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For sidewalks and paths, awareness of the terrain is key. Communication is also helpful. Friends and family can be "on the lookout" for pathways that might be accessible to someone who needs a firm, smooth path or no steps. Individuals who use mobility devices get savvy about what works and where to go. We realize that not everywhere can be accessible on wheels. It helps to know the situation ahead of time in order to avoid getting stuck, and to be aware of situations that might require turning around and retracing one's path (instead of forging into the puckerbrush or driving off a 3" cliff).
For sidewalks and paths, awareness of the terrain is key. Communication is also helpful. Friends and family can be "on the lookout" for pathways that might be accessible to someone who needs a firm, smooth path or no steps. Individuals who use mobility devices get savvy about what works and where to go. We realize that not everywhere can be accessible on wheels. It helps to know the situation ahead of time in order to avoid getting stuck, and to be aware of situations that might require turning around and retracing one's path (instead of forging into the puckerbrush or driving off a 3" cliff).
A woods trail
A woods trail
A smooth & firm surface is great.
A bridge over a ravine.
Before a sidewalk was smoothed. To the right is...
the sidewalk after was made easy to roll over by shopping carts, baby strollers, and wheelchairs.
A well-marked pedestrian crossing path in an urban area. Note the smooth "curb cut" to the sidewalk.
Another well-marked path directing pedestrians & those who use mobility aids.
A nice transition from old asphalt to new stonework.
A path from patio to lawn.
An easy-to drive-over paved path to a restaurant.
An entryway to a business.
In a city at night...
In a city at night...
the handrails on this ramp are reassuring.
This back door to a theater has a sturdy accessible entrance.
The sidewalk merges with this ramp in order to access the theater building.
OOPS! There is no curb-cut to get from this stone walkway to the parking lot. It's just one step up/down if you're walking, but...
coming from the opposite direction, the imminent 5" drop-off at the curb is not yet visible. How could this be marked?
OOPS! A different sidewalk also has a "dead end" for a scooter-rider. Turning around & retracing one's path is the only way to leave this sidewalk.
Loose gravel can also be a "dead end" or "stop sign." Wheeled mobility aids can get stuck unless the gravel is packed firm.
This crosswalk...
This crosswalk...
leads right to a nice restaurant.
This path begins...
This path begins...
outside an exit from an auditorium. It's fine for bipeds, but is obviously not the correct exit for a handicapped person trying to go anywhere (such as the parking lot). OOPS stairs ahead!
This sidewalk says...
This sidewalk says...
"Wait for spring before accessing this public building!"
This is a non-commercial website created to share information. No recommendations are made for individuals with any particular diagnosis. Everyone has their own unique capabilities. The photographs were taken spontaneously over a period of 5 years, by several people. Additional pictures (screen-shots from websites) were added for clarity of image. Those images have been credited to their corresponding websites, but no advertising fees have been collected. The information on this website represents some of the many topics that come up daily for people who live with physical challenges. This information does not constitute a comprehensive study of the topic. More accessibility tools are hopefully still being invented.
This is a non-commercial website created to share information. No recommendations are made for individuals with any particular diagnosis. Everyone has their own unique capabilities. The photographs were taken spontaneously over a period of 5 years, by several people. Additional pictures (screen-shots from websites) were added for clarity of image. Those images have been credited to their corresponding websites, but no advertising fees have been collected. The information on this website represents some of the many topics that come up daily for people who live with physical challenges. This information does not constitute a comprehensive study of the topic. More accessibility tools are hopefully still being invented.
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