Equity and Engagement

There are many kinds of barriers in city neighborhoods and many kinds of disabilities. While disabilities affect everyone, some people bear a greater burden. Not all people and all neighborhoods have equal access. People with lower incomes often live in neighborhoods with vacant buildings and land, poorly maintained streets and sidewalks, and few high-quality parks and public spaces. People of color have less access to healthcare and often receive lower quality care, which can lead to chronic health conditions and disabilities.

For everyone to participate in public life, we need to design and build public spaces that are accessible to all. Barriers in city neighborhoods limit access and can make people feel invisible. While it is important to remove barriers that impact everyone, it is especially important to help people who are experiencing the biggest challenges. Ignoring accessibility issues or meeting the bare minimum for access isn’t working for many people with disabilities, who continue to encounter barriers everyday.

There are three questions at the center of the Barrier-free Cleveland initiative: 1. What does a barrier-free city look like and how does it function? 2. How do we build equity into neighborhoods and address barriers present in the public realm? 3. What kinds of investments will produce the greatest benefits for the most people, and especially for people most in need of support.