Design is everywhere: in signage, products and even the buildings we frequent daily. The design of an emergency exit sign or a doctor’s office can have a significant impact on someone’s personal safety and access to essential services. Unfortunately, not every design is created with everyone in mind.
This term the Grade 10 design classes are exploring accessible design. To get the conversation started, Mr. Mullen and Ms. Hall brought in an expert who knows first-hand just how many important design details these everyday spaces can miss.
Meet Arnold
Arnold Cheng is the owner of Spectrum Ability, an accessibility consulting company. He works with organizations across Canada to improve their buildings and spaces to make them accessible for the full disability spectrum, including deaf or hard of hearing, low vision or visually impaired, cognitive disabilities such as autism, wheelchairs users like himself, and so many more.
“BC didn’t have an accessibility law until 2021,” Arnold explained to the students. Further, just because a building passes the provincial laws, does not necessarily mean it is accessible to all. “It’s like getting a C– in school. Sure, you’ve passed the grade, but if you want to get a B or an A you have to put in a little bit more effort.” Especially when a C– might prevent a person from accessing necessary services.
How to Approach Accessibility in Design
Arnold’s motto is, “Caring is the first step. Regardless if you get it wrong or right, caring is better than doing nothing.” After explaining the process for the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program, which Arnold helps businesses achieve, he walked the students through several real-world examples of spaces that didn’t have accessibility in mind. The examples ranged from baffling to humorous, such as a toilet in the “accessible” stall being built on top of a platform.
“It can often be an easy fix,” Arnold explains as he shows the students a photo of the front of his office building, which features a glass partition in front of the elevator—something barely visible to the average eye, let alone someone with a visual impairment. Arnold’s suggestion: two green lines and an elevator symbol on the glass. “Sometimes it’s that simple,” he says.
Small design choices can make a significant difference in communication that everyone, not only people with disabilities, can understand.
Next Steps for Students
Accessible design is important in every industry and every space. Arnold has worked on buildings such as banks, prisons, office towers, shopping malls, libraries, churches and temples, post offices and so many more. The students’ next task will be to examine our own school building for accessibility improvements, or design their own space with accessibility in mind.
Thank you Arnold for joining us for a topical and fun presentation.
