The Need for Inclusive Spaces: How Newark Can Lead By Example
Today we’re facing a huge challenge in creating spaces that are inclusive and accessible to every member of our community. This is because, from the start, the spaces and places in which we live really weren’t designed to serve everyone. The fear of not being able to navigate busy, cluttered and visually oriented environments is not something that I have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. However, these concerns are valid and can be major barriers to participation in normal life, whether that’s going to shops, a walk in the park, commuting to work, looking for employment, or simply socializing. For members of our community who are physically disabled, barriers can range from blocked wheelchair ramps to buildings without elevators, to inaccessible toilets, to shops without step-free access. For learning disabled folks or those on the autistic spectrum, the cluttered and hectic metropolitan environment can be a sensory minefield. But together, we can work to change that.
Cities and urban areas are often the guilty parties to accessibility. Historic cities and districts contend with strict heritage or preservation laws that foment the feeling that we can’t or maybe shouldn’t change these large areas of established buildings and spaces. This thought can combine with elected officials and lawmakers who haven’t truly given any thought on how to include folks in our community with physical mobility, audio, visual, and or learning disabilities. While this perfect storm of inaccessibility can be foreboding, there are examples across the world that important cities like Newark, New Jersey can look to for guidance on how to improve its accessibility.
CapitaGreen, located in the central business district of Singapore, is a 40-story office block that features column-free spaces and a low concierge counter to help folks move around the building more easily. Other adjustments include elevator doors staying open longer, handrails flanking both sides of staircases, the installation of grab handles, hearing induction loops, Braille directions, tactile guidance and easy-to-read pictographs. In Sudbury, Massachusetts, the local preservation committee approved a plan to spend more than $230,000 to upgrade play spaces in their playgrounds, making them accessible to children with disabilities. Washington DC is generally heralded as the world’s most accessible metro system because they have committed to make all of their 91 subway stations fully accessible — including their rail carriages and bus fleet.
Cities in their initial phase of creating accessible spaces usually seek to address physical disabilities first. This excludes members of our community who have visual needs, audio needs, or have learning disabilities. Sweetwater Spectrum, a housing project in California has sought to address this challenge by designing an “autism-friendly” space. These design additions include: spaces that can be seen clearly across thresholds, reduced noise with quiet heating and ventilation systems, laundry rooms stationed away from bedrooms, and fittings and décor designed to reduce sensory stimulation such as muted colors, neutral tones, and recessed or natural light.
The Musholm sports and holiday complex in Korsør, Denmark has reimagined sports and leisure with a firm focus on accessibility. A wheelchair friendly climbing wall, aerial ropeway and integrated pulley system are just some of the inclusive installations which can be found here. It’s 100-meter spiral ramp gives access to their sky lounge while also serving as a wheelchair racetrack. In addition to this, hotel rooms feature accessible design innovations like ceiling hoists, electronic curtains, electronically controlled beds, adjustable height sinks and accessible toilets.
The City of Chester is arguably the richest city in Britain in terms of archaeological and architectural treasures. It’s well known for its ancient culture thanks to its circuit of Roman, Saxon and Medieval walls. Even a city as rich in history as Chester has looked beyond the obstacles of their old and protected buildings. They’ve made it their goal to embrace accessible change by adding ramps, elevators, and escalators — turning a once inaccessible landmark into a welcoming space for all people. Similarly, the Northgate shopping and leisure development in Chester will include accessible stores, restaurants, housing and a hotel with eight completely accessible rooms.
Melbourne’s Southern Cross station is looking into innovative additions designed to aid those with visual impairments. Using BlindSquare, a free GPS app, and Bluetooth beacons throughout the station, to provide real-time audio cues and directions to users. The app can call out directions and important information outside while Bluetooth beacons help to provide the same real-time service in the station where the signal might be unreliable. Additional real-time information such as escalator outages and construction areas can also be relayed on the user.
Every municipality has their own brand of political and socioeconomic challenges they must navigate which can make some of the aforementioned examples harder to realize than others. However, there are several comparatively smaller improvements local and regional governing bodies can commit themselves to championing if they have a goal of creating a more inclusive society.
1. Curb cuts provide an easy way for folks with disabilities to navigate from the sidewalk to street level. They’re particularly good for those with low vision, or those using wheelchairs.
2. Mass Transit Detectable Dome Tiles signal to pedestrians that the sidewalk is going to become street. These tiles inform pedestrians of the direction to walk, or to slow down and take note of their surroundings. They also remind transit users where to stand while waiting for public transportation and to keep a certain amount of space from the edge of the platform.
3. Repairing Sidewalks and keeping those repairs up to date is another crucial component of accessibility and safety.
4. Restaurants could offer more accessibility ensuring that there is enough space between tables so that folks with wheelchairs can navigate. Narrow entrances and steep stairs are also major deterrents.
5. Elected officials should compel developers planning new construction to consider how to provide for these members of our community who have been largely overlooked.
6. Cities like Newark could provide accessible bathrooms with accessible stalls and toilets. Cities must plan for a certain number of accessible bathrooms in every area of the city.
The voices of community members with impairments that can be seen or otherwise need to be platformed and at the forefront in the development of projects and legislation. If we aren’t hearing from our neighbors at the inception of a design or project, we’re continuing to create from a framework of bias. Going forward we must understand these inherent biases in placemaking can be overcome by genuine collaboration and ensure that we think inclusively whenever we build something. Only when empathy is rooted in our decision-making process can we truly say we are working towards accessibility and inclusion for all.
