The politics of access
The Built Environment: The Politics
of Access
By Matt Laffan
The built environment is about much more
than bricks and mortar, steel and concrete,
and the tension between light and shade
cast by manmade structures.
The built environment is about the relationship
of people within the community of public
and private places. It is about the politics
of access and within the Australian context,
the true meaning of egalitarianism.
Depending upon its design the finished
product can be a vivid declaration that
the place in question is for all of us,
or for a selected few.
We Australians have traditionally regarded
the upstairs downstairs way of life that
existed back in England with suspicion.
The myth being that we had created a classless
society. Stairs, however, have always defined
the rights of people with spinal cord injuries
and whether or not we are expected to join
the majority. The environment in which we
live, and that which we want to explore,
historically has been shaped in spite of
us.
Our national psyche commonly adheres to
the principal that access is not a privilege
but a right. Our collective sense of natural
justice is provoked when fellow Australians
are unable to access the same buildings
and modes of transport and sources of entertainment
and education as the rest of us. It is a
right now enshrined in Commonwealth and
State legislation. However, buildings are
still built without access. Wheelchair accessible
buses are the exception to the unreliable
rule as are accessible train stations.
The job is never finished and I guess in
part it has never seriously been begun.
Vigilance and agitation are essential. The
problem is it relies often on those against
whom the discrimination has been made to
make it known to the relevant authorities.
And the daily task of living can be tough
enough, without having to wage a bureaucratic
war as well. But the fight must be taken
up to the building authorities, property
developers and local, State and Federal
governments. And it must be fought fearlessly
for all of us: the disabled, the elderly,
parents with strollers and those who simply
believe in an Australia which accommodates
all her citizens.
It is a glorious Sydney evening and myself
and a lady friend step out for some wine,
dinner, conversation and a band we want
to hear. The venue we find has it all plus
two flights of stairs.
Why can I not get in unassisted? Why should
four bouncers struggle beneath the weight
of this chair?
I live in the dead centre of this fabulous
Harbour city. Why is there a step into the
pharmacy on Bathurst Street stopping me
from getting in? Why has the Medical Centre
in Park Street got a step leading into it?
I am a lawyer who works for the NSW Director
of Public Prosecutions. Why do I have to
rely on police to carry me up the stairs
to the Newtown Local Court? Why have most
inner city convenience stores got steps
at their entry point?
To understand our relationship with the
built environment and its importance one
merely needs to reflect on what it means
to be human. All of us, able bodied or otherwise,
have intimate needs. We are husbands and
wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, employers
and employees, lovers and loners and we
share an underlying desire to touch and
be touched, to hold and to be held.
Our human condition must be reflected in
the environment in which we live. Our desire
to participate in society and our ability
to do so must be realised. We want to be
a part of a community and world that is
larger than ourselves, to which we can contribute
and have some influence and the built environment
is about making sure that those communal
aspirations are put into practice.
For those of us with spinal cord injuries
it is what I call: Getting beyond the front
gate.
It is about stepping outside our home and
comfort zone and being exposed to those
things which we discover are new. It is
about sharing ourselves with others. It
is about getting into the work place, enjoying
the concert, dining out and having a presence.
It is about access to life. Access to the
basics: The bread and circuses as well as
the politics and education.
Now with a wink and a grin I will tell
you that life is damned good. And it is.
But I am well beyond the front gate. I
have bolted. I am grateful to those who
have created the spaces and places that
have enabled me to access the built environment
that is my own. I work independently. With
guile good humour and friends I have traveled
the world. You won't often hear from me
as to the downside of living with a spinal
cord injury. I cop it sweet and work on
the positives to bring about change.
But once in a while I'll allow myself the
luxury to admit that Life can be bloody
hard: The trick is what to do about it.
Well individually we can do lots of things.
We can be political and endeavour to voice
our needs, write letters to proprietors
in the hope of creating empathy through
education and we can celebrate those who
create easy paths for all of us by publicly
acknowledging their good work.
Whatever your role or situation the fact
is we are here to stay and it is about being
brave. I encourage you to push on, despite
the steps, and to be seen, for by being
seen your needs can't be ignored. And most
importantly continue to believe in yourself
and in the value, potential and greatness
of your fellow Australians.
So that whether you have a disability,
or you are elderly, or you are simply a
Mum or Dad pushing a stroller or just an
Australian who believes in the values of
this country remember what egalitarianism
really means.
And if it seems that the built environment
is keeping you out join me and with a loud
and clear voice declare:
We are here and we are coming in.
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