Two Decades of Living with ADA | Metropolis POV | Metropolis Magazine

Experiencing life with my mother, whose mobility is impaired by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a disease which affects the central nervous system and impairs movement, we see every day that many aspects of her life need designers’ attention, not just the built environment. The smaller, more personal objects that are vital to mediating her interaction with her world—canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters—deserve high standards of design too. In health insurance speak these objects are “Durable Goods,” intended for use on an ongoing basis. In many cases the design of these objects is completely dependant on cost restrictions, and suffers from a lack of thoughtfulness, imagination, and innovation.