Accessibility: Give them what they need

In 2022, Accessibility for Disabled people is still an uphill battle. The fact that many Disabled people still have to double-check that everywhere they want to go out to for a Social event, a bender as we'd say in the UK. They have to check that everywhere they want to go have ramps, braille menus, wheelchair buttons on the doors, automatic doors, disabled toilets, etc. I know that anyone who strays from the "norm" has to check ahead of time for a bunch of things, like if you have allergies. But If you are able-bodied, you don't really have to check, if you get somewhere and they don't have vegan options, you can just leave and go elsewhere. Wheelchair users like myself have to check we can literally get into a place, never mind eat there. The available accessibility is starting to be watered down and their original use infantilized.

London's tactile pavements are systematically being chopped and changed out, tactile pavements aid blind and partially-sighted people get around, they provide a system of tactile indicators telling blind people where the street crossing is, where there are stairs, etc. Because only 2% of partially-sighted people are completely blind in the world, the other 98% can still differentiate between different shades and colors, the tactile pavement has to be brightly colored in contrast to the pavement next to it. The picture above is an excellent example of what tactile pavement should look like for it to be functional and fit for the purpose it was originally designed for. However, In the high net-worth area, these tactile pavements are turned into performance art with no real attempt to be functional. For example, a lot of the Tactile Pavements are being dulled down, the bright colors often being replaced with dark grey to match the dull pavement around it. Accessibility is not an aesthetic choice, this impacts people's lives and their ability to feel seen and be independent.

It isn't just tactile pavements, Technology hasn't caught up for Disabled people. Many websites treat disabled people as an afterthought, sad to say, Vocal seems to be one of them. One of the biggest things for Accessibility would be bringing in a Speechify functionality on all articles. Speechify is an app that reads the articles allowed, and their premium options don't make it sound that robotic at all. Allowing people who either aren't avid readers "read" articles by listening to them a-loud or helping blind and sight-impaired people read articles and stories on here.

The legislation also hasn't caught up to Disabled people's needs and can be frustrating to people who have "invisible" disabilities. For example in the United Kingdom, disabled people have a right to ask for "reasonable" adjustments to be made upon being offered a job. Reasonable? Reasonable to who? Me? or the Employer? You see my point. If you have autism and you get a job in a busy office space, can you ask to wear ear guards so that you can work quietly without the anxiety hitting you? Probably not, Can you ask for your own private room so that you aren't being stressed out by all the loud noises of the main office space? Again, probably not.

It seems that any legislation that is there to protect disabled people and their rights is performative for whichever party happens to be in charge at the time. If it is practical, it gets worn down and infantilized by whichever party or leader takes to control a few years down the line. 49% of Disabled people in the UK aren't employed, that's at least 4 million people. So clearly the ability to request "reasonable" adjustments isn't helping who they think its helping.

So, what do we do to make the day-to-day lives of Disabled people easier? If you are a business owner, or a manager who hires people. Make it imperative that when you ask a disabled applicant or employee what "reasonable adjustments" they need to do their work, that you are listening to them and at least meet them where they're at when suggesting alternatives. Be pro-active when trying to help disabled employees or colleagues.

If you are a politician, policy advisor, or someone with seniority in local government. Make it so that any civil infrastructure that is there for Accessibility cannot be commodified, infantilized, or changed to an "aesthetic" choice. Consult not just charities for Disabled people, consult a randomly selected group of disability benefit recipients. Some with a physical disability, some with mental health issues, their guardians, carers, etc.

If you are a Technology entrepreneur, an inventor, someone with a creative mind and wants to solve a problem with Tech, live by my mantra;

Design for the disabled, re-enable the abled

Meaning, if you are designing something, no matter what it is, no matter the target demographic. If you can make something that someone with a disability can use, then you've just made something that will sell, solve a problem and be idiot-proof for the able-bodied population as well.

Together, there are changes we can make to make the day-to-day lives of the Disabled population way easier, we just need to come together and talk. We also need to change the schooling system so that where possible we put disabled students in class with the able-bodied students. That exposure to difference for the able-bodied students will open doors for every Disabled person they will meet in their lives. Because those kids will go on to be Politicians, business-people, Inventors, graphic designers, Civil engineers, etc. Then we will be able to create a society where any changes that disadvantage the disabled community, will never be accepted or looked over by anyone. This is a world that can change, let's get that ball of progress moving, cos by god, do we need it to.