What would access for ALL look like?
Election time has given us cause to reflect and as our leaders are spruiking their wares, the topics and issues are prolific! The comment that caused me most reflection was the “Blessed” comment from one of our leaders, who expressed how lucky he was that he didn’t have a child with a disability. Those who do not understand about disability, could not see the issue. Those that do, were horrified, disappointed or downright angry. The issue is not the comment, the issue is that it highlighted the total lack of understanding nor awareness of what our disabled community is about or their challenges but more importantly, their strengths and how they could, if allowed, contribute to our society. It made me think about what our society would look like if we could press Control-Alt-Delete and start our society all over again but with a lens of access for ALL.
What would happen if we started again with our society?
There would be no steps. Of any description. Anywhere. Offices. Shops. Buildings. Schools. Hospitals. Homes. All ramps. Creatively designed so they were attractive, easy to use and a beautiful sense of ‘journey’ to navigate. Everyone could use them. Wheelchairs. Those with mobility issues of all descriptions. Able bodied people. Everyone!
Carparks would be wide and spacious! There would be clear paths towards the buildings that were wide and smooth with an array of lovely, attractive spots along the way to stop and enjoy. And they would all be covered. Wheelchairs or mobility scooters would be available alongside shopping trolleys for those that needed them. Plus, for those that required further support, someone available to help you out of the vehicle and into where you want to go.
All vehicles would be sold without foot pedals. All cars would have steering wheels with all necessary instruments. All vehicles would be designed and manufactured for wheelchair access. These would be able to be used by those in wheelchairs, without ability to use their legs and all able-bodied people.
All buildings, offices, shops and homes would be designed and built without bright lights and certainly without flashing lights of any description. This would mean that all those with sensory issues would be able to live and work happily and so would neurotypical people.
Shopping centres and busy places like hospitals would be designed with subtle lighting and with creative noise and signage to cater for those with sensory issues. At the doorway, headphones would be expected to be collected and worn for the duration of your shop or visit. This would allow neurodivergent AND neurotypical people to shop and visit without issue.
All places of hospitality would include headphones for piped music at consumers choice. Hotels would have normal lighting and no bright or strobe lighting. Nightclubs would be awesome fun with headphones to share the music to dance to at the volume that suits each person.
All written texts will be only produced in Braille including at schools. Digitally it will be the same, with the option of spoken word. There will be no written word produced in any other way. Yes, this would mean that ALL people would need to learn how to read Braille and not English. Everyone – not just those who are vision impaired. Why should they have all the fun?
Teachers and Lecturers, politicians and tv presenters would present both in spoken English as well as Auslan. If, for some reason, they cannot do both, Auslan will take priority. This would also be the case in hospitals, child care, hospitality and retail stores. In fact, in all aspects of life. All people would learn Auslan from birth.
In the workplace, employers would highly value people with a disability for their strengths, work ethic, advanced skills and commitment to the organisation, and would need to be encouraged to employ neurotypical, able-bodied people.
On the weekends we would all be watching sports that are designed on level of ability, with the most challenging disability being the most popular, highest paid and most watched on television. Able-bodied sport has the least salary and least popular, but still has its place in the list of level of ability. Society sees the most challenging of sports, with the lowest level of ability, to be the most interesting, most popular and gets most funding and coverage on television.
During times of great pride and ceremony, the expectation would not be that we stand, we would instead, reach for others to hold their hands or place our hands on their shoulders. This would be the sign of respect when an anthem is playing, or flag is raised. It would be a sign that we all show respect with dignity and pride.
Ok, some of these ideas might be a bit ‘pie in the sky’ but others are easy, obvious and simple to implement. We are well overdue in treating all people with respect and dignity. It’s time to change our perspective on the ‘little’ things that send a message to those living with a disability that they are ‘less than’ or ‘not enough’ or even worse, ‘a burden’. What a waste of incredible resources when we do not acknowledge and celebrate ALL of our citizens! After all, we all have our ‘disabilities’. My disability is an embarrassing lack of skills in numeracy, having a face that means I can’t play poker and having the inability to keep quiet when I have an opinion!
What’s YOUR disability?