For the past six months, my experience of partial blindness has taught me a great deal about urban accessibility in Nairobi, or rather, the lack thereof. Losing sight in my left eye, along with half of my peripheral vision, has impressed upon me just how unfriendly our streets are.
Previously, as an able-bodied person, the unfriendly pedestrian walkways and chaotic traffic of Nairobi were great inconveniences. Now, with compromised vision, these challenges are magnified, making a simple activity like walking a lot more stressful as I have to constantly scan my surroundings for physical obstacles or reckless drivers. A short outing soon becomes an overwhelming experience with acute sensory overload.
So, if I find it this challenging to move around Nairobi, how much more difficult is it for people with severe disabilities, particularly those who are economically constrained and rely on public transport? What about those who lack the skills and networks to work remotely, as I often do?
Reflecting on these mobility challenges has led me to a working theory: If we design our cities to meet the needs of persons with disability, then we will make our cities more inclusive for everyone else. To test this theory, I'm keen to support inclusivity-oriented projects that employ principles of universal design, accessibility design, and human-centred design. Such projects can leverage the socio-economic benefits of designing cities for inclusivity, which include:
Improved productivity - Citizens with diverse abilities can become more socially and economically productive as they move and work in safer environments.
Savings on public infrastructure - Governments will avoid costly retrofits on public infrastructure as age-related disabilities become more prevalent.
Improved health outcomes - Health outcomes will improve as people become more physically active and their risks of injuries are reduced.
Enhanced innovation opportunities – Inclusive cities will attract investment in innovations for assistive technologies, accessible spaces, and inclusive services.
Considering these and other benefits of inclusion, the pressing question for African cities is: How might we design, re-design, or even un-design our fast-growing cities to address complex challenges while accommodating the diverse needs of all residents, including vulnerable populations? And my answer to this question is: We will do it collaboratively. To lead by example, I have partnered with like-minded urban enthusiasts at UrbanBetter, Open Cities Lab, and African Cities Research Consortium in this shared mission to promote inclusion in African cities.
Join me.
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