Making Cities Accessible to All, Including Active Wheelchair Users

I often write about sidewalks in my posts, making places pedestrian-friendly. Along those same lines I’ve mentioned accessibility, making it feasible for someone in a wheelchair to get from place to place without a car. Some readers and much of the public seem to have the notion this is not a worthy goal, that those in wheelchairs are too frail to wheel six blocks to the grocery store. Today’s reality is that many wheelchair users are anything but frail and are quite capable of living independent & active lives.

Colt Wynn was planning to be a Navy Seal when he suffered an injury, while in high school, that left him paralyzed from the waste down. Today he is a champion body builder. Wheeling down to the store is likely no big deal to someone like him, provided he was able to remain on sidewalks and not have to risk further injury by placing himself in the path of cars. Many active wheelchair users compete in the Paralympics, play tennis, basketball or other sports. I read about one athlete that has the use of his legs but after a surgery for a brain tumor he is unable to maintain his balance and therefore spends most of his time in a wheelchair. These people are active and fit adults seeking fulfilling lives. It is human nature to seek to be independent, this is no different for those in a wheelchair.

Here is the description of a book entitled Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User:

Over 1.5 million Americans use wheelchairs for a variety of causes: a congenital condition, traumatic injury, or disease. People who depend upon wheelchairs for mobility are in varied situations. They might live independently or need attendant care; live alone or with family; be employed full-time or no longer working. Despite differences, people dependent on wheelchairs face some similar medical issues and a need to cope with changed circumstances. Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User is for people who want to take charge of their own life experience while using a wheelchair. Author Gary Karp, ergonomics consultant and long-time chair user, describes:
• Medical issues (paralysis, circulation, rehab experience, choosing the optimal wheelchair, scientific progress toward a cure)
• Day-to-day living (keeping fit, skin care, bowel and bladder care, sexuality, home access, maintaining a wheelchair, wheeling technique, insurance)
• Psychological and social issues (grieving loss, self-image, adjustment to life change, friends, family, asking for and being helped, cultural attitudes, history of disability, and activism)

Granted, relative to the total population of the U.S. the total number of wheelchair users is virtually invisible. For the rest of us we can simply go about our lives and not really be worried about such a small percentage of the population. Until that is, we become one of the few, even if only temporarily. So while you may not be in a wheelchair or even walk to the grocery store some people do, either by choice or out of necessity through lack of a car. Still others see the folly in driving two blocks to get a few things easily carried. An accessible city and region is a small step we can take to ensure our population is able to have independent lives.

For more on the federally mandated Americans With Disabilities Act click here.