What is accessibility?
Tanya Titchkosky defines 'access' as being an interpretive relation between two bodies, an activity of making people and places meaningful to one another. In this context I will be talking about the accessibility at Emory University, and whether or not it disabled people, mainly chair users are able to easily get around campus. In my post I am not only trying to show if it is possible for disabled people to have access to resources on campus, but also how disabled people might be perceived through the accessibility of the Emory campus. Accessibility of Lullwater Park
Lullwater has its main entrance located on Clifton road, it consists of two wide gates that open to a long trail with trees and nature on either side, this is the only direct and accessibly entrance into the park, and as you walk along the road splits into numerous smaller roads that lead you into different places at Lullwater. First I want to address the problem of reaching the main entrance. For Emory students especially living on campus, they would have to climb up a little steep hill to reach the main road, and then only after two crossing would they be able to reach the entrance. There are a large list of dangers that any person could encounter, and these dangers double when a wheelchair user needs to first push their way up the hill and then cross the road twice! The ADA provides a checklist which states that if there is an inaccessible route, one should provide for a level ground on which it is possible to ride a wheelchair. If the wheelchair user is successful in reaching the gates of this beautiful treasure, they would be pleased to see two wide doors that open towards a long levelled trail. These gates provide no difficulties for wheelchair users and one can imagine the gates are welcoming the people to enter the park. The initial trail is an wide levelled ground and someone in a wheelchair would easily be abel to travel on it, but soon the scenario changes. As you go forward the road becomes rockier, smaller and steeper. From m perspective it would be impossible for a wheelchair user to explore the park more than one mile without any difficulty. The roads inside the park are extremely uneven, and there are a large number of uphill and downhill slopes and in my opinion it would be impractical and maybe even impossible for a wheelchair user to cross these roads with ease. The youtube video posted mentions that the park is used not only for recreation, but also for research by Emory students and professors, thus its inaccessibility would make it extremely difficult for a wheelchair user to carry out their research in the park if they needed to. The video also mentions that Emory University's Presidents live in the house that is situated deep inside the park and once again a professor or any wheelchair user who wishes to visit the President at home would find it difficult to even reach his home. In order to get the full experience I decided to explore the park myself, and I tried searching for accessible routes to the main spots in the park like Candler Lake and the Presidents house, but unfortunately I was unable to find a completely accessible route that would be safe and not risky for wheelchair users. This makes me wonder if disabled people are being purposely discriminated against, and if so why is nobody trying to fix this problem. Like everybody else even disabled people would like to enjoy a day in the park but they unfortunately disabled people living around Lullwater Park would not be able to enjoy much of its scenery as it is not a very accessible area. |
Lullwater Park
A hidden treasure of Emory University, this park is located on Clifton Road and is at a walking distance from Emory's main campus. Lullwater Park is around 154 acres and serves many purposes for the community around it. It is a popular destination for students, professors and even residents to breathe in some nature. Because it is such a famous destination, it is important that the park is an accessible to all kinds of people, thus I chose to evaluate the accessibility of the park for wheelchair users. Possible solutions to inaccessibility
Lullwater is an extremely large area, and it is not possible to make the entire park completely accessible, but it is possible to make it easier for disabled people, especially wheelchair users to go around the park. The first thing to look at is the route to reach the park. There could be another route built, which as stated in the ADA checklist, should have a level ground. Also there could be ramps added to the sides of this route, which would make it easier for wheelchair users to move across. The second aspect is the uneven routes inside the park itself. It should be taken into consideration to build additional trails. But if that is not feasible then some of the existing trails leading to the main areas inside Lullwater, to be repaired, and to fill the small breaks and bumps that would cause difficulty for wheelchair users. Also the gravel could be replaced with a hard and firm top, allowing wheelchair users to go across with no danger. |
Work Cited:
Titchkosky, Tanya. The Question Of Access: Disability, Space, Meaning. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. Print
"Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal (text Only)." Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal (text Only). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2013
Biyani, Ria. "Assignment 2.2 Finding your way around" Web log post. riabiyani.weebly.com, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
Titchkosky, Tanya. The Question Of Access: Disability, Space, Meaning. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. Print
"Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal (text Only)." Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal (text Only). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2013
Biyani, Ria. "Assignment 2.2 Finding your way around" Web log post. riabiyani.weebly.com, 19 Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.