GLOBAL DISABILITY INCLUSION HONORED ME ON ITS LIST OF THE TOP 3 DOZEN

DISABILITY ADVOCATES, ACTIVISTS, LEADERS & CHANGE MAKERS

It is the honor of a lifetime to make Global Disability Inclusion's "list of 36 people to know who are advancing accessibility and disability inclusion."

I have used my urban design and storytelling skills to create a better built environment for all.

"Steve Wright - a universal design expert helping cities and organizations understand that accessible design benefits everyone. A world traveler who is seeking out some of the world's most accessible and innovative designs."

--Bio by Meg O'Connell, CEO, Global Disability Inclusion.

Being recognized as one of the top 3 dozen disability-forward leaders/influencers is special, coming from a great inclusion expert such as Meg O'Connell, PHR.

Award winning Global Disability Inclusion is the premier firm for organizations creating more inclusive, accessible and engaged workplaces for people with disabilities.

I am the only town planner/storyteller on the Global Disability Inclusion list.

Humbled to be in the company of: John D. Kemp, James LeBrecht, Maria Town, Jack McElaney, Tiffany A. Yu, the Hon. Mike Lake, M.P.,  and the late Judy Heumann.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7487479566723198976/

SUPER DISABILITY FRIENDLY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN VANGAURD

CURB EXTENSIONS MAKE THIS CROSSWALK SAFER FOR ALL

 

Kudos to these pedestrian friendly, super wheelchair accessible curb extensions.

They calm traffic while providing an excellent route for people with disabilities across Meridian Ave. at Lincoln Lane and just north of Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach.

Every Miami Beach official embrace this and bring it to hundreds of other intersections.

People with disabilities depend on safe crosswalks.

ADAPTIVE REUSE OF AN OLD BUILDING

CANNOT CREATE SUBSTANDARD ACCESS 

FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

This is what happens when lazy/ableist city officials allow a new business to gut an old building but NOT make the entrance accessible to people with disabilities.

The high threshold results in no wheelchair access.

This is on Giralda in Coral Gables – where the city spent millions creating a people-friendly pedestrian district.

The city also could have raised the pavers to meet the threshold, but it neglected that as well.

Nearly a year ago, I was promised this would be fixed.

Lack of access means it is not friendly to people who use wheelchairs for mobility.

CITIES NEED TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

BEFORE ERECTING BARRIERS TO THEIR SAFE MOBILITY

 

I have criticized cities that put up giant bollards or oversized planters to block terrorists from driving into a street festival. 

Those monstrosities endanger wheelchair users who cannot see oncoming cars.

 

Coral Gables simply parked a pair of garbage trucks.

 

Problem solved.

YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL THINKS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE MINIMUM STANDARDS ONLY?

WORK TIREDLESSLY TO VOTE THE ABLEIST OUT OF OFFICE.

The next time your mayor is happy with dangerous, but bare minimum ADA compliance… 

Ask why they don’t boast of bare minimum: 

Saving taxpayer dollars. 

Constituent services. 

Compliance with city laws. 

Then vote them out!

REPEAT AFTER ME: ADA COMPLIANCE IS THE FLOOR

TRULY ACCESSIBLE UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS THE CEILING

What’s the difference between bare minimum ADA compliance & inclusive Universal Design?

A pair of horribly steep/bumpy power line covers on Ocean Drive at the Clevelander = the miserable minimum.

A world famous street in one of the biggest tourist destinations in the U.S. with a pulsing tax base from all the development – should NEVER settle for lousy mobility.

Miami Beach – fix this.

THIS PHOTO SUMS UP THE PATHETIC STATE OF DISABILITY INCLUSION

A THIRD OF A CENTURY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The alleged accessible entrance is barred/locked.

There is no call button.

The Ocean Drive vacation rentals building could be a perfect location for wheelchair users to roll to many Miami Beach Attractions.

But the entrance is locked.

This is what happens when ADA is viewed as onerous instead of inclusive.

WHY DOES THE MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL HAVE WHEELCHAIR SEATING…

IN THE FAR BACK OF THE HOUSE – ENSURING SEATED PATRONS WILL HAVE THE WORST SIGHT LINES FOR EVERY CONCERT

I love the Miami Beach Bandshell, but I cannot understand why the wheelchair accessible seats are flat on the ground at the back of the house.

The view is of a sea of standing bodies as much as the stage.

MIAMI BEACH SHOULD BE SOUTH FLORIDA’S MOST DISABILITY-FRIENDLY CITY

BUT EVERY 10^TH STREET HAS A POORLY DESIGN, TERRIBLY BUILT        AND HORRIBLY MAINTAINED SIDEWALK

More than half of this sidewalk in a heavily pedestrian part of Miami Beach has a severe angle that makes it treacherous for people with disabilities.

It is on 16th St. at Lennox Ave. in Miami Beach.

Wheelchair mobility is virtually impossible.

Not only is the more level part closer to street (worse for pedestrian safety) but it also is an impossible route for wheelchair users -- because outside dining, valet stands and other obstructions block the pathway.

MIAMI IS SO DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS

THAT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY OPERATIONS BLOCK THE SAFE CROSSWALK

Only in Miami, the city that constantly tops lists of most dangerous places to be a pedestrian. 

Police vehicle at Miami Marlins ballpark is there for pedestrian safety.

So the car is parked so that it blocks 100% of the crosswalk.

NOT the logical approach to protecting wheelchair users, elderly, children, families, visually impaired folks — while crossing a dangerous road.

Sorry you can’t see crosswalk striping. 

Photo was taken from 50 feet away.

GREAT CITIES NEVER CLOSE SIDEWALKS DURING CONSTRUCTION

THEY VALUE THE LIVES, SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF PEDESTRIANS BY REQUIRING SCAFFOLDING TO MAINTAIN SIDEWALKS DURING YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT

High praise for the wheelchair accessible, well-lit scaffolding around the historic Alfred I. DuPont Building in downtown Miami.

Sidewalks must always be open and safe during renovation and construction work.

Every city I have lived in, unless it was a 24-72 hour concrete pour, window installation or facade cleaning -- it was required to keep the pedestrian pathway clear.

Scaffolding maintained pedestrian mobility.

The example on Flagler at the DuPont and across the street at the Olympia are bright, light and almost artistic.

It floors me when the city allows a developer to close an entire sidewalk for two to three years of construction.

It violates the ADA, PROWAG, great governance, best practices, good business and basic human decency and inclusion.

THE CITY OF MIAMI’S AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY’S MOBILITY PRIORITIES ARE UPSIDE DOWN AND DO NOT SAFEGUARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS HUNDREDS OF REGULATIONS FOR CARS IN STREETS – BUT WE SHAMEFULLY HAVE VIRTUALLY NO REGULATIONS TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS ON SIDEWALKS

This is the first delivery bot that I’ve seen that can back up.

When they don’t, it is catastrophic for a wheelchair user. 90% of the bots that I have seen stop when a disabled person approaches.

That blocks essential curb ramps and narrow sidewalks.

The City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and other cities MUST regulate these hogs of the sidewalk bots.

Only those programmed to back up out of the way of people with disabilities should be allowed.

MAINTAINING SIDEWALKS DURING CONSTRUCTION IN THE RIGHT THING TO DO

CLOSING SIDEWALKS FOR YEARS VIOLATES THE ADA AND EVERY MORAL OBLIGATION TO SAFE MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PLUS ALL PEDESTRIANS YOUNG AND OLD

Wide, safe, lit, wheelchair accessible simple scaffolding to keep sidewalks open during construction.

What is so hard about this Miami?

How do we have this perfect solution by Flagler St. — then allow both sides of the street to be closed a few blocks north?

I am at a total loss for why Miami officials do not require scaffolding to maintain sidewalks during years of development construction.

Most solutions require tens of millions of dollars.

This requires zero. 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

RESOURCES

8 80 Cities https://www.880cities.org

AARP Livability Index https://livabilityindex.aarp.org

AARP Future of Housing https://futureofhousing.aarp.org

American Planning Association https://www.planning.org/resources/equity

Wheel Pad https://www.wheelpad.com

Jeff Speck https://www.jeffspeck.com

New York Academy of Medicine/Age Friendly NYC http://imagenyc.nyam.org

Project for Public Spaces https://www.pps.org

LCM Architects https://www.lcmarchitects.com

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Steven Montgomery is an Accessibility Specialist at Chicago-based LCM Architects, noted while longevity puts pressure on assisted living and skilled care (because people entering these care settings are doing so at a much later age) it seems to suggest that it may provide new opportunities for independent senior housing.”

“As for the built environment, universal design is the best option to facilitate aging in place,” Montgomery said.

“Because it is intentional by design to permit the widest range of users, including accommodation of future functional impairments, often associated with the aging process.”

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Steven Montgomery is an Accessibility Specialist at Chicago-based LCM Architects, an ADA/accessibility and universal design consulting firm.

He said while there still is a market for active lifestyle retirement communities, the aging Baby Boomer population is “markedly more independent and increasingly more urban than the generation that preceded them.”

“The trend of delayed entry into senior settings is likely to continue as those in retirement hope to extend their independence even longer,” he said.

 

 

 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

“One of the key risk factors for health – both psychological and physical -- is social isolation,” said Meg Walker, a Placemaking Consultant and Community Strategist and Professor at Pratt Institute.

Getting out is so important for seniors.

They need to be near a park, a grocery, a library, a place to meet other people.

We need to make more areas walkable, parks more inviting, universal design applied to all civic space – we need to make places for people.”

Walker sees a trend across the nation of people selling big houses in the suburbs and into cities, downtowns and missed use developments alive with amenities and activity.

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Meg Walker is a Placemaking Consultant and Community Strategist and Professor at Pratt Institute.

She shared her insights when she was Senior Vice President of the New York-based planning non-profit Project for Public Spaces,

Walker has dedicated much of her career – as a planner, educator and elected official – to making streets and public spaces more walkable for human beings.

She said once the temporary need for social distancing has passed, planning for inclusive communities will be a key to supporting an aging population.

 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Lindsay Goldman is the Chief Executive Officer at Grantmakers In Aging (GIA), said data is very important for cities to track needs. NYAM has created Age-Friendly NYC, an interactive online map that tracks aging in New York.

It is a tool for planning, public works, transit and other officials to best spend on resources for walkability, transit and other amenities that better serve concentrations of aging populations and people with disabilities.

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Architect Julie Lineberger President of the Wilmington, VT-based Wheel Pad firm, is developing a stand-alone unit with a kitchen that would be about 300 square feet.

“Aside from family members bringing their loved ones into their own home with a Wheel Pad, there are additional uses,’’ she said.

“A couple who want to age in place in their own home is using Wheel Pad for a live-in aide (quarters).

Another is Wheel Pad as an ADU, renting it for additional income (that can cover the cost of adaptations to the main house, or personal care aides),” she said.