Many of the inequities for people with disabilities are defined by the built environment. By setting physical standards for our buildings, communities transportation patterns, and community rhythm, planning has defined unnecessary limits which restrict the activities and the quality of life of many members of the community. Children, elderly people, women, and people with disabilities are all impacted by standards set for the adult male. Single people and people in group housing find a shortage of appropriate housing in subdivisions designed for two parents, two children and two cars. Our design standards focus mainly on certain types of households and certain types of individuals.
Social equity calls for broader design standards and more accessible environments.
Disability is the gap between the individual and the environment. As planners learning about social equity and concerned with the environment, we have a lot to learn from people with disabilities and the Disability Movement. Disability affects one in five. With an aging population, we project increasing percentages of impairments. Planners have the opportunity, and the challenge, of seeking design solutions that reduce environmentally-created inequities and barriers.