Making streets and sidewalks more ADA accessible starts with a plan

For many, getting around Chicago is pretty easy. It’s one of the few American cities that’s invested in public transit, cycling and walkability infrastructure. But, for people with a disability that inhibits their mobility, it’s just not as easy to get around. Accessibility researcher Yochai Eisenberg co-authored a study in 2022 with the Great Lakes ADA Center and UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development that found that communities had higher accessibility scores if they also had an ADA-transition plan, also known as a “barrier removal plan.” We talk with him about how accessible Chicago-area communities are, the various barriers to accessibility many encounter, and what citizens can do to improve conditions in their area. This episode was originally published on Nov. 28, 2022.