Empathy in Design: How Experiential Learning Shapes Accessible Environments
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) aims to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities when it comes to interacting with the built environment. Signed into law in 1990, ADA policies have only been a focal point of infrastructure design for the last 35 years. As we look to the future, these policies are continually being refined to better meet the needs of those living with disabilities.
The cumulative decisions made by infrastructure designers and engineers directly impact how individuals with disabilities experience the world around them. Those who do not live with a disability often lack the context to consider how the disabled interact with infrastructure in their daily lives. One way to bridge this gap is through experiential events, which allow non-disabled individuals to understand the challenges the disabled face. These events inspire designers to prioritize accessible and safe environments, positively influencing design considerations.
The Impact of Street Design
The way we design streets has a profound effect on communities, shaping how residents travel to destinations. Experiential exercises, such as B&N’s "Walk in My World" event, allow engineers, planners, elected officials, and key stakeholders to step into the shoes of individuals with disabilities.
Participants used mobility assistance tools like wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and scooters to navigate streets, gaining a firsthand perspective of the difficulties faced by disabled individuals. This immersive approach fosters empathy and understanding, encouraging participants to design infrastructure that fully accommodates all road users. By role-playing, engaging in facilitated discussions, and utilizing mobility devices, participants experience real-world conditions that vulnerable road users confront.
Events like "Walk in My World" often include public agencies, clients, and city council members. These experiences provide policymakers with valuable perspectives, encouraging them to think differently and consider changes that benefit all residents in their communities. Experiencing challenges firsthand is far more impactful than simply hearing about them, leading to meaningful progress in accessibility design.
Facilitating the Conversation
The "Walk in My World" event began in a classroom setting, where participants were introduced to role-playing exercises. They took on personas of individuals who each navigate the world differently. For example, they might assume the role of someone with a visual impairment, a wheelchair user, an active senior who now needs a cane to walk or an injured individual using crutches.
One of the most impactful exercises involved blindfolding participants and safely guiding them to cross a street using only their senses and a walking cane. Facilitators assisted participants in finding the push button for the pedestrian signal, navigating to the ADA ramp and crossing the street safely. This exercise evokes fear and uncertainty, giving participants a new perspective on the daily challenges of visually impaired residents.
Participants then followed a route, stopping at various points to consider accessibility challenges:
- Where is the front door?
- Is there an ADA ramp to that door?
- Can I get over this curb?
- What barriers impact my path to the entrance?
After completing the route, participants returned to the classroom to discuss their experiences and reflect on how they can apply these insights to their work. Many commented on how difficult it was to navigate their surroundings with simulated impairments. The general takeaway was that events like "Walk in My World" can help change how we plan and design our transportation infrastructure.
Learn More:
If you would like to learn more about the Walk in my World event, or would like us to bring the event to your community, please reach out to Amy Rosepiler or Dan Gallagher.
