ALL URBAN DESIGN SHOULD BE HUMAN-CENTERED

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE PATH TO ACHIEVING IT

Homebuilders must catch on that there is value in creating a house with one level entrance, with exterior and interior doors wide enough for wheelchairs, plus kitchens and baths fitted for access.

I remember when people told me roll-in showers were horrible and felt like bathing in a decrepit VA hospital.

Today, many of the hippest hotel brands feature all units with walk-in showers.

Turns out young professionals prefer a rain head plus shower wand vs. a dirty tub and the possibility of tripping over its side with wet feet.

Pocket doors and barn doors work well, because they remove hinges that can snag a wheelchair, walker or other assistive mobility device.

They also look great – barn doors for kitchen and living room entrances grace the covers of interior design magazines.

A shower bench, which allows a person with limited mobility to safely transfer into a shower and sit during bathing – can be made of lovely teakwood.

 

ALL URBAN DESIGN SHOULD BE HUMAN-CENTERED

UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE PATH TO ACHIEVING IT

The ADA National Network has calculated that the cost of incorporating accessibility features in new construction is less than one percent of construction costs.

The organization notes that is a small price in relation to the economic benefits to be derived from full accessibility in the future, such as increased employment and consumer spending.

Yet less than one percent of all housing in the U.S. is readily accessible to people who use wheelchairs.

Virtually all of that is in multifamily units.

Quick side note.

Because my personal and professional experience is rooted in physical disability, that is what most of my “do this, don’t do that” examples are built on.

I stick to what I know, but beyond mobility disabilities – cities and the professionals that design/build them MUST also address visual, hearing and cognitive disabilities.

 

 

 

HONORED TO SHARE MY UNIVERSAL DESIGN/BETTER MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES EXPERTISE ON THE GRANDEST OF STAGES

CREATING ACCESSIBLE, HEALTHY, AND SMART

MULTIMODAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRANSPORTATION

I’m proud to share that my “The Universal Design Toolbox for Complete Streets: INCLUSIVE MOBILITY MADE EASY,” will be part of the prestigious 2025 Joint ITE International and Florida Puerto Rico District Annual Meeting and Exhibition taking place this August in Orlando, Florida.

My Universal Design-driven expert session was co-created with David Haight, FAICP LEED AP ND, Transportation Planner/Urban Designer of global built environment firm AtkinsRéalis.

Our expertise will be shared via “Creating Accessible, Healthy, and Smart Multimodal Communities Through Transportation” – a curated technical podium session.

ITE, A Community of Transportation Professionals, was founded nearly a century ago as the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

It has 18,000 members and chose our presentation out of hundreds of abstracts submitted.

It is extremely rare to have a non-engineer, non-certified planner chosen as an expert speaker.

I am honored to create better mobility and inclusion for people with disabilities.