Inclusivity is a topic of conversation that is becoming more and more addressed in the world, and it’s about time too. The world is designed to cater to what is considered ‘normal’ to the majority, while ignoring the needs of anyone who fits in their definition of ‘normal’. As a society, we are fortunately moving to becoming more welcoming to everyone and bringing down the walls of said ‘normal’. There is a huge range of factors that makes an individual not conform to the traditional norms, some of which are physical, some cultural and some emotional, but all of them are things that make up a person. Some of these factors are:
- Physical handicaps or different abilities
- Handicaps or different abilities that are not physically evident
- Race
- Gender
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
It is important that as designers we stay conscious of how we create spaces for everyone- those that conform to the traditional norms, and those that don’t. Our decisions have different levels of impact on addressing each of the aforementioned factors, some are more social and cultural than others, some are directly affected by our decisions, but what remains unchanged is that we cannot ignore any of those characteristics that make us all individuals and strive to make every space we design as inclusive as possible for everyone. And this goes beyond doing the bare minimum to just comply with ADA regulations. ADA is a great starting point, but still very incomplete towards true inclusiveness. Per the CDC’s 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 1 in 4 Americans has some form of disability, and it is absolutely essential that the future is one where they don’t have to be ashamed or feel like they don’t belong because of it.
To talk about going beyond the minimum requirements I want to talk about a few projects that I recently stumbled upon while browsing through my two loves- Music and Sports. They bring music, and the idea of play to those that haven’t been as fortunate to experience them the way most of us have been privileged to. These are not directly related architecture or interior design, but they certainly are fantastic examples of what we could do if we tried more.
The first came about through diving into a deep hole after watching the movie Sound of Metal by Darius Marder- it revolves around a drummer who loses his hearing. It is a very moving piece of cinema that does a great job showing the struggles of those who experience the loss of hearing while humanizing them, showing their strengths and the beauty, and the struggles within them without being patronizing. Highly recommended watch. But what that did was it made me go deeper and read about the movie which led me to learning about Paul Raci, one of the stars in the movie, who is also an ASL musician. He has several projects in a new genre ‘ASL Rock’ where he ‘sings’ in American Sign Language. This is a really cool musical project that makes us think of the various ways we can help communities that have been ignored because their disabilities are hidden. If we can embrace every community in a similar way, we can enhance the lives of others who have not had the same opportunities to experience and enjoy certain aspects of life that we take for granted every day.
The next thing that caught my attention was how Jose Richard Gallego ‘saw’ soccer games. He lost his vision and hearing at an early age, but that did not deter his love for the game. A friend helps him now enjoy the sport by sitting across him with a model soccer field in between where they use their fingers to run the patterns of play in real time to help Jose enjoy the game that he and I have shared a love for since kids. Soccer has been my biggest love since I was a 5-year-old, and learning about the challenges people face, and the things they do to continue to experience this beauty is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. After reading about Jose, I found out that there are more people like him who use this technique to follow the games and enjoy it with everyone else.
And finally, the last project, or series of projects that are more relatable to designers. This came about from the idea of “play” and how certain kids do not have the access to playgrounds that other kids do. Play is an integral part of any child’s development; it helps with social skills, motor skills and overall enjoyment which is essential for mental and emotional satisfaction. But the sad reality is that playgrounds are a privilege not available to many with certain disabilities. And so, the need for creating spaces where everyone feels welcome becomes necessary. Harper’s playground in Portland, OR and Hope playground in Redmond, OR -happy coincidence that both are in OR? – are two prime examples of how playgrounds can be open and inviting to all. Harper’s playground (https://www.harpersplayground.org/mission/#the-solution) uses the idea that it needs to be Physically inviting (All parts of the park easily accessible to anyone with a walker/wheelchair), Socially inviting (Children, or adults/caregivers can play together as a community), and emotionally inviting (Make everyone feel good to be there) to everyone in order for it to be a truly inclusive endeavor. Hope playground follows similar ideas to make the park a place every child wants to play at and feels welcome to do so. Swings which can accommodate wheelchairs, ramps going to every space, wheelchairs and skateboards going down the slope together, double width slides for caregivers to enjoy with their kids, musical elements and learning opportunities spread all over, sign boards in ASL and Braille- these are just some of the ideas that make inclusivity a reality that goes beyond the bare minimum and really makes everyone feel welcome and a part of this world we all enjoy.
Feature image source-
https://www.3playmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/People-with-disabilities-header.png
