“Inclusive design is essential for some, but benefits us all”

Wheelchair user Steve Ralph explains why he believes the environments we live in make us more or less disabled.

Since sustaining a spinal cord injury a few years ago, I've used a wheelchair to navigate the world. I now look at places in a completely different way than I used to.

Before my injury, there was no need to think twice about leaving the house, whether it be a trip to the shops, the pub with my friends, a ride on public transport or in an Uber. Booking accommodation was also a straightforward task. 

Post-injury, I’ve struggled to do all of these things. I’ve also learned how essential universal design is. For those new to the concept, universal design is essentially designing things so that they are accessible to the biggest possible number of people, regardless of age or disability. Basically, making things as accessible as possible for everyone. 

It can be applied to our environments, such as buildings, and our tools - in my case, my wheelchair (also known as assistive technology). Universal design can also apply to our digital environments, for example, whether websites can be easily read by people using screen-readers.

Inaccessible design, on the other hand, means some of us simply can’t be in certain spaces. How can we expect people with disability to participate equally when there are physical barriers blocking entry - sometimes quite literally - to places and activities?

For me, this happened when I was given a wheelchair that didn’t suit where I was living. Due to the gradient of the driveway, in this chair, I couldn’t independently or confidently exit and enter the house. I couldn’t so much as take the dog for a walk without additional support. This wouldn’t have been necessary had my house and wheelchair - the environment and the assistive tech - both been fit for purpose and been designed to accommodate a variety of needs.

This was my first introduction to the importance of universal design and how its opposite, poor design, can create an inaccessible world. Thankfully, a more suitable wheelchair was eventually found and I was able to join the world again. I’m able to live independently, to work and to shop. I can get out and about in my car or catch a train, socialise and live a full life.

This is the message I want to deliver to those responsible for designing the world we live, work and play in. Creating tools, tech and spaces that can accommodate everyone means no-one is left on the fringes - or stuck at the bottom of the driveway. Building a world that is truly universal is good for the health and wellbeing of everyone. It may be essential for some, but it benefits us all.