COMMUNITY BUILDING

THROUGH UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND INCLUSIVE MOBILITY

For more than three decades – as a journalist, planner, marketer, educator and activist – I have worked to make the built environment a better place.

The key has been Universal Design – making sidewalks, transit, healthcare, education, arts, job centers and housing accessible to all people of all ages, abilities and incomes.

It was a pleasure to share some of my thoughts on Universal Design and Inclusive Mobility in civic space, while on the inaugural DDA block walk this week.

I was privileged to be on the first block walk led by Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, chair of the Miami Downtown Development Authority.

An expert planner, Rosado also serves my District 4 City of Miami Commissioner.

The walking tour included diverse chats about walkability/urban vibrancy. Honored to chime in about Universal Design and ADA issues.

Thanks to Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo – whose district covers much of the Central Business District, Brickell and Performing arts areas in the city core -- for graciously listening to my ideas for enhanced access for people with disabilities.

I emphasized that the sidewalk should be maintained during all construction.

Miami currently allows developers to close sidewalks for years of construction.

For a single round trip, a pedestrian or wheelchair user must cross dangerous traffic 4 times.

DDA and other leaders understood this must stop.

Most cities require scaffolding to keep sidewalks safe and open during development taking place along them.

REST IN PEACE COACH LOU HOLTZ

YOU WERE VERY KIND TO A YOUNG JOURNALIST FOUR DECADES AGO

To some, he was controversial.

I certainly hold the opposite political views of the late Lou Holtz.

But we shared a love of Kent State, where we both got our career starts.

He was very kind, patient and accommodating with me when I interviewed him in early 1985.

“I'm not the brightest guy, I have a lisp and a body that looks like it has suffered from beriberi and scurvy, but I've learned to build up my self esteem,”

Was Lou Holtz’s best quote in my Daily Kent Stater interview published 2-5-85.

STEVE WRIGHT AND HEIDI JOHNSON-WRIGHT DAY IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES

 JULY 25, 2022 – THE EVE OF THE 32^ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADA

We were honored for creating and team teaching a groundbreaking Universal Design Course at University of Miami School of Architecture in the Spring semester of 2022.

Thanks to Commissioners Kirk Menendez and Rhonda Anderson for co-sponsoring the legislation honoring our hard work. We appreciate Commissioner Menendez’s kind reading of our accomplishments/bios into the official City Commission meeting record:

Steve Wright, an award-winning journalist and marketer, and Heidi Johnson-Wright, a lifelong public servant and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) expert, based the course on their three decades of expertise and advocacy. The 32nd anniversary of the ADA is tomorrow, July 26 – with a celebration at County Hall.

Johnson-Wright has used a wheelchair for mobility for 40 years and brings her practical experience as well as her 30+ years of professional expertise to the classroom. Wright is America’s go-to journalist for reporting on architecture, town planning, mobility engineering and urban policy – as they relate to people with disabilities and access for all.

The revolutionary full-credit course for graduate and undergraduate students reflected UM’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility for all.

Universal Design is extremely relevant because the United Nations has identified more than one billion people in the world have disabilities.  Centers for Disease Control research has proven that one in four people in the United States will experience some form of disability.

The Wrights have published more than 1,000 articles on best practices for planning, architecture, transportation engineering and urban design for people with disabilities.

They have lectured at national conferences across the United States and in Europe. This year, they have combined to appear on more than one dozen podcasts focusing on better housing, mobility, jobs, parks and quality of life for people with disabilities.

The Wrights donated 100 percent of their School of Architecture professor pay toward further outreach and education to support Universal Design on a global scale. Funds support travel and related expenses supporting pro bono presentations on “design for all” at major conferences and conventions.