Access is used in the articles Ableist Architecture and The Technology Gap to talk about how available technology and buildings should be.  Both articles tackle current issues of access. To answer the question of whether we should make an effort in providing equal access of  to all, I say yes and the authors of the articles would agree. How far should this go? Accommodation should be applied to those lacking the resources that are considered the standard.  The articles acknowledge the current efforts being made, and recognize them as not enough.

Access is best described in the closing phrase of “Ableist Architecture”.  That is, access, or lack thereof, for people who face disabilities (in many forms) are significantly reduced due to the system and infrastructure in which our societies and many societies around the world are founded on.  It also addresses the struggle to change the “cultural narrative that denies a significant portion of its population the access and freedom that so many others take for granted.”  This call for activism can also be found in the Roxane Gay interview where she too addresses many forms of ableism primarily through personal experience. Examples of “access” also ranges significantly as illustrated in both accounts.  Not being able to tour the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in a wheelchair due to the the incredible amount of stairs or facing difficulties in air travel brought on by the economically driven seat sizes an overweight person must face are both instances where individuals with disabilities are met with less access.

However, there is some progress being made, and “Ableist Architecture” specifically notes some examples.  The 1990s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) represents America’s effort to better incorporate disabled people into society and has had some minor success in doing this.  I say minor because while there has been progress, there have also been negative side affects and greater success could be achieved.  This desired success has not yet been achieved because of the foundations and infrastructure we have established for generations. In addition to this, the House of Representatives passed the ADA Education and Reform Act which allows businesses to delay ADA compliance fees, which is as much of a step back as it was forward.

Not only do people with disabilities deal with a lack of physical access, there is also a great lack of emotional access. Revealed in her interview, Roxane Grey says how she constantly feels like she doesn’t belong due to her weight. “The bigger you get, the smaller your world gets. “ As Gray became larger and larger, she received less access both physically and emotionally.

We should go much further than what is currently promised towards improving access for people with disabilities. “Ableist Architecture” reveals that disabled people account for nearly 20% of our global population and can better implemented into many aspects. If companies were to focus more on accommodating people with disabilities, they would reach a higher demographic and help themselves.