Independent living is a life-altering experience that allows for self-growth. By implementing Universal Design (UD) elements into public and private spaces, the opportunity to live independently expands for individuals with disabilities. 

Nearly fifty years after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act went into effect, Americans with disabilities are still fighting for the same rights and opportunities as their peers. Health disparities affect minorities across America every day. 

Supporting disabled employees goes beyond hiring in the workplace. Focusing on accessibility in physical and remote workplaces, offering various accommodations, and emphasizing respect help create a welcoming and inclusive environment. To improve your company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), you could focus on understanding disability inclusion and supporting employees with disabilities.

When going on a vacation, wheelchair users may want to consider the accessibility of the city they are planning to visit. Wheelchairs can go to more places in the United States than ever, and these are the five most accessible cities for wheelchair users to adventure:

Traveling by plane as a wheelchair user can be tricky when navigating security, boarding your flight, layovers, and everything else that comes with getting on an airplane. And, not many resources exist to guide wheelchair users on ways to plan for the experience and avoid any challenges. Here are four tips to make traveling by plane with a wheelchair easier!

If you or someone in your family needs extra help with mobility, you may want to consider some home improvements to help make your home a more comfortable and safe place to live. While there are many ways to do so, here are five tips on how to make your home more accessible:

Universal Design proposes an evolving and progressive approach to developing inclusive built environments, whether an office or public space, which are highly usable and accessible to all individuals. Accessibility is essential when it comes to developing an inclusive environment. Creating accessibility in learning environments and physical spaces requires extra planning and thought at the initial stages. Universal Design, when implemented, could standardize built spaces for all abilities.

A wheelchair can mean the ticket to independence for some individuals, but the regular built environment is rarely arranged in a way that is easily navigable by individuals using wheelchairs. Beyond the built environment, social interactions can cause an extra strain on those who rely on wheelchairs as their primary mode of mobility. These social and infrastructural barriers impede the lives of wheelchair users every day.

A protected bicycle sidewalk is a pathway designated specifically for bikes, usually marked with signs, curbs, or posts to separate the bicycle lane from automobile traffic on the street. Bike-friendly routes create an urban environment that makes biking not only practical but safer too. A protected bicycle lane can cut down on commuter congestion and city pollution.

Private accessible transportation refers to transportation that caters to individuals with impairments. While not necessarily in the public sector, private transportation includes volunteer driver programs, para-transit services, and ride-shares which must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).