Accessibility is a universal consideration: it benefits people from all walks of life in all different contexts.
I visited Japan for the first time in January for an action-packed few weeks of snow, sights, sounds and cuisine. Being fit and active in my late 20s, I was unconcerned about how full my schedule was. The more things to do, the better. However, I did not account for my travelling companion injuring herself skiing on the third day of our trip.
From here on out, our whole approach to the trip changed. As she was on crutches or in a wheelchair, we had to be very calculated in our movements. Places we wanted to visit needed lift access. If lifts were not available, proper handrails were needed so I could take my friend’s crutches, and she could hop up the steps, grabbing the handrails and my arm for assistance. This became routine for places we travelled, including temples, nature walks (say goodbye to the visiting the snow monkeys), highly recommended restaurants, izakayas, sumo stadiums and everywhere we went for the following weeks.
Since we were in unfamiliar locations, understanding the signage also became important. Without a firm grasp of Japanese writing, we relied upon universal symbols indicating where there were lifts or accessible paths of travel. Full marks to the train system, which provided a video screen above each train door showing in writing and diagrams where the lift was in relation to the train carriage at the following station. Interestingly, this feature is not mandatory in Australia, yet it was one of the most useful, practical, and accessible design features we encountered.
Suffice it to say we didn’t have too much trouble navigating our way through Japan. In general, we could still do most things in our itinerary. It just took some extra planning, which I know is integral to how a person with a disability would approach an ordinary outing to get groceries or attend an event.
When we adopt the principles of accessible design, we think we are designing for people with a disability. But as a person in a foreign environment with little grasp of the language and a friend who sustained an injury, it became obvious that accessible design benefits everyone. I certainly came out of my trip with a greater appreciation for how accessible design can impact the ease and effectiveness of the built environment.
