Assignment 8Accessibility & Mobility Reflection

Lee-Anne MilburnLA311L Fall 2018Cal Poly Pomona

Department of Landscape Architecture

Group:Celia Coreno, Hwamok Kim Yiyun Shen, Nikola Tong

Assignment 8: Accessibility & Mobility Reflection // Page 3 // Page 2

DiscoveriesMost interesting discoveries? That the ground may look flat but the slight slope makes a huge difference when you are in a wheelchair.

About the problem?That the slope of a sidewalk can be difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. We can barely feel the slope while walking on the sidewalk but in a wheelchair it made a big difference.

About yourselves?That it takes a lot of strength to maneuver a wheelchair daily and we underestimated the work that it took.

About your partner?We learned about trust building and when to ask for help.

About others?That people also treat you differently when you have obvious physical disabilities. We noticed that people avoided going into elevators if they saw a wheelchair and/or appeared visibly impatient when you were not moving fast enough.

Participant : Hwamok Kim // Photographer : Nikola Tong// Location : Library Starbucks Participant : Celia Coreno // Photographer : Yiyun Shen// Location : Library Starbucks

One of the most challenging moments was when we experienced the visual impairment with the blindfold. It was daunting to not know where you were. It even made walking in a straight line difficult. Another difficult moment was finding the strength to push ourselves up slope in a wheelchair without help. Crossing the street in all challenged was hard when you had to sometimes trust and rely on another person to guide you.

We will be more cautious about accessibility to those with disabilities. When designing a sidewalk we would consider having a railing or way to prevent wheelchairs from easily slipping into the street. It is also important, we believe, to include more and clearer signs to show where accessible entrances are. We would also design wider pathways to make it easier for wheelchairs to maneuver around people.

What are some of the most challenging moments and what made them so?

What will we do differently the next time we design a project?

“Grande Strawberry Accai please!!!!!!!!!” “Finally!!“

Participant : Yiyun Shen Photographer : Celia CorenoLocation : ENV CafeDisability: Hearing Impairment

Participant : Nikola TongPhotographer : Hwamok KimLocation : ENV CafeDisability: Hearing Impairment

“ Victory!” “ Closed...Why???”

“ Give me a job!” Participant : Hwamok Kim Photographer : Nikola TongLocation : Career CenterDisability: Visual Impairment

What is the most important thing each team member learned personally?

Assignment 8: Accessibility & Mobility Reflection // Page 5 // Page 4

YIYUN SHEN

CELIA CORENO

HWAMOK KIM

NIKOLA TONG

I learned that I am incredibly lucky to be able to see, hear, and walk. I’ve never realized how hard it is for people with disabilities to get around, especially on a campus that has so many slopes. I also learned that my complaining about having to walk up the hills is self-centered when there are people who must push themselves on wheelchairs.

Firstly, I realized the importance of ADA due to the wheelchair exercise. Also, the obvious signs of elevator and plan view of building also important to disability people to find their destination fast and easy. Besides, during the blindfold exercise, I focused on the feel of wind and sun, and sound from cars, which made me feel so scared. Because of this, I understand why professor always emphasize the width of pathway.

I thought there are more convenient access or programs for disability people such as signs and easier pathways, but there weren’t many of them. Also, I understand why all those professors were emphasizing about ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) when designing pathways because it makes very hard for people in wheelchairs to move around when it is not ADA.

I learned to not underestimate accessibility. It was a learning experience to see the obstacles that those with disabilities face in their daily lives and now I have become more aware of what to look for. Through this experience, I have become more aware of what I had taken for granted, such as being able to walk and see.

CELIA CORENO : Uneven pavement made it difficult to walk while blindfolded. Not knowing exactly where I was stepping made me feel like I was going to fall over.

HWAMOK KIM : When doing blindfold exercise, walking with an assistant person with same phase was difficult because it is hard to walk straight or walk same speed as person without the blindfold. Also, my senses were focused on touch and sound, I felt sunlight as something very hot such as A/C machine, so it made me hard for me to walk faster.

YIYUN SHEN : Uneven pathways and slopes are biggest challenge when I did blindfold and wheelchair exercise. I cannot imagine that how I can complete this exercise if I don’t have partner. Besides, the plants nearby sidewalk and the fallen leaves, near greenhouse, is another big challenge when I guided my partner.

NIKOLA TONG: One of the biggest challenges for me was the uneven pavement while walking or in a wheelchair. The cracks or steeper than ADA slopes made it difficult to navigate when you did not have your sight or had a wheelchair. Especially without my sight, all my other senses were enhanced such as hearing and feeling the ground that I walked on.

“ Lost and afraid.” “ Alligator?!” “ Where is the door??”

“ HELP!”

“ Lee-Anne where are youuuuuuu!”

“ Celia?”

What most got in the way of each person’s physical progress through the campus, if anything?

Participant : Nikola TongPhotographer : Hwamok KimLocation : Boltz CourtyardDisability: Visual Impairment

Participant : Nikola TongPhotographer : Hwamok KimLocation : Classroom 3-1005Disability: Visual Impairment

Participant : Yiyun ShenPhotographer : Celia CorenoLocation : Classroom 3-1005Disability: Visual Impairment

Participant : Yiyun Shen Photographer : Celia CorenoLocation : Boltz CourtyardDisability: Visual Impairment

Participant : Celia CorenoPhotographer : Yiyun ShenLocation : GreenhouseDisability: Visual Impairment

Participant : Hwamok Kim Photographer : Nikola TongLocation : GreenhouseDisability: Visual Impairment

How will I use what I’ve learned in the future?

“ Jerry where are you!”

“ Jerry.......”

Participant : Celia CorenoPhotographer : Yiyun ShenLocation : Room 94-366Disability: Mobility Impairment

Participant : Yiyun ShenPhotographer : Celia CorenoLocation : Room 94-366Disability: Mobility Impairment

Assignment 8: Accessibility & Mobility Reflection // Page 7 // Page 6

To be more conscientious of those with disabilities by creating more accessible ways for them to engage with the landscape. We have also become aware of maintenance issues for the landscape as several issues we encountered included uneven or cracked pavement. Another important lesson we have learned is one cannot assume how easy or difficult it is for someone with a disability to navigate.

Thank you for the fun activity Lee-Anne!!

“ Hi Jerry!” “ Jerry!!!!!!!!!” “ Give me money.” Participant : Hwamok Kim Photographer : Nikola TongLocation : Room 94-366Disability: Mobility Impairment

Participant : Nikola TongPhotographer : Hwamok KimLocation : Room 94-366Disability: Mobility Impairment

Participant : Celia Coreno Photographer : Yiyun ShenLocation : Career CenterDisability: Visual Impairment