I have lived in my apartment complex for 11 years. When I moved in, I began advocating for accessibility in my home and the shared spaces residents use.
Some of my requests have included an oven with controls in the front, a ramp into the laundry room instead of a step, and an automatic door-opening button at the rental office, where the gym is located.
These requests involve everyday activities: preparing food, washing clothes, visiting the office, and accessing the gym.
They also illustrate why accessibility cannot be judged by an entrance alone.
Getting through the door is one part of an experience. Being able to use what is on the other side matters, too.
Look at the whole experience
An accessible entrance does not tell us whether someone can reach the controls on an appliance, enter the laundry room, or open another door along the way.
Each part of an activity deserves attention. Can the person get to the space, enter it, use the equipment, and leave? If assistance is needed, can they request it in a way that works for them?
My requests involved different barriers. Front controls concerned how I could operate an oven. A ramp concerned access to the laundry room. An automatic door-opening button concerned entering the rental office, where the gym is located.
Addressing one of those barriers would not answer the questions raised by the others.
For housing communities, businesses, and service providers, this is a useful starting point: follow an everyday activity from beginning to end and examine each step.
Include the people who use the space
The people who use a space can identify barriers that someone reviewing it may overlook.
An appliance may appear easy to operate until someone explains that its controls are beyond their reach. A door may seem manageable until someone tries to open it while maneuvering a wheelchair.
Ask people about the activity they want to complete, where they encounter difficulty, and what would help. Listen to their preferences rather than assuming that the same solution will work for everyone.
My experience reflects my own access needs. Other residents may encounter different barriers involving communication, vision, hearing, sensory needs, or how information is presented.
Include those perspectives when planning improvements, and invite people to give feedback after changes are made.
Make access requests easier to navigate
Identifying a barrier is only part of the process. People also need to know where to bring a request and what will happen afterward.
Can someone contact the organization in a way they can use? Is it clear who will respond? Will they receive an update if a decision or improvement takes time?
A useful process acknowledges the request, asks for clarification when needed, explains the next steps, and provides updates.
Involve the person in discussing possible solutions. If a change is made, follow up to learn whether it addresses the barrier they described.
Clear communication helps people understand the status of their request and who to contact if the issue remains unresolved.
Choose one activity to review
Start with an everyday activity, such as doing laundry, attending an appointment, or using a shared facility. Walk through the experience and ask:
• Can people find clear information before arriving?
• Can they reach, enter, and move through the space?
• Can they reach and operate the equipment or controls?
• Are instructions available in formats they can use?
• Can they communicate questions or request assistance?
• Is there a clear way to report a barrier and receive a response?
These questions begin a conversation; they do not replace a complete accessibility assessment. Use what you learn to identify next steps, involve the people affected, and review whether improvements work.
Everyday access deserves everyday attention
My experience advocating for access in my apartment complex reminds me how much the details matter.
The location of an oven’s controls, a step into a laundry room, or the way a door opens can affect someone’s ability to participate in everyday life.
Through N’Clusive 360, accessibility consulting, and training, N’Clusive Disability Consulting, LLC helps organizations examine barriers and plan practical improvements.
Choose one activity in your organization to review. Ask the people who use the space what they experience, identify a next step, and follow through.
Accessibility does not stop at the entrance. It continues through the experience.
Shatika Turner
Founder, N’Clusive Disability Consulting, LLC
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