Mark Wadsworth - Toozly Reader's Article

Whilst most designers of the accessible built environment are usually highly qualified, they are not in the main disabled, i.e. they don't use a wheelchair or other assistive technology on a regular basis. Maybe designers, architects and builders could employ qualified disabled people as advisors in the design process of the built environment, rather than falling into the category of well-meaning able-bodied people who think they know what disabled people want and need.

Some examples of where a disabled persons input would be valuable:

A ramp to allow access for wheelchairs has to be built to a minimum slope ratio of 1:14 in NSW to enable those who use self-propelled manual wheelchairs to go up or down on their own. Going up can still be hard work, so we don't need a ramp with a thick pile carpet on it. Preferably there should be no carpet at all.

In accessible hotel/motel rooms there are never any grab rails near the bed to assist with the transfer from a wheelchair into bed. The grab rails in the bathroom are quite often used as towel rails. In addition accessible public toilets (try not to refer to them as disabled toilets as that gives the impression that the toilet itself doesn't work properly!) in restaurants etc. are often used as storerooms or broom closets which can be inconvenient for not only wheelchair users, but the visually impaired as well. In one venue that I have been to the accessible toilet was upstairs and there was no lift.

If people with disabilities could be employed as advisors for the design of the built environment not only would there be meaningful employment for some, but building owners, developers and builders would save money, in the long run, as rectification call-backs would be minimised.

Bio

Mark Wadsworth was born and educated in London, England. He obtained a distinction in Carpentry and Joinery from Hammersmith and West London College. Mark worked in the UK, Canada and Australia before settling on Sydney's Northern Beaches where he owned and operated a successful building maintenance business. 

Mark has Friedrich's Ataxia and since 2001 has used a wheelchair. Using a wheelchair and working as a building contractor became too difficult, so for the last ten, or so, years Mark has volunteered and worked for various not-for-profit organisations such as Northside Community Connect, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Fighting Chance Australia and Manly Warringah Pittwater Community Aid as a researcher, administrator and social enterprise developer.