THRILLED TO HAVE JUST COMPLETED RECORDING AN EPISODE

FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION PODCAST

The hour flew by talking about Universal Design and how it delivers dignity for people with disabilities.

I also explained how Universal Design is the most sustainable, flexible, durable, resilient and cost-effective approach to the built environment.

The hosts, Chris Danley and Don Kostelec, really get it. They introduce walkability, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and access for all into every project they work on.

Chris is a recognized national expert in Walkability and Health Impact Assessments, is co-creator of the Looking Glass walk audit training academy, crafted the Activity Connection Plan™ and Healthy Conditions Assessment models.

He has conducted numerous planning and assessment projects throughout Idaho, North Carolina, Utah and other states.

He also works with Blue Zones as a subject matter expert in the Built-Environment throughout the United States. inkedin Twitter

Don is a 20-year professional in transportation planning, health analysis and comprehensive planning. 

His work extends from Alaska to Florida and California to New York, but is focused in the Intermountain West. He is an avid walker and has been since the age of 1.

Don is known as a provocative speaker who helps communities better engage the design profession for more equitable and safer street design that prioritizes the safety of people over the movement of cars.

Look for the episode to drop before the end of November at:

https://theplanningcommissionpodcast.com/

BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

The 40-minute film tackles many issues unique to disability and pregnancy, while also covering hospital trips, the pandemic and, of course, the eventual birth of Dani Izzie’s two healthy girls, Lavinia and Giorgiana.

It premiered in May 2022 at Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, and has been on the film festival circuit while the team searches for a distributor.

Izzie encourages people with disabilities to try documentary-making. 

She says the key is to reach out to people in the industry, ask questions and start telling your story. She hopes that the film, and her prominent role in making it, will help educate others. 

“I did this to amplify disabled parenting,” she says.

“Pregnant disabled women are subject to hate speech.

A lot of times people are judgmental or biased against people with disabilities having kids.”

BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

Despite having no experience as a filmmaker, the change came naturally to her.

Being behind the camera made it even easier for Dani Izzie to ensure her story emphasized the normalcy of living life with a disability and avoid the “overcoming all odds” storyline that nondisabled filmmakers fixate on in movies about disability.

“I focus on concrete solutions and figure it out like any other new parent,” she says. 

“With a spinal cord injury, I honestly think it makes me a stronger parent. 

I know how to prepare for massive challenges.

What matters is what you can give your children emotionally, physically and mentally.”

BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

As Dani Izzie’s pregnancy progressed, cinematographers began filming her and her husband, Rudy, in their Virginia home.

Then came Covid. 

No one wanted to travel, and no one wanted to expose Izzie to increased health risks during her pregnancy. 

“The pros did a shoot before my baby shower, then everything shut down. 

It was in the middle of the pandemic. We couldn’t even do fundraising,” she says.

Because there’s no pause button on pregnancy, Izzie and her husband became the camera crew, using smartphones and a digital camera. 

Izzie evolved from being the subject of the film to its producer.

 

 

BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

Dani Izzie brought cameras everywhere to document her pregnancy.

“They are my children. I want some ownership. 

You can’t just buy me,” she says, explaining why she rejected the offer. “There was no guarantee that they were going to get the disability narrative right.

I was worrying, from what I’ve seen on TV and film, they were going to really fuck it up.”

Izzie held out before eventually deciding to make Dani’s Twins with a filmmaker known for documentaries with a social impact.

It helped that he was a personal friend and promised her the freedom to tell her story her way.

BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES 

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

Dani Izzie knew there was an audience for her story and genuinely believed others could benefit from seeing it documented on film, but she also knew how easily it all could go wrong. 

“I have a sensational story, like the greatest clickbait: ‘Quadriplegic woman gives birth to twins,’” she says. “But I don’t want it to be sensationalistic.

I want to combat the bias against women with disabilities becoming parents. … We have to break through this ableism.”

Izzie, a C5-6 quadriplegic, had been approached by a casting director of reality TV shows and offered a handsome sum of money to document her pregnancy in exchange for relinquishing the exclusive rights.

BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

A growing number of wheelchair users are getting behind the camera and creating documentaries that are airing on PBS, winning at film festivals and even earning Oscar nominations.

New, more affordable technology, expanding media outlets and a content-craving public are a few of the reasons why documentary filmmaking has become more accessible than ever. 

We spoke to three wheelchair-using filmmakers with varying degrees of experience who aim to entertain, educate the masses, and motivate others with disabilities to tell their stories and bust myths held by nondisabled viewers. 

Disclaimer: No cringeworthy inspiration porn was created in the making of these films.

BULLHEADED PUSHBACK ON DESIGN FOR ALL

CONTINUES TO CREATE ACCESSIBILITY FAILS

IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

It floors me when I point out a design flaw that blocks access to people with disabilities…

and an architect/city official/planner responds:

“It’s technically compliant.”

That’s as inhumane and nonsensical as saying murder is fine if you do a good job of hiding the body.

(The photo depicts an outdoor lift that was broken in less than 90 days after a 300+ unit apartment building opened in Miami. It continues to be broken, so none one who uses a wheelchair for mobility can enjoy their unit, visit a friend, perform IT services for a home office or do anything else. The site has 100 feet of frontage, so there is room for a turn ramp. It would be less cost and lower maintenance. I point this out, with a person with a disability in my presence, but a building official looks right past us and insists accessible at opening counts for the life of the building. Dead wrong.)

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

A STORY IN ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Steve Wright's photography effectively emphasized the need to preserve Little Havana's cultural and architectural treasures from the influence of modernization.

His images will serve as a reminder of their timeless beauty and the crucial significance of protecting them for future generations to possibly and really Save My Little Havana.

 

 

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

A STORY IN ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Next to the Save My Little Havana art display, the gift shop exhibited Steve Wright's photographs that could be bought.

The exhibit also had artworks for sale, and half of the profits went towards supporting the Miami Design Preservation League's cause. 

The exhibit runs through Thanksgiving and is on display 9 AM to 5 PM at the art deco welcome center seven days a week and the center is free to Miami-Dade residents

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

A STORY IN ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Steve Wright noted, "My photos are not the most technically perfect, but they are filled with passion." 

He compared the efforts to preserve historic buildings in Miami Beach to the importance of safeguarding the architectural treasures of Art Deco, the Mediterranean, and Old Florida styles found in Little Havana.

The event, held on August 24, provided attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in the captivating imagery that depicted the heart and soul of Little Havana. 

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

Steve Wright's photographs may not be flawlessly polished, but they are filled with a clear sense of dedication that shows his strong attachment to Little Havana.

As a respected public speaker, organizer, and journalist committed to improving access to urban areas for individuals with disabilities, Wright's display demonstrated his identity as both an artist and a supporter.

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

A STORY IN ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

In the late 1990s, Ohioan Steve Wright moved to Little Havana in Miami to escape harsh Ohio winters.

He found solace in the historic Bryan Park area and made his home in a classic 100-year-old residence.

He found inspiration in his new surroundings and started taking long walks to take pictures.

With his camera, he was able to capture the true essence of the community, exploring beyond the popular areas and discovering hidden treasures in the neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and homes of La Pequeña Habana.

SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA

A STORY IN ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Miami Beach witnessed a remarkable celebration of culture, history, and architectural heritage.

Steve Wright, an accomplished Artist, Activist, Writer, and Planner, unveiled his captivating photography exhibit titled "Save My Little Havana."

The MDPL's Local Artist Program hosted this exhibition at the Art Deco Welcome Center, showcasing lesser-known aspects of Little Havana through the lens of Wright.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS PERFECT

 IT SHOULD BE THE BASELINE FOR ALL DESIGN

This video is barely 3 minutes long.

It embraces the Ed Roberts Campus -- a TOD development in Berkeley -- that serves people with disabilities.

Interviews quote the architects, advocates, laypersons and end users.

The best line is that ADA and other codes should be looked at as inspiration for high design, not as limitations.

Ed Roberts Campus - Building Community

 

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

"Save My Little Havana" serves as a full-circle moment for writer-photographer Steve Wright, a native of Ohio who became a Miamian in 2000 after experiencing a Miami Design Preservation League guided tour and falling in love with the Magic City's rich architectural history.

Wright encourages all who visit the exhibition to consider the mutually beneficial relationship we could each have with our city's historic buildings.

"Nowadays, you get one or two stories of parking decks that are not pretty.

You get cookie-cutter units and usually don't get the prettier finishes.

I'm not saying all zoning should be capped at three stories; I'm just saying, make room for the historic.

Make room for the authentic in your life," Writer-photographer Steve Wright says.

"I do feel like our lives are richer for gorgeous buildings."

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

"With its strategic location in the heart of the Art Deco District of South Beach, the exhibit will promote Little Havana to visitors from around the world and residents who want to learn more.

We hope this will also lead to more in-person visits and tours of the area," Miami Design Preservation League Executive Director Daniel Ciraldo says.

"We hope that the exhibit will lead to additional incentives to protect this nationally significant neighborhood."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

"Save My Little Havana" is part of the Art Deco Welcome Center's Featured Local Artist program, which means these works will be available to purchase, with half of the proceeds benefiting the Miami Design Preservation League.

Writer-photographer Steve Wright says he hopes this exhibition sparks passion in its viewers, who may recognize the exhilaration he felt while snapping each of these photos.

Miami Design Preservation League Executive Director Daniel Ciraldo says this exhibition can galvanize Art Deco Museum visitors — often tourists from all over the country and world — to aid in ongoing efforts to preserve Little Havana's historic buildings.

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

By the 1960s, however, HistoryMiami Museum resident historian Paul George says many left these neighborhoods for newer suburbs, leaving behind abandoned buildings that increasingly served as homes and businesses for immigrants, namely Cubans.

George says this multicultural history makes Little Havana such a jewel among South Florida's many neighborhoods.

"The layers of people who have called Little Havana home — be that southern whites 100-plus years ago, white and Black Bahamians, Jewish communities, Cubans, Nicaraguans or Guatemalans — they're the reason why it's so important to recognize that rich history and preserve this neighborhood," he says.

"It has always been a darling neighborhood.

It's where people came from under the oppressive governments of other countries to find the American dream of freedom and economic opportunity. Little Havana is a symbol of the zest people have for opportunity."

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

The diversity of historical architecture that still proudly lines Little Havana's streets — the gleaming white stucco of Mediterranean homes offsetting their fiery red roofs, for example, or the geometric motifs and horseshoe arches of Moorish-designed buildings — reflects the varied histories and cultures of the many groups who have called and still call Little Havana home.

According to HistoryMiami Museum resident historian Paul George, what's known today as Little Havana used to be two distinct neighborhoods: Riverside to the north and Shenandoah to the south.

In the mid-1920s, George says a real estate boom radically transformed Miami, and both Riverside and Shenandoah became homes to a growing Jewish population. 

 

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

"We want to make sure that the sense of community is preserved, Miami Design Preservation League Executive Director Daniel Ciraldo says.

“Too often in Miami, developers come in and simply try to erase the very essence of what makes each neighborhood distinctive and resilient.

We believe that identifying, protecting, and promoting this neighborhood will lend more cultural value to the place and lead to more thoughtful investment and development."

DESIGNING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IS A MUST

HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN MAKES THE WORLD NAVIGABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND IT ALLOWS SENIORS TO AGE IN PLACE

Andy Boenau speaks the truth when he tells us our cities are NOT designed for human beings.

He's trained as a traffic engineer, so he knows what he's talking about.

Through videos, essays and presentations, he helps us to create healthy communities.

I attended a game-changing short film/presentation by Andy at the University of Miami School of Architecture.

Then I sat down with Andy the next morning to talk about how healthy design is essential to quality of life for people with disabilities.

He interviewed me in the heart of Little Havana and filmed our conversation for a future broadcast.

I’ve posted some stills from our interview and friendly chat at the World Famous Ball and Chain. 

https://substack.com/@speakeasy

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

As executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), Daniel Ciraldo works to ensure Little Havana doesn't face the same overdevelopment and subsequent cultural displacement and erasure that many neighborhoods in Miami currently experience.

"MDPL was involved in the preservation efforts for a part of East Little Havana, which took place in 2015.

From there, the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized the significance of the neighborhood, and working together with local groups, they declared Little Havana to be a national treasure, leading to additional investment and the undertaking of a revitalization plan to preserve and promote the area," Ciraldo says. 

 

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Included among the scenes of "Save My Little Havana" are images of the Eileen, a century-old building at 1401 SW Fifth St. that was rehabilitated into a set of four apartments by the Dade Heritage Trust in 2021, with funds approved by the Miami-Dade commissioners through the Department of Public Housing and Community Development's Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Preservation Rehabilitation Loan Program.

With the inclusion of Little Havana on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, it's become increasingly clear to Miami's lawmakers and citizens alike that Little Havana's historic buildings have staying power.

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Writer and photographer Steve Wright's enthusiasm for preserving Little Havana's historic buildings was cemented while rehabbing his own 1922 Spanish mission-style home with its wall of huge bay windows in Shenandoah, a particularly storied area of Little Havana stretching from Calle Ocho to Coral Way between Southwest 12th and 27th Avenues.

Wright says though the neighborhood doesn't remind him much of his native Ohio, it instantly felt like home.

"I'm five blocks south of Calle Ocho.

I'm almost walking distance from the edge of downtown Coral Gables and biking distance from Coconut Grove and Brickell.

When I moved here, I just thought, What a great base of operations in an area with such character," Wright recalls.

"One of my neighbors is a big Santería practitioner, so that was my zero-to-60 Midwestern-boy introduction into Miami."

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

"When people see this photo exhibit, some may say, 'Oh crap, I don't see the roosters on Calle Ocho,' or 'I don't see any of the famous buildings.' All of my photos are off the beaten path.

They're all images that a typical visitor wouldn't see," Writer and photographer Steve Wright explains.

"It's a lot of East Little Havana, where there are these little, three-story, Mediterranean apartment buildings.

They're brightly painted, and they've got the little medallions, little eyebrows, and very pronounced, decorative stairways to the upper floor.

Some images are of art deco buildings that looked like they'd be at home in Miami Beach, which I thought was a fun juxtaposition since everybody thinks of Ocean Drive when they think of art deco."

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

Writer and photographer Steve Wright captured each of the 30 or so photos in this exhibit while taking long walks in his neighborhood, a routine that began in efforts to improve Wright's physical health and evolved into a personal project marked by passion and pride.

The sights that moved Wright most on his walks around Little Havana weren't the frequently photographed, larger-than-life ice cream cone sitting atop Azucar Ice Cream Company nor the tables of cigar smokers playing dominos in Máximo Gómez Park.

Rather, Wright found endless beauty and wonder hiding in plain sight on Little Havana's residential roads.

"SAVE MY LITTLE HAVANA" HONORS HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD'S RICH ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY

ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

When constructed a century ago, their stately façades and unexpectedly intricate details made them stand out like so many jewels adorning a crown.

Today, the historic homes that proudly line the streets of Little Havana somehow shine even brighter among a slew of white-washed, gray vinyl-floored, modern apartment boxes.

A photo exhibition celebrating the beauty of Little Havana's historic homes and commercial buildings,

"Save My Little Havana," is on view through November at the Art Deco Welcome Center's Art Deco Museum in Miami Beach.

HONORED TO GUEST LECTURE ON UNIVERSAL DESIGN

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

I was so proud to guest lecture in a design studio, passionately emphasizing the need to create a better built environment for people with disabilities.

We don’t design healthy communities these days.

We design for cars and the result is epidemic obesity, mental health and other issues.

Poor design isolates people with disabilities, when they could be leading their communities and being an essential part of the workforce from entry level to mid-level worker to executive status.

I am not an architect, but I seek to inspire architects, planners, engineers and builders – to catch up with the 21st century and design for all, including those who uses wheelchairs for mobility.

BUFFALO BILLS’ NEW NFL STADIUM

TEAMING WITH UNITED SPINAL’S ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

“Although the foundation work has just commenced, the Bills have already committed to conduct a walk-through of the stadium at approximately the midway point of construction,” Dominic Marinelli, Vice President of Accessibility Services, shares. 

“This walk-through will not only assess progress for wheelchair users but include testing of the assisted listening system. 

It will also ensure ticket windows are accessible, and verify the functionality of all technology well before the first kickoff. 

No aspect will be overlooked.”

As the construction progresses, the anticipation for the new Buffalo Bills stadium continues to grow.

Fans with disabilities eagerly look forward to the day they can enter the remarkable facility. 

They will find that every detail has been meticulously designed to ensure an exceptional game-day experience for all.