Project Description
In this paper, I will reflect on the project “People with Disabilities in Preston County, West Virginia.” This project’s objective was to investigate the challenges and impediments that people with disabilities confront to increase awareness and inspire action to build a more inclusive society. For this project, I decided to concentrate on elderly persons with diverse disabilities, such as physical, visual, and hearing problems. To obtain insight into their daily lives, the difficulties they encounter, and potential solutions to these problems, I chatted with a few disabled people. I aim to impart what I have discovered and motivate others to act positively to build a more welcoming and accessible environment for all.
Challenges Faced by People With Disabilities in My Area
As I explored my area through the eyes of people with disabilities, I discovered many challenges they face. The inability to find work is a significant obstacle, making it challenging to provide for one’s basic needs. Many people with disabilities also have trouble getting enough to eat because they cannot afford it or get to grocery stores. The housing crisis is also a significant problem for people with disabilities since it may be hard to locate accessible and affordable accommodations. Finally, getting around the area can be challenging due to limited accessible transportation, infrastructure, and the lack of wheelchair-accessible facilities, making it difficult to access shops or other amenities.
Local Amenities
While I discovered that certain facilities are more easily accessible than others, more must be done to make the community genuinely inclusive. For instance, navigating public transit may be difficult for those with disabilities since not all buses and trains offer wheelchair accessibility. Similar to how many stores and restaurants lack accessible features, this may be annoying for those with disability. I did, however, come across a few good ones, including a few shops and restaurants with ramps and accessible restrooms. Besides these encouraging instances, it is evident that more needs to be done to ensure that all local facilities are accessible to those with disabilities so they may fully engage in society.
Buying Food
I spoke with a few people with disabilities, and they revealed that they frequently need to travel great distances to locate accessible food stores or depend on others to shop for them. Even when they do locate accessible outlets, the costs can be greater, making it challenging for them to buy wholesome food. This disadvantage negatively impacts their health and well-being. Local governments should investigate price regulations for essential food items and try to make grocery stores more accessible to address this problem. Collaborations with neighborhood charities and organizations could help offer free or inexpensive food to those in need.
Residence
During my exploration, I visited a few residential neighborhoods where people with impairments live. It was reassuring to discover that several of these residences provided accommodations and accessibility for individuals with various disabilities. Nevertheless, I also discovered that many of these houses needed serious repairs to be accessible. Furthermore, these accommodations were frequently unaffordable for many people with impairments due to their high costs. More easily accessible and inexpensive housing must be built to address these issues. This can be done by developing a government-led program to retrofit existing homes to make them accessible for individuals with disabilities and by offering tax incentives to developers who build completely accessible homes.
Advertisment
I am from Preston County, West Virginia, and I understand what it’s like to be left out of society because there is low diversity in advertising. I am demotivated when I see advertisements that do not include disabled persons in my area. Recognizing the significance of inclusivity and accessibility in their advertisements is crucial for businesses and advertisers. Companies may empower and inspire people with disabilities by showcasing and favorably portraying them, fostering a more inclusive and accepting society for all. People with disabilities mustn’t be left behind in the realm of advertising as we push for advancement and change.
Reflection
This encounter enlightened me and helped me better comprehend their daily difficulties. I asked for permission to use the photographs in this presentation. Several of the pictures I took while exploring are shown in this presentation. The photos I selected represent the difficulties experienced by persons with disabilities, such as the inaccessibility of public transit and the high expenses of accessible accommodation and food.
I chose to concentrate on persons with different disabilities for this project because they frequently encounter numerous difficulties that others might not consider. My goal in selecting the photographs was to draw attention to these difficulties and inspire others to take action to make our communities more accessible. The number of challenges that individuals with disabilities confront surprised me the most throughout this project. It made me realize that more work must be done to create an inclusive society.