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Student-designers make spaces, products more accessible
From a wheelchair-friendly home bathroom to computer equipment that’s easier on arthritic hands, student innovators from across California designed products and spaces to better serve individuals of all abilities for the USC Davis School of Gerontology’s Morton Kesten Universal Design Competition.
Wheelchair accessible tuk-tuk debuts
The maker of a new tuk-tuk prototype retrofitted with a wheelchair ramp hopes to usher in a new era of wheelchair-friendly travel in Phnom Penh. Ian Jones, a consultant for the Agile Development Group, is the mastermind behind the new handicap-friendly tuk-tuk, which features a simple metal ramp that acts as backdoor to the tuk-tuk […]
Improved access: Disabled, advocates see progress in public accommodations
People with disabilities and officials say Columbia is a good place to live for those with a disability, but challenges still exist and improvements are needed. Advances in technology, particularly smartphone technology, have led to significant improvements for people with disabilities.
Want Toys With More Diverse Abilities? There’s #ToyLikeMe For That
Last year, journalist and creativity consultant Rebecca Atkinson noticed a striking absence of disabled characters within her kids’ massive toy collection, so she did a little digging; she discovered that, outside of the occasional broken-leg-with-cast, disabled representation across the entire toy industry amounts to basically nil.
A Walkable, Bikeable Future? Hartford Has It
Earlier this month, Hartford unanimously approved its first major zoning overhaul since 1969. The initiative, known as ZoneHartford, has been in the works for two years, and its formal adoption marks a shift in the city’s priorities toward more walkable, bike-friendly neighborhoods. ZoneHartford emphasizes form-based code to preserve neighborhood character and includes best practices for complete streets. These practices, […]
Lonely Planet’s “Travelling with a Disability” Guide Now Available
When you’re travelling with a disability or access issues, it’s important to know that your needs can be met in the destination you are travelling to. This means planning your trip well: unlike for most able-bodied people, it’s much more difficult to act spontaneously and hope for the best. Unfortunately, most people with access issues […]
A day in the life of accessible design: the case of the invisible lift – Part 1
The idealised format of modern living and design requires space, light and a lack of clutter in design and spatial planning. This ideal has evidently been at the forefront of the thoughts of the designer (s) of the foyer area of the GreyFriars Hotel, East Hill, Colchester. As a result, the entrance foyer is an […]
Inclusion in Action: Giving Riders a Voice in Transportation Planning and Making Dialysis Less Stressful
Dialysis patients generally receive treatment several times per week, and missing a session can have real health consequences. Unfortunately, getting to treatment can be a challenge, and programs that try to address the problem often do not understand the unique needs of these patients. This can create as many problems as the program seeks to […]
Yes, I’m blind. No, I don’t need help crossing the street.
I am sitting in the local Dunkin Donuts, working through a thesis reading, when the manager poses a question: “What happened to your eyes?” I’m legally blind, and it’s obvious. I squint at signs and lean into books. I look different, too, with a right eye blood-shot red with the remnants of a cyst removed in […]