6 Items to Curate a More Inclusive Home, According to Disabled Folks
Photo by: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
I love to sit, even when I have the energy to do many other things. Barstools, folding chairs, futons, sofas, and ottomans underscore my comings and goings, and I’ve long had a knack for turning a sturdy planter or a lowly curb into a spot to take a load off in a pinch. I don’t think I’m alone in this—sitting is pretty wonderful, but I know why I’ve let this love blossom from a young age. I was born with cerebral palsy, a disability that mostly affects my legs, so it’s tough to stand or walk for rambling stretches of time without feeling a familiar jolt of pain. The same goes if I stay seated for long periods too. So to keep my muscles from stiffening and my balance intact, I’ve learned to alternate between resting and moving whether I’m out and about, or at home.
There are details within public life that make this endeavor easier to uphold, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which passed in 1990. Designated parking spaces, easy-to-find elevators, and ubiquitous dips in the sidewalk are just a few examples of quietly profound inclusion, but individual home addresses are an entirely different challenge—since there’s no law enforcing accessible design in private spaces, the disabled community is usually on its own.
