Exploring Ableism through Design: A Day in a Wheelchair

Recently, as part of a class assignment, I had to check out a wheelchair and go to my classes on campus and explore how design affects everyday occurrences for different abilities. So for half a day I got to experience ableism and how the designed world helps create and stigmatize people of different physical abilities. We are often taught as young children to not stare at "different" people. But we are intrigued by that difference and look because of it. When does looking change to staring?

Socializing ideas taught at a young age continue into adulthood. Being in the wheelchair, I found myself the center of the idea of "not staring." People would look and then look away. I was there but not really acknowledged. And people would try to help but didn't want to step on my own ability to navigate the world for myself. Some asked while others just opened the door for me with a kind smile. People are nice but still are uncertain of what they are supposed to do and not do when it comes to helping.

My independent nature meant I wanted to do everything myself. Though I don't know what I would have done without the kindness of total strangers. A woman offered to push me up the hill I was attempting to wheel up by myself. I was happy to have the help. It is a tough world out there, navigating in a wheelchair in an environment built for the mythical norm of able bodied people, especially on a college campus built long ago.

However, I found even the newest building, which is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, hard to navigate in a wheelchair. Simple things like the weight of doors or the height of tables and counters were impediments to my normal daily tasks. I would have thought that universal design principles would have been incorporated in this new building that was also designed to be so eco-friendly. One of the positive features was the step-less entry. I could use the same entrance as everyone else. I was not forced because of my different ability to use a back entrance designed after the building was built. Ordering food, using a water fountain, library computer and the bathroom were interesting tasks to complete as well.

After I returned the wheelchair, I had a new found appreciation for being able to walk. I noticed that the smoothness of the sidewalk makes a huge difference and even slight slopes are hard to roll up.

I feel that universal design is important in helping to eradicate ableism in society simply by designing for all abilities. Everyone can benefit from these design principles from children to older adults and parents with children in strollers. Design can promote equality and that is a powerful thing.

The next time you are walking around notice how different it would be in a wheelchair. Are the doors automatic? How are the table heights, or counter heights? Is the brick or the sidewalk going to be a smooth surface to roll over? Notice sink and paper towel heights in bathrooms.

Become aware of your surroundings.