Since 1992, International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) has been observed annually to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize the support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. As of the 2020 Census, more than 40 million Americans (12.7%) live with at least one disability. That percentage increases with age; nearly half of Americans 75 years and older live with a disability. Disabilities can take many forms, including difficulty with hearing, vision, cognition, ambulation (mobility), self-care, or independent living.
In 2022, the theme for IDPWD has been declared as “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.” If that sounds familiar to you, it should. At SRF, our Vision centers around Innovation, Service, Quality, and Collaboration.
Our planning, design, and engineering services often take on accessibility as a significant component. For instance, we:
- ensure compliant slopes on roadways, sidewalks, trails, curb ramps, and transit stations
- analyze mountains of data to locate future facilities strategically and equitably
- upgrade traffic signals with audible pedestrian crossing cues
- advocate for temporary pedestrian routes during construction
- deliver digital documents in accessible format
In some cases, our projects focus exclusively on accessibility; we have an ADA Team that assists local agencies with their ADA Self-Evaluations (identifying barriers to accessibility in all facilities and services) and Transition Plans (laying out a strategy and schedule to achieve compliance). Our team is passionate about our purpose and we hope the celebration of IDPWD refreshes all of us as we continue to improve our communities and transportation systems.
Discuss accessibility for your community, contact SRF’s Brady Rutman.