FROM DEI TO ROI

REBRANDING THE ENDLESS BENEFITS OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN 

IN AN ERA OF POLITICAL PUSHBACK

Proud to be speaking at Universal Design Summit 8, by Starkloff Disability Institute.

The global event brings 200+ architects, engineers, interior designers, OTs, disability advocates together for 3 days of keynotes, breakouts, tours of St. Louis sites that put Universal Design into practice.

Join my session this month: “From DEI to ROI: Rebranding the endless benefits of universal design in an era of political pushback."

Let’s design spaces that work better for everybody. Get your #UDS8 tickets: https://starkloff.org/uds8

PARIS’ METRO SHOULD BE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

THE WEALTHY CITY MUST DEDICATE MONEY TO RETROFITTING THE OLD BUT ESSENTIAL SYSTEM

Like most visitors, I love using the Paris Metro system.

Locals don’t just love it – they depend on transit to get to work, school, healthcare and much more.

I encourage city leaders to increase wheelchair access for tenfold.

I’m tired of the worn out excuse that buses are accessible, so the subway does not need to be.

It can easily take an hour by bus to cover a distance that only takes 10 or 12 minutes by Metro.

That is not equality.

You would think in a city where the mayor and a significant number of mayors of the 20 arrondissements are socialists, they would wisely invest billions in tourism revenues to solve the social problem of grossly unequal mobility for wheelchair users and others with disabilities.

CARELESS AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR AT THIS PARIS LEGEND CAUSED ME TO FLEE WHEN THE SHOW WAS JUST BEGINNING

I HAVE BEEN TO HUNDREDS OF JAZZ CLUBS AND CONCERT VENUES – THIS IS THE FIRST THAT REWARDED MY ADMISSION PAYMENT BY THREATENING MY LIFE

Caveau de la Huchette.

Shame on you for endangering my life and hundreds of others.

You had dozens of people sitting on the stairs.

There was no escape.

I have visited more than 500 international venues and never seen something that dangerous.

I HAVE BEEN TO HUNDREDS OF JAZZ CLUBS AND CONCERT VENUES

CARELESS AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR AT THIS PARIS LEGEND CAUSED ME TO FLEE WHEN THE SHOW WAS JUST BEGINNING

The far over safe capacity crowd swelled by almost double                                                              AFTER! this picture of overcrowding was taken.

Caveau de la Huchette is a disaster waiting to happen.

I left 4 songs into 9-7-26 show because it was a fire trap.

The club exceeded capacity to point where both stairways were impossible to use.

Apparently no one in Paris cares about hundreds burning to death in a fire or getting trampled in a panic.

I directly contacted the Paris mayor, office for the 5^th Arrondissement and city fire department.

Not one followed up with an inspection or addressing my sincere concerns.

HOPEFULLY, THE BEING HEUMANN BIO FILM ON JUDITH HEUMANN WILL RAISE DISABILITY AWARENESS

WE NEED MORE DEPICTION OF DISABILITY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS

Would love to know the story behind this live play at Theatre Antoine in Paris.

I certainly enjoy disability inclusion in the performing arts.

AIRLINES HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO TRULY SERVE WHEELCHAIR USERS

AIRPORTS MUST ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Gratified to see well-displayed disability services hubs in each terminal at Orly Airport Paris.

I have seen the same, as well as very accessible restrooms at Charles de Gaulle airport Paris.

Kudos.

PUBLIC TRANSIT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR MOBILITY, HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RECREATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE METRO SYSTEMS MUST ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

METRO SYSTEMS MUST ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 

Glad to see poster (on Paris M14 line to Orly Airport) supporting wheelchair access on train transit.

Sadly, a tiny fraction of other Metro lines have elevator access. I hope transit operator/authority RATP and IDFmobiilites improve this.