Structural barriers and social barriers

Today I heard a researcher talking about interviews she was conducting with people who use wheelchairs in NYC. She said that many of the people were less concerned with the physical accessibility of local stores, and more concerned with the attitudes of the store-keepers. As an example she talked about one woman, who, when encountering a step, knocked on the window of the store. When no one came, she asked another customer to go in and tell the clerk that she needed help. Still no one came. She felt very frustrated and angry, and was considering suing the store. At another store in the neighborhood, she was greeted by the storekeeper and helped over the step at the entrance. She became a frequent customer at that store and appreciated the assistance she received.

This story got me to thinking about the relational value of working at the community level. This researcher was not a CBPR researcher, nor are they interested in changing policy per se. Think of what an impact this research could have if it was driven by the community and seeking structural-level changes. What impact would it have to make store owners more aware of the needs of customer's in wheelchairs? What impact would it have to make other community members aware of the needs of their neighbors in wheelchairs? I actually spent a year in a wheelchair when I was 19, so I have some experience navigating both the structural and social barriers faced when one is in a wheelchair. For me it was rather isolating.

So all this is to say, when I am thinking about solutions to problems like these, I often think about regulation - mandating curb cuts, accessable public places, accessable bathrooms. The architecture of our lives can exclude or include and that is critical. At the same time, I think we are missing some of the added value of community when we focus soley on regulation to eliminate barriers. Today when you go to your neighborhood, notice one norm that is inclusive and healthy. Think about the value that norm adds to your well-being. Write in an example on the blog.