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  • He has kids?! What my 4-year-old taught me about invisible bias +Audio

    He has kids?! What my 4-year-old taught me about invisible bias +Audio
    2026/08/17
    When my kids were little, my husband and I took them with us to see the film Wampler’s Ascent at the ReelAbilities Film Festival. The movie centers a man named Steve Wampler who has a severe form of cerebral palsy, and his journey to climb the 3,000-foot vertical face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.At the time I thought it would be cool for my kids to see a film featuring a person with a disability and to see how that person engineered a solution to achieve their goal. However, rather than being blown away by the fact that this man figured out how to climb a literal mountain, my 4 year old was blown away by something else.As we watched the movie, and new people came onto the screen, this is how our conversation went.Her: “Is that his mom?”Me: “No. That’s his wife.”Her (with wide eyes and a shocked face): “WHAT?? He has a wife?!?”Then, a short while later, when two teenagers come onto the screen…Her: “Who are they?”Me: “Those are his kids.”Her (again, with wide eyes and a shocked face): “He has kids?!?”I sat there slack-jawed, wondering how, at FOUR YEARS OLD, these biases were already baked into her.A man with cerebral palsy being married.A man with cerebral palsy having kids.These things shocked her way more than a man with cerebral palsy innovating a solution to climb the giant flat rock face of El Capitan while managing spasticity and limited function in his arms and legs.How did this happen? How were these biases already so ingrained in her mind before she reached kindergarten — especially when our family regularly spent time in the company of others who have disabilities? When she has a disability herself?Sigh.My heart broke a little as I considered what she will have to overcome just to believe that she, herself, is worthy of the same things most people take for granted. Relationships. A partner. Kids. A job she loves. My kid’s perspective didn’t come from nowhere; her brain formed these thoughts from the invisible messages we hear every day. When we only see disability portrayed in stereotypical ways, and when we don’t see those with disabilities doing typical life things like getting married and having kids, it leave a void that our minds fill with assumptions.As disability rights advocate Haben Girma beautifully wrote: “When we see more people with disabilities in the media, we begin to perceive disabilities as part of the normal spectrum of human experience.”What we see is what we believeDid you know that only 2% of speaking characters in last year’s films were portrayed as having a disability? This woefully underrepresents disability as a human condition. When we look at the U.S. Census, 27% of Americans have a disability (yes, that’s one out of every four people).Even worse is that when disability is included, the stories often perpetuate inaccurate and harmful stereotypes. I am going to take you through the most common ones, and the messages they send to all of us.Cure at All Costs* Message: All disabilities must, and should, be cured.* Overrepresented story: A character starts with a disability, but is later “fixed” through medical intervention, miracles, or magic.* How it’s harmful: This promotes disability as a flaw to be corrected, completely ignoring it as a valid, natural part of the human condition. Some disabilities don’t get cured, and that’s ok. Challenge: Pretend you recently acquired a permanent spinal cord injury.While you are trying to navigate your new reality, and trying to find your way to acceptance, every show you watch tells you that your life is a tragedy unless a miracle ‘fixes’ you.Would seeing these stories make it easier or harder for you to focus on living your life to its fullest, exactly as you are?What if, instead, you saw characters with spinal cord injuries portrayed as everyday people with multifaceted lives?A Burden / Object of Pity* Message: An individual with a disability is entirely helpless, tragic, and suffering.* Overrepresented story: Disabled characters shown having an emotional or financial drain on their loved ones, sometimes even choosing to end their lives so they can stop being a burden.* How it’s harmful: It sways audiences to believe that a disabled life is inherently a life not worth living.Challenge: Pretend you or your child was born with a disability.How would it affect you and your self-worth, or your child’s self-worth, to constantly see characters like you portrayed as a tragic burden who would be better off not existing?How would you think others saw you?The ‘Evil Cripple’* Message: Having an impairment causes or is the result of a warped soul or moral failing.* Overrepresented story: A bitter villain whose primary motivation for evil deeds stems directly from resentment about their disability.* How it’s harmful: It pairs physical or psychological differences directly with evil, generating subconscious fear of, pity towards, and aversion to people with ...
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    17 分
  • A Vacation Bible School and a Drag Show Walk Into My Life… +Audio

    A Vacation Bible School and a Drag Show Walk Into My Life… +Audio
    2026/08/10
    I had experiences last month with two very different groups who welcomed with abandon. These groups curated belonging like it was second nature. However, from the outside, they look like they should exist at opposite ends of a spectrum. One was the Vacation Bible School (VBS) team at a local United Methodist church, and the other, a local drag show & brunch fundraiser.But before I tell you those stories, let me tell you a little about how I became this person who volunteers at a VBS and attends a drag show in the same weekend.Learning by WatchingI was raised Catholic, and both of my parents worked for the church we attended. My mom was the director of religious education, and my dad the director of music. For my siblings and I, the church was our second home, and the people at church were our second family.When I share with people that I was raised “very catholic,” the image it conjures in their minds usually misses the mark. I don’t mean rigid dogma or strict rules requiring hourly rosaries. What I do mean is that we spent a lot of time at church and that my parents taught us, through their actions, that all life is inherently sacred and valuable. And that because every person’s life is sacred, that human dignity is inalienable — meaning it is given, not earned, and it cannot be taken away for any reason; not poverty, illness, disability, skin color, being an immigrant, having a different sexuality or gender, being in prison, or for any other reason.I will never forget the night my older sister, who was a year ahead of me in school, brought a friend home for dinner. He had messy black hair that spiked a few inches off his head, dark eyeliner, bold outlined lips, and heavy metal jewelry. I watched my mom’s eyes widen in initial surprise when they met, but within a split second, her face rearranged into a warm, genuinely welcoming smile. She told him how nice it was to meet him, and we spent the evening visiting around the table.My parents didn’t demand conformity. They didn’t preach to me and my siblings about accepting and welcoming people different than us. They showed us with their actions; with the way they made people feel welcome, included, and protected.Beliefs which alienate vs. includeAs I looked for a spiritual home as an adult, it was hard to find a church that felt like what I experienced growing up. It felt like trying to locate one unique grain of sand on the vast ocean floor. Along the way, I came across too many examples of faith and religion being held up as rationale for alienating and vilifying people who live or believe differently. I couldn’t help but wonder how the foundation had slipped so far away from loving our neighbor and valuing the dignity in all life.My family eventually found our home in a Jesuit parish with a strong focus on social justice, and I am continually thankful to the friend who introduced us to this community. A few months ago, I came upon another faith-based community which made me feel at home - and this is the one I’m going to tell you about today.This is going to sound like the beginning of a joke…What happens when an Israeli Jewish woman, a lesbian couple, a Catholic, and their families show up at a United Methodist church to volunteer for Vacation Bible School (VBS)?Magic. That’s what happens.Entering this community felt like walking into a warm hug. There were no rules about who fit and who didn’t. No gatekeepers making sure we conformed to their version of faith. And no rigid doctrine deciding who was “in” vs. who was “out.”To me, the ultimate expression of faith is expanding the table to include everyone, without any pressure to conform. Sharing our own beliefs and values in a way that welcomes someone to explore, while in parallel showing genuine interest in who the other person is, and being willing to shape our own beliefs based on what we learn from them.Ministry at this church was space-making; not gatekeeping. They drew people in, and made them feel like they belong. They demonstrated what it means to value all life, unconditionally.Here are a few things that stood out to me. * The church staff was excited and positively blown away by my friend’s ability to bring in such diverse volunteers from outside their community. They weren’t awkward or stressed out about interacting with people different from them - they were jazzed by it.* My kiddos volunteered and were warmly invited to join social post-camp activities with other teen volunteers. Disability was not a barrier. There was no hesitation in the invitation. The attitude seemed to be, ‘of course they should join us!”* The staff checked in with me and my kids on physical accommodations, volunteer roles, and to make sure they had everything they needed to feel supported. Not just for the VBS itself, but for the post-camp teen fun as well.* My kiddo with a disability and I pre-planned how she would navigate the transition between floors (peeling off from ...
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    16 分
  • Beyond the Average User - Reshaping Everyday Products +Audio

    Beyond the Average User - Reshaping Everyday Products +Audio
    2026/08/10
    I find working on product accessibility and inclusive design energizing — It’s the part of my day job that makes me feel the most hopeful, and that fills me with the most pride. Recently, I had the privilege to sit down with Accessibility for All magazine to discuss this work for their May issue. The published features is titled, “How inclusive design at Procter & Gamble is reshaping everyday products for accessibility and real-life use.” You can read the article by following one of these links:* Web version with an audio option* Curated digital magazine formatObserve, Don’t AskIn the interview, I talk about shifting from a reliance on what consumers say to observing what they do... because watching how someone shops, handles packaging, or completes their routine reveals a lot more than asking them to explain it.The importance of observation is something I learned first in my personal life by watching my own children, and working with them on their daily routines. Every time I witness how much harder my kid who has a physical disability has to work to complete tasks, I’m reminded how critical minor design choices are for a person’s dignity and independence. A small choice like offering Olay body wash in a pump bottle makes showering a little easier for everyone, but it is a game changer for a person that has only one fully functional hand.Inclusively Designed Everyday ProductsWhen we design products beyond a narrow “average user” model, we create smoother, more independent experiences that benefit everyone. Tide Evo is a great example.* The packaging is easy to open (pull the tab to unseal, lift the top).* It’s ultra lightweight and mess-free (thanks to no extra water in the product, and no fillers)* It makes doing a load of laundry incredibly simple -- pick up a sachet and toss it in (no need to lift and tilt a heavy bottle, it dissolves quickly into the water).* Someone who is blind can both identify the product by touch in their home (tactile markings on the package), and find and navigate to the product in the store (NaviLens Smart Code on the package).* It cleans fantastically (even better than regular detergent according to a colleague who recently tried it for the first time)* And... it’s packaging is recyclable!True accessibility isn’t a one-time solution or a specialized add-on; it is an ongoing process of learning, evolving, and designing for real-life use.Another example is Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner. It was the first brand to integrate the universal tactile system, pioneered by P&G. This innovative system offers a straightforward solution for identifying products by touch, without requiring the consumer to know how to read braille (only 10% of blind individuals can read braille), and without having to speak the same language (e.g. works the same for English speakers, Spanish speakers, German speakers, etc.).Tactile at it’s core is a method for a person to identify something by touch. Many blind individuals already add stick-on ‘bump dots’ to appliances and products in their homes so they can identify the item and/or perform a task independently. This system builds upon that foundational habit, in a way that is also easy to adopt for those who acquire vision loss as they age.You have likely already interacted with tactile markings, possibly without even knowing it. Think about the small raised lines on the F and J keys on a keyboard that help you identify, without looking, where to place your hands. Think about ATM machines and phones that have buttons - have you noticed the bump on the number 5? Fascinating, right?I recently switched to Herbal Essences for my own showering routine to see if the tactile system would be helpful for a glasses-wearer, like myself. And holy cow, do I love it!Without needing to bring the bottle super close to my face and squint at the packaging (which was getting harder now that I also need progressive lenses to read small, close-up text) — I can easily verify whether I’m holding the shampoo or conditioner! If you, like me, have gotten into your 40s or 50s and and now need ‘readers’ to clearly see small text, this might be your new favorite innovation. :)For shampoo, there are four raised lines near the top of the bottle (right side of image), and when I run my thumb over it, it feels bumpy, like suds that are created when using shampoo. Conditioner’s symbol is two horizontal rows of raised dots (bottle on left side of the image). When I run my thumb over it, it feels smooth, like conditioner feels when applying it to hair. I don’t have to look at the bottles or read the small text in order to know which I had in my hands.True accessibility isn’t a one-time solution or a specialized add-on; it is an ongoing process of learning, evolving, and designing for real-life use.Thank you to the team at Mélange and Accessibility for All for highlighting this journey. And thank you to P&G for letting me weave the ...
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    6 分
  • Designed for All: The Obama Presidential Center (+audio)

    Designed for All: The Obama Presidential Center (+audio)
    2026/07/05
    Every time I read a new detail about the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, a profound shift happens inside me.My whole body relaxes.This entire campus illustrates that when spaces are built with love, rigorous intentionality, inclusive design, and community collaboration, design has the power to heal. This center gifts me and others the ability to just ‘be.’ I won’t have to be hyper-vigilant about finding the accessible path. Every walkway is wide and smooth, allowing wheelers and walkers to travel side by side. I won’t have to worry if we can participate in programming, either. All spaces — the community garden, the playground, the restaurants, the library, the Elie Wiesel Auditorium, the museum and the athletic center all inherently considered disabilities and mobility equipment in the design and construction. And there are tons of thoughtful details integrated into the fabric of this place! My friend who is blind will be able to navigate and immerse herself in the museum independently. She won’t need a human guide (if she doesn’t want one) thanks to the tactile overlays on the visual touchscreens, synchronized audio descriptions, 3D reliefs which allow people who are blind or with limited vision to 'feel’ scaled replicas of artifacts, tactile wayfinding maps, and braille signage. My parents can connect their hearing aids to the cutting-edge hearing loop technology that will broadcast directly into their ears. It instantly wipes out the ambient background noise and echo that so often isolates people who are hard-of-hearing. The same tech will welcome my friend’s daughter, who has a cochlear implant. And for people without hearing aids, they can borrow assistive listening devices during their visit. My colleague who uses sign language will experience the full emotional rhythm of the stories because the museum embedded Black Certified Deaf Interpreters directly into its multimedia, alongside clear text captions. My loved ones who are neurodiverse, sensory-sensitive or who have high anxiety can visit with confidence. A pre-visit, downloadable social narrative provide step-by-steps on what to expect, and a sensory guide highlighting high-stimulation bottlenecks as well as lower stimulation alternative routes. If they get overwhelmed, wellness rooms await them indoors, and sensory nooks line the play spaces outside - giving them places to take breaks and recharge. My large family, who lived on my parents’ small church salary growing up, could enjoy 80% of the 19.3 acre campus without spending a dime — including the museum’s first floor, the Home Court athletic center, the fruit and vegetable gardens, and the great lawn. My friends with non-binary and transgender children can visit without bathroom anxiety, using their energy to take in the experience rather than worrying about how to manage basic needs. My friend’s daughter, who has celiac disease, will find gluten free options clearly marked on restaurant and cafe menus so that she doesn’t risk becoming dangerously ill. And they didn’t forget about you, vegetarian and vegan friends! Options for you are clearly marked on the menus as well. When a loved one is recovering from surgery, which has happened so many times in my family, or when visiting with adults or older children that need personal care, they will have the space they need to be taken care of properly, in a way that preserves both dignity and hygiene. And even better, their personal attendant or aide can visit with them at no additional charge. This place has skyrocketed to the top of my bucket list.“We Thought of You, and We Want You Here”The center reminds me of the feeling I had when my family happened upon The High Line in New York City. It was that quiet, emotional realization: “Hey… we thought of you, and we want you here.”The magic of this center didn’t happen by accident. It reflects the worldview activated into the very foundation of the facility. At the grand opening, former President Obama noted: “We wanted it to be a vibrant, living celebration of community, where we can learn together and share the joys of art and music and sport and play. Because it’s in those moments that we’re reminded of our common humanity and strengthen the bonds of trust that not only make our lives richer, but make our democracy stronger.”What is the most transformative is the he isn’t speaking in generalities. He isn’t speaking of people who fit an ‘average’ mold. He is truly talking about everyone - regardless of ability, skin color, income, age, gender, or background. The intentionality of the process they followed to create this center and the choices they made along the way blows my mind. There is an exponential beauty when spaces are designed for this type of equity. When families can walk side-by-side without being fractured by architectural barriers, the playing field is intentionally leveled. It’s a real-world lesson on inclusive ...
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    16 分
  • The Exponential Impact of Physical Access (+audio)

    The Exponential Impact of Physical Access (+audio)
    2026/05/20
    Rebekah Taussig’s book, “Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body” is one of my favorites.I’ve spent years anticipating my children’s needs and helping them navigate the world’s friction. I thought I understood disability because I lived on its doorstep. However, Taussig’s book caused me to realize I was missing the view from the inside.I don’t actually know what it’s like to be the one with a physical disability.Taussig’s words challenged me to consider points of view that had never crossed my mind. Her book provides a glimpse into the raw, complex emotions of growing up with a physical disability. The hidden, layered costs of being forced to take a separate route. The quiet resignation of opting out—when the effort required to show up outweighs the joy of being there.In addition, she invites readers to consider something that feels both radical and incredibly true.Instead of disability as the limitation, what if a lack of imagination was the actual barrier?Inclusion isn’t better just because it’s kinder. We should bring disabled perspectives to the center because these perspectives create a world that is more imaginative, more flexible, more sustainable, more dynamic and vibrant for everyone who lives in a body.~Rebekah Taussig, Sitting PrettyWhen building a ramp is more than a rampOur local middle school uses the park behind the school for recess. It’s a great little park, and a perfect place for the kids to run and play and get some energy out between classes.However, the school building is at a higher elevation than the park, and when my daughter started middle school, the students’ path required navigating a set of stairs. Someone using a wheelchair, like my daughter did at the time, had to travel around the edge and through a parking lot to get to recess.Because the path crossed through a live parking lot, my kid not only had to take a separate longer route, she had to be escorted by an adult for safety. Having to take this separate, chaperoned path…* Separated her from her friends* Stole her recess time* Stripped her of her independence* And, most absurdly, put her in the path of moving carsThe school lacked the foresight and imagination to see that the staircase wasn’t just a physical barrier—it was also a social barrier that slowed her developmental progress vs. her peers.At our parent teacher conference, the teacher who was escorting my kid on this path literally asked me, “Hey - do you have any ideas on how I can slow her down in that wheelchair? She starts flying so fast down that incline and I worry a car will turn that corner and not see her until it’s too late.”I stood there stunned. However, the problem was not her speed. It was the path.I was already planning to speak to the school board, but this conversation gave me additional fuel.I quoted that teacher at the school board meeting to lay out the stakes: the route wasn’t just inconvenient; it was dangerous. I talked about how this physical barrier was impeding my child’s ability to make social connections. That developmentally, she was artificially being held back due to being stripped of the independence granted freely to her peers.Not because she wasn’t capable. But because the school hadn’t made their campus accessible.I asked for a ramp, and I have to give credit where it’s due.They built it.And they did it in six months.The day it was finished and open for use, I got a text from an aide at the school. She had worked with another child who uses a wheelchair the year before, and had experienced the same daily frustration we had. Through the grape vine she’d learned that I had something to do with it being built.My heart glowed a little while reading her note, because this ramp wasn’t a special favor for my kid. It was a community upgrade.It helped her. But it would also help…Our friend and his aide.Anyone who breaks a leg or sprains an ankle.The mom with the double stroller.The teacher with the bad knee.The toddler on a balance bike.And so many more.Learning to see the real impact of limited accessThe following quotes from Taussig’s book taught me to see more than just the lack of access. It helped me see the social impact. The impact on development. The cost that adds up to much more than the extra moments spent navigating from one place to another.“I don’t know if I fit in. I feel like an outsider with most people. How much is based on the fact that, as we navigate an environment together - the restaurant or park or bumpy sidewalk - a good quarter of my brain power is put into carrying that cup of coffee without spilling it or keeping my eye on the accessible route.”~Rebekah Taussig, Sitting PrettyImagine if you had to always keep one part of your brain dedicated to figuring out whether there is an accessible route you can follow. To locating that path. To scenario planning in case there is no path you can take. To managing the ...
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    9 分
  • Supporting a Person Through Major Surgery: Caring for the Body and Soul (+audio)

    Supporting a Person Through Major Surgery: Caring for the Body and Soul (+audio)
    2026/04/28
    Seeing a number of friends go through surgery recently has me thinking about the recovery process. I don’t mean to brag, but my family has been through more than our fair share of surgeries and recoveries.There are similarities across all of them, but also unique challenges and new insight gained from each experience. There is so much to consider. I could probably publish ten different writings on this topic alone.When a loved one goes through a major surgery or sickness, my focus immediately shifts to the logistics of caring for their physical needs. Before the surgery comes all the planning. I’m sure I come across as a little much to our doctors because I ask a lot of questions. Like… a LOT. I’m known for walking into appointments with a written list the length of a legal pad. That I display on my lap. To visibly communicate that I need their time and guidance. After the surgery, it’s a whirlwind. Prescriptions to fill, medicines to administer, schedules to keep, basic physical needs to address - and in our case, a few years ago - the complicated logistics surrounding my daughter having an extremely painful surgery followed by lying flat in a cast-like body brace for six weeks.Yes, you read that right. Six. Weeks.We had done all the prep work.Removed her bed. Rented a hospital bed. Rearranged the space. Purchased Echo Dots for intercom-like communication. Installed smart plugs for turning lights on and off from bed. Acquired a hospital-like tilting bedside table. Rented a wheelchair with a reclining back. Coordinated with the school. Shared the news with her 4th grade peers. Planned out how to help our son continue to feel loved and supported amidst the chaos.And more. So. Many. Things. I was overwhelmed before the surgery even arrived.Then, the surgery happened. And it was just as hard as I feared. After coming home from the hospital, the first time we took her to a check in with the surgeon, it took us an hour to just get her into the car.The careful transfer from bed to wheelchair.Positioning the rigid brace.Cushioning her with pillows & gel pads.Navigating down the twisting hallway.Lifting over the threshold steps. Pushing along the sidewalk.Tilting back the car seat. Transferring into my van. More positioning and cushioning. Attaching the specialty seatbelt straps.Loading the wheelchair into the back.We did try to create some fun moments with the family in her room, but most of our interactions felt very medical. There was simply so much medical to manage.After a couple weeks, we finally had some established routines, and her pain started diminishing a little. However, she seemed sad. I asked her what was wrong and she shared, through tears, “I miss hugging you.”I think my heart stopped for a moment.Hugs.Touch.We touched her all the time. We were with her almost constantly. But our touch was clinical. Medical.Daily routines.S**t. How had I not taken a single moment to simply hug her?Clearly, my next step was to give her a hug. It was clunky because the brace was in the way. But it was possible.I thanked her for trusting me. For telling me. For giving me the chance to course correct.Hug ScienceThat night, I did some reading, and it turns out there is scientifically backed evidence on the benefits of hugging. Research featured in Psychology Today and discussed by experts like Cari Browning, RN, LCSW confirms that a 20-second hug is the “sweet spot” for triggering significant biological changes.This sustained contact stimulates the release of oxytocin (the “love hormone”), which promotes safety and bonding, while simultaneously decreasing cortisol levels to physically lower stress.If you don’t have someone readily available to hug, the same calming effects can be achieved through self-soothing touch, such as placing a hand over your heart or wrapping your arms around yourself to activate the nervous system’s calming response.A Daily Dose of HugsThe next day, she and I established a daily hug routine. I wanted her to feel the intentionality of it. The focus on her. A real human connection over a sustained length of time. So… we exceeded the 20 seconds and went for a full minute.One minute, when you think about it, is a very short commitment. No matter how hectic life gets, finding one minute of time for something important is not only possible, it’s sustainable. I tied it to one of our existing routines, because the ADHD is strong in me (along with the rest of our family). I’m much better at forming a new habit when it’s associated with another must-do task.To execute the hugs, we lowered the hospital bed, I carefully wrapped my arms around her and the brace, and pressed my cheek into hers. We set a one minute timer on Alexa, and for 60 seconds, we simply existed together. Sometimes, as the timer started ringing, she would pipe up with - ‘Alexa, add 30 seconds!’ - and we would extend our hug a bit longer. If she needed more time, she got it.Reinventing ...
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    10 分
  • Designed for All: The New York City High Line (+Audio)

    Designed for All: The New York City High Line (+Audio)
    2026/04/21
    We visited New York City over spring break, and whenever we travel to a new place, I experience a constant, low-level hum of anxiety. How many stairs? Is there a ramp? Where is the elevator, and—more importantly—is it actually working? These are just some of the variables in the invisible math of our family travelling.In this case, my husband did a lot of the preparation for our trip. He used Claude (an AI assistant) to help him plan our activities and to give us a head start on how to navigate the city with an electric scooter. It was a huge help, but we also know AI isn’t always accurate, and it can’t predict elevator outages or availability of accessible cars - so we still needed to stay on our toes.One of our adventures included a visit to the High Line. The High Line is a 1.5-mile public park built on a historic, elevated rail line above Manhattan’s West Side. I was prepared for ‘accessible enough’ but I wasn’t prepared to be delighted.After we finished lunch at Chelsea Market, we took the nearby elevator up to the High Line. There is a fascinating history of how this park came to be. It took many dedicated people over years to make the project a reality.I was immediately charmed by the elegant design of the park, the copious amounts of seating along the route, the smooth transitions between spaces, the easy to roll on surfaces, the art peppered along the way, and the integration of the original railway’s materials into the space. You can check out photos of the park here. After a short walk we came upon a dramatic sunken overlook that hangs over 10th Avenue Square like a theater box. My son wanted to check it out, so he and I headed down the stairs toward the massive glass overlook window at the bottom.This is when the “Gutsy” design revealed itself.At first glance, it looked like a traditional amphitheater—a dramatic set of deep wooden steps where people can sit and watch the traffic below flow like a living movie. But as we descended, I realized those seating steps were ingeniously connected by a zig-zagging ramp. The social heart of the space had an integrated route for wheelers! In a world where the accessible route is usually a side door or a clunky lift, this was a pleasant and welcome surprise—a rare moment where the world felt like it was leaning in to say, “Hey… we thought of you, and we want you here.”After my son and I took a few selfies in front of the giant picture window, we ran back up to the top to share the news. My daughter navigated her electric scooter down the wooden switchbacks. While she did have to make a number of three-point turns to hit the angles due to the length of her scooter, she pretty easily reached the bottom, right in front of the window.For a moment, the invisible math required to navigate New York City with a mobility device simply vanished. We weren’t just accommodated. We were included.While we were there, a family with a stroller also used that same zig zagging path to navigate down to the big viewing window. When we design for all, it makes the experience better for everyone.Families with strollers. Adults with bad knees. Aging people who use a cane or walker. Toddlers who want to ‘do it myself.’The Sky-High Standard: Radical Accessibility on the High LineIn a city known for its walkup apartments, narrow subways, and crowded sidewalks, New York doesn’t always feel like it was designed for everyone. However, the more I learn about the High Line, the more I realize how much this 1.5 mile stretch of steel and garden is quietly telling a different story.The 10th street overlook wasn’t an anomaly - The High Line seems to be fully designed and operated with an inclusive mindset. Details on park features can be found here. And information on programming and initiatives can be found here. Here are just a few of the many great things I’ve learned about this precious NYC resource. Equity toolkit for park planning: They created a whole toolkit! I cannot say enough about how amazing I think this toolkit is. Use it the next time you plan something in your local community. So much valuable guidance! And they provide the entire thing for free.Borrow a ride: Through a partnership with Guardian, visitors can request a wheelchair in advance to ensure they have the support they need to cover the full distance. They just ask that you make the request at least one day in advance. The side-by-side standard: The pathways are a mix of smooth concrete planks and open joints that are wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass comfortably. You don’t realize how game changing this is until you experience trying to walk side by side with someone using a wheelchair on a regular sidewalk. You either end up with one foot on the sidewalk and the other in the grass (which is not horrible until the grass becomes uneven and you nearly twist your ankle), or end up walking behind them which feels more like medical transport than a friendly walk.Eight...
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    8 分
  • Inclusive Design for Events, a.k.a Radical Hospitality (+Audio)

    Inclusive Design for Events, a.k.a Radical Hospitality (+Audio)
    2026/04/20
    We have all done the invisible math for an event. Will there be a place for me to sit? Will the music be so loud I can’t hear? Will there be anything on that menu I can actually eat?When that math doesn’t add up, we either stay home or suffer through it uncomfortably.Think about one small change that would make you more comfortable leading up to an event or at the event itself. Maybe a quick note from the host telling you what to expect? Or labels identifying common food needs? Or maybe an outdoor space where you could step away from the chaos?It’s tiny intentional changes like these that can make people feel more welcome. More comfortable. And like they truly belong.Where do I start?Thinking inclusively is like a muscle. It gets stronger and easier the more you practice. When planning to bring people together, try these three simple strategies. * The Map Before the Trip – The act of radical predictability* The Buffet Principle – Trading rigid plans for profound flexibility* The Captions-On Rule – Building a communication safety netThe Map Before the TripProviding clarity regarding what to expect reduces the cost of participating. It eliminates the invisible math people have to do before they show up, and reduces the mental load each guest has to carry on their own. Telling people what to expect (parking, stairs, lighting, food) is the ultimate act of kindness.For example: When inviting friends to join you for a walk, don’t just send a pin. Mention: “The path is paved, there are bathrooms near the pavilion, including a separate one for those who need a private space, and it’s usually pretty quiet until 4:00 PM.” This allows people to RSVP with confidence, even if they use a mobility device or feel overwhelmed in crowded spaces. The most common needs relate to the path (physical access), the vibe (clothes to wear, atmosphere), the menu (are safe foods available), the bathrooms (locations & availability, are separate ones available for more space or privacy), and the arrival/exit (is arriving late or leaving early ok). This sounds like a lot of things to consider, but it can be just a few lines at the end of the invite.The Buffet PrincipleOnce your guests are through the door, the next challenge is ensuring they don’t have to navigate a series of social hurdles just to participate. This is where the buffet principle comes in. Giving people options (food, seating, noise levels) removes the burden of having to explain and shine a light on differences in order to participate. It makes it possible for people navigating extra challenges to feel just as much a part of the group as everyone else. It removes hurdles that can cause them to opt out and socially isolate, because asking for special accommodations over and over and over again is exhausting. And it makes people feel like a burden. In just my close circle, we represent a vast spectrum of diets - vegetarian, gluten free, onion allergy, nut allergy, kids who only eat limited varieties of foods, plus my own post-bariatric surgery guidelines of low sugar/ high protein/ high fiber foods, and no carbonated drinks. Using this principle transforms a food planning minefield into a simple exercise. Most cuisines can be easily deconstructed into a ‘build your own’ experience that allows people to opt in and out of the parts which fit their needs.When you deconstruct an experience—whether it’s a taco bar lunch or a multi-option work meeting—you stop being a gatekeeper and restore your guests’ autonomy. This approach recognizes that your guests are the experts on their own needs. You are simply providing the high-quality ingredients and trusting them to assemble an experience that fits their body, their diet, and their energy level for that day.The Captions-On RuleWhen people have the agency to choose how they show up, they also maintain the energy needed to engage. But even the most comfortable guest can’t participate if they can’t follow what’s happening or understand what is being said. To help with this, you need the Captions-On Rule.Think of this as the safety net of communication. It recognizes that we all process the world differently—some need to see it, some need to hear it, and some need to experience it. This helps people with differences (low vision, difficulty hearing, easily distracted, etc.), but it helps the rest of us too. In a world of migraines, loud construction sites, rambunctious toddlers, or glitchy Wi-Fi, a single option for taking in information is destined to fail someone.By providing information in more than one way — layering a verbal announcement with a written sign, enabling a live transcript, or adding audio description for a video —you ensure the message is able to be taken in by everyone. You aren’t repeating yourself; you’re building a fail-safe environment where no one has to struggle to stay in the mix.Bonus Tip #1: The Belonging NoteThe next time you send an invite, add this one ...
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