how creating truly accessible spaces can make society better for everyone
6 minute read
spencer west is a motivational speaker, author and content creator working to advocate in the disabilities space and help others navigate through life as their authentic selves.
george pimentel
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people living without disabilities think very little about whether or not they’ll be able to access a space. however, those who do have to make sure that before they go anywhere, regardless of where it may be, that the space they’re aiming to go to will be able to accommodate them.
having to look up online whether a place is accessible beforehand, or arriving only to realize that accessibility looks very different from what they had hoped, are just a couple of issues people face when it comes to finding and enjoying spaces while living with disabilities.
“i’ll get to a place, and they have a lift, but you have to call someone, and they either have to operate it for you or they’ve got to bring a key,” said spencer west, an author, content creator and motivational speaker who was born with a genetic disease that eventually led to him having a double leg amputation just below his pelvis. he now navigates the world in a wheelchair.
“that’s a good example of sort of gatekeeping accessibility, because to me, it’s only fully accessible if i can operate it by myself without having to need support from someone else.”
he’s also run into situations where a website says that their place is fully accessible, but there’s still a stair at the front door to get in, which west notes is simply “false advertising.” he’s also encountered a sort of afterthought setup, where the only way he can enter a building is if he does so through a back alley door.
“it’s like, ‘oh, okay, so, i’m not worthy enough to be able to come in the front door.’”
in those instances, he’s been told to feel lucky it’s accessible at all, as if he should be grateful he wasn’t completely barred from it. in other cases, businesses put up temporary ramps to accommodate, but those become more permanent staples rather than stepping stones to better inclusion.
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“it’s a nice intention, but the commitment isn’t there,” he said.
accessibility and inclusion shouldn’t be optional
being able to access any given place at any given time is something that many people take for granted, because for people who live with disabilities, sometimes it’s not an option. it doesn’t mean they’ll just miss out on a good sandwich at a new restaurant or on seeing a band they like in a concert hall. the cut runs deeper when people feel as though they’re not being seen.
“it makes me feel like i’m not a worthy member of society to be able to participate or show up in whatever that means, and it feels like really challenging,” said west.
even in places designed for accessibility, such as bathrooms, people often forget that certain stalls are there for a reason.
west tells the story of needing to use the washroom, realizing that two were out of order and that a third was occupied by someone simply standing there, seemingly on their phone. he then had to wait for the person in the only usable stall to “finish being on their phone.”
“that is my only option. i don’t have another one, so if you don’t need it, don’t use it,” west said.
changing the way people look at accessibility and disability
west notes that designing community spaces through the lens of accessibility is “better for everyone.” those who don’t need the accommodations won’t notice, and those who do will be able to move more freely through the world.
uhn’s west park, a newly opened specialized rehabilitation centre, is one of the places that did just that and has changed the way accessibility looks for everyone.
shelley ditty, vice president of campus development support services at west park, has been nurturing the centre’s construction for over a decade. she and many others worked together to bring a vision to life with west park, all in the name of accessibility.
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“we have a varied patient population, whether it’s amputee population, msk, musculoskeletal, neurostroke, respiratory geriatrics, complex continuing care,” she said. “when you look at all those various populations, what are their needs? how can we provide them with the best experience possible?”
the goal was to facilitate access for both patients and staff and minimize any barriers as much as possible. they acknowledged physical barriers by making hallways wide enough to accommodate all types of wheelchairs, ensuring that those with limited mobility could access door-opening assistive devices, and installing elevators that stop on every floor because, for some, the buttons on the side of the door are difficult to reach without having to do serious maneuvering.
“it really was about universal design, trying to accommodate for whatever ability.”
they also took into account people with hearing or visual impairments, as well as those with cognitive issues, to incorporate as many features as possible to design a space that’s good for all who walk through its doors.
it was a challenge, due to competing needs, but balancing those was of the utmost importance.
“we are all working together. we’re living together, so we should be able to have people with disabilities not feel like they’re different or somehow have to be treated differently,” she said.
taking a note out of west park’s book
west also echoes that point in his talks and content, as well as in his new book, because, for so long, those without disabilities have controlled the narrative surrounding people who do.
“non-disabled folks have always had control of the narrative of disabled people. we should feel bad for them, we should pity them, we should use them as inspiration to make our lives feel better,” he said. “what i love about social media and why i use it in this way is because i want to take control of that narrative. i want people to understand that me going to the grocery store isn’t inspiring. there’s so many other things that i’ve done that are inspiring, but that’s not one of them. me just living my life shouldn’t be seen as inspirational.”
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that’s where other businesses can learn from a place like west park. by understanding and acknowledging the needs of the entire population, not just a part of it.
“one of the things that blew me away … every single [bathroom] stall was accessible. i’m like, that is the dream. you know what i mean? and that’s intentionality and that’s understanding the community and that’s understanding that everybody should have an equal shot,” said west. “i say this all the time when people use the term special needs. i’m always like, wanting to have access to the bathroom is not a special need. it’s a civil right.”
west says that it isn’t just on the backs of people with disabilities to be louder, either. people living without disabilities should be able to empathize and understand so that they can use their voices too as allies. this is especially true because “the disability community is the only marginalized community that everyone will experience at some point in their life, whether that’s temporary or permanent.”
maybe someone will age into a disability, or break their leg when they’re younger, or any number of other things that can happen that cause disability. the important thing is seeing that every person can benefit from a more accessible world.
“the disability community will continue to advocate and fight for equal rights, but we can’t do it by ourselves,” said west, saying that only when people without disabilities start acknowledging, using their voice to amplify the message and realizing that accessibility benefits all, will things start to change in the right direction.
“if we start thinking from that perspective and designing from that perspective, we can make the world a little bit more inclusive,” said west. “and although it may not be helpful for folks now, it will be at some point.”
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in the meantime, people without disabilities can do their part by keeping accessibility options open for those who truly need them, such as elevators when stairs are available or avoiding using bathroom stalls designed for people who need extra space.
“there’s a lot of ways that non-disabled folks can show up for us and continue to be allies in that way.”
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