Good design for those of us with mobility issues is good design for all
Since my Parkinson's diagnosis, I'm more aware of how difficult it is to get around
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In the 12-plus years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I’ve become increasingly aware of how difficult the world is to navigate physically.
When I started having gait and balance issues, I realized how many uneven flooring surfaces there were, all of which had become newly noticed tripping hazards. I noticed how many times the threshold of an exterior doorway was a step up or down. I noticed how many big, grand stairways had insufficient or no railings to hold on to. Elevator doors that closed too fast for my slowed pace. The lack of grab bars in hotel showers. And the complete and utter ugliness of so-called “accessible” rooms, even in the finest of hotels.
I’m lucky. I don’t require a walker, wheelchair, or even a cane for daily mobility — yet. But I am slow, and a fall risk, and am always on the lookout for stair railings and shower grab bars, or a hand from a friend or stranger to step over a threshold. And I do sometimes use a scooter for mobility at large, spread-out conferences that I attend several times a year. As displaced as I feel, I can only imagine how difficult it is for those who are less mobile.
What is universal design?
Aware of navigation issues, I learned about a concept called universal design. It and its seven core principles were fascinating. Developed in the 1990s by a team at North Carolina State University, the Center for Universal Design “evaluated, developed, and promoted universal design in housing, public and commercial facilities, and related products.” While the center is no longer active, its core principles remain the cornerstone for builders who want to create beautiful, accessible spaces for everyone.
These principles also address access for people with physical, cognitive, neurodiverse, and other needs in a way that is seamless for “normal” people. They note that universal design should be inviting, and that accessibility accommodations should feel completely comfortable for people of any size, shape, condition, or mental or physical disability.
Why is this important? Because everyone deserves a lovely space and a safe environment out in the world. We’re not to be treated like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, locked away in a tower. How many of us have had to go through back hallways in restaurants, been seated at out-of-the-way tables, or been thrust into another uncomfortable or embarrassing position in the name of accessibility? Access shouldn’t be degrading.
Guest experience
I travel quite a bit, and I remember one of the first times I asked about grab bars at a hotel. It was at a big, fancy hotel in Las Vegas, where they take guest experience very seriously. I’d been there before, so I knew what the usual experience was like. They put me in an “accessible” room where there were indeed grab bars. But there was also old, dingy furniture, and the room was located adjacent to a utility closet, so it was noisy 24/7. The hospital-like shower (in place of the usual spa-like palace of a bathroom) had no curtain and no towel hook within 10 feet. I’m sure this room fit all of the legal requirements of an accessible room, but it fit none of the requirements of a great hotel experience.
I also once requested shower grab bars at a fancy hotel in New York. The room I got was accessible, but it didn’t feel that different, just easier and safer. The beautiful furniture was arranged so there was room for walkers or wheelchairs, but it didn’t feel out of place. The zero-threshold shower had beautiful non-slip stone floors and shiny marble walls, not dingy plastic panels. And the teak shower seat and silver grab bars gleamed against the other chrome fixtures, without screaming, “I’m an accessible room!”
I know fancy hotels are not something that we all experience regularly, or even ever. But I hope these examples illustrate not just the need for accessible public spaces, but also the human need to be included and to enjoy beautiful experiences without fear. Good design for those of us with mobility or other issues is good design for everyone.
Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.
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