Good morning all,
I'm glad to see so many responded to my 'disabled expert' e-mail. (Yes I'm
the same person as on [log in to unmask])
It's great to see that I'm not the only one with this strong notion that
having an impairment does not make you a 'disabled expert,' but that you are
only an expert on your own experiences.
Not only am a PhD student working in the realms of access to the built
environment, but I also run my own business, freelance architectural &
disability access consultancy. I am often called out to 'clean up an access
mess', which was created by a disabled person who viewed themselves as an
expert in access issue soully on the fact that they too were impaired.
People tend to look at their own situation and focus on that issue, and in
societies eyes the disabled person is usually a wheelchair user, therefore
this is the main access criteria. Wheelchair access is but one access need
and there needs to be more research on other access solutions. Part M of the
building regulations has proven to only be a start on access needs and it
touches mainly on wheelchair access an a bit on visual access. I do have the
advantage of having an architectural degree and can think creatively on
design solutions while also researching other impairment access needs, such
as visual, hearing, epilepsy, learning difficulties, language barriers,
dwarfism, arthritis, wheelchair use, age concern, etc.... Yet I am open
minded, in that I know I still have many things to learn, and that the design
process is never done, design can always be improved upon.
I know that most people on this list realise this situation and I just want
to see further how other people feel on this subject.
Regards,
Jude
Judith M. Irving (PhD student)
LSA design director
'Layering Systems of Access in Design to Create Atmospheres of Equality.'
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