huge. 

And so’s this: “We are working with engineers on developing fully integrated tongue touch for all aspects of computer and work environments,” says Brooke.

That project could radically expand access for many people with limited hand mobility.

“Engineers don’t fully understand the nature of what people with disabilities face, so we must outline our needs so they can address them creatively and innovatively,” she says.

TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE (AND HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE)

Brooke Ellison is United Spinal’s Vice President of Tech Access and Innovation and the first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard.

Like the late Christopher Reeve, she uses a ventilator for her high level injury.

Reeve was so taken with her early accomplishments that he directed a movie about her life.

“Tech is not just gadgets, but ways people can create some real activism,” says Brooke.

“Inclusion has changed considerably with remote work, telehealth, and other ways to be connected without traveling to a location.”

Consider how United Spinal pioneered virtual meetings during the pandemic. With these tools, we supported our members to cope with medical, work, personal assistance, and other relevant issues.

And we broke down isolation, built up our community and kept our advocacy on track.

“This integration of technology into the achievement of human rights represents the new vision of Tech Access for United Spinal,” says Brooke.

“But we need to think much more broadly about how tech can facilitate full, rich, and productive lives.”

TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY RIGHT NOW

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE (AND HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE)

Designing technology to be inclusive on all levels is a game-changer for people with disabilities.

That’s why United Spinal Association ensures its members are involved in developing tomorrow’s technology before it rolls out.

It’s not just about sending rockets to the moon — although United Spinal’s Rhonel Cinous guided a spacecraft by voice controls.

It’s also about improving telehealth and ensuring delivery bots don’t drop our packages where we can’t reach — and everything in between.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND URBAN DESIGN PODCAST

ABSOLUTELY ACCESSIBLE KENT

So proud to be a part of Absolutely Accessible Kent. 

Check out this podcast.

I explain why Universal Design is a must in Urban Design.

Episode 28: Accessibility in a Global Context.

Host Nathan Slauer discusses accessibility practices with Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Steve Wright.

Yours truly also drops seafood recommendations in Lisbon, bagel and schmear thoughts for NYC and Monkfish in Istanbul.

Plus some mangled attempts at pronouncing Turkish and Portuguese.

Fun fun fun.

https://www.dakc.us/2023/05/episode-28-accessibility-in-a-global-context/

 

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Justice must adopt clear guidelines that municipalities can use to make meaningful accessibility changes to their pedestrian infrastructure. 

DOT should ensure accessible transit facilities, and the DOJ needs to enforce the law for barrier-free public rights of way.

Marsha says United Spinal is also working on micromobility and how dockless scooters and bikes can be hazardous for people with disabilities if not strongly regulated.

Cities must also do more to ensure that buildings are in accessible condition – so elevator outages are not ignored for long periods in residential or commercial buildings.

This is all an incredibly long to-do list. 

It encompasses everything from health and well-being to getting reckless scooter punks to dock their wheels properly. 

But United Spinal’s vision is a world where people with spinal cord injuries/disorders, wheelchair users, and others with disabilities can realize their full potential.

And the whole team is passionate about bringing that inclusive world into being.

 

 

THE FUTURE IS INCLUSIVE

HERE’S HOW WE GET THERE

Kleo King, United Spinal’s Accessibility Services Senior Vice President, has a team featuring Marsha Mazz, a three-decade veteran of the U.S. Access Board and United Spinal’s Director, Accessibility Codes and Standards. 

She adds three goals that would lead to a more inclusive future:

Improve ADA standards – and state building codes – to provide for better wheelchair maneuvering and positioning. 

Without this, building codes fail millions of people using mobility devices.

Revise the Fair Housing Act’s accessibility requirements. 

Until the 1989 rules are updated, people with disabilities will continue to face significant shortages in affordable, accessible housing.

We will also continue to be forced to make accessibility adaptations at our own expense.