Accessibility and inclusion: Outdoor access, inclusive language, transportation, housing, special education, are 2025 priorities

Mark Race kayaks with New England Healing Sports Association on Lake Blaisdell in Sutton, New Hampshire.

Mark Race kayaks with New England Healing Sports Association on Lake Blaisdell in Sutton, New Hampshire. MARK RACE—Courtesy

By RACHEL WACHMAN

Monitor staff

Published: 12-25-2024 3:29 PM

Modified: 12-27-2024 9:12 AM


When disability rights advocate Mark Race drives around Concord and its surrounding towns, he wonders how many of the new homes and apartments being constructed are designed with accessibility in mind. Likely not many, Race estimates.  

The Loudon resident wants to see more housing that prioritizes a universally approachable design, including doorways wide enough for wheelchairs, rather than dealing with accessibility as an afterthought. This type of shift would benefit people who currently have disabilities and those who may develop them in the future.

“We’re all aging and growing older,” Race said. “At some point in our lives, we may need an accessible doorway to an apartment or house.”

Housing and transportation are two key areas Race and other advocates would like to see improved for those with disabilities in 2025. 

Since sustaining a spinal cord injury in the late 1970s, Race has seen more accessible transportation programs come to life, such as the one through Granite State Independent Living, where Race worked for several decades. The price for an accessible van is too high for many people to pay, and others cannot drive themselves, making such programs even more important. However, Race said he’s also seen the budget for these programs decrease over time due to cuts at the state level. Being able to get around in one’s community – not just for medical visits but also for social ones – has positive mental health impacts, according to Race, who previously sat on the Governor’s Commission for Disability. 

He also wants to see more ride shares and transportation apps offer accessible options around the Granite State.

“It’s all in the bigger cities,” said Race, who found a wealth of accessible transportation options on a trip to New York City a couple of years ago. “Smaller cities like Concord, they don't have that kind of service and it would be beneficial.”

Advocating for accessibility and inclusion

Each year, The Disability Rights Center of New Hampshire works to strengthen the legal rights of people with disabilities while advocating for their interests.

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The organization has two ongoing lawsuits it hopes to resolve in the new year that could further improve the quality of life for those living with disabilities, especially children.

B.D. v. Governor, State of, et al. seeks to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of older youth who could receive mental health treatment and community support while living with family or foster families. The organization argues that this leads to the unlawful deprivation of community-based services and family placements for children in the state’s care, who need these services and placements to grow into successful adults.

The other lawsuit, Fitzmorris et al. v. NHDHHSsimilarly addresses institutionalization, this time through the state’s “failure to administer its Choices for Independence Medicaid home and community-based waiver program in a manner that allows its participants to safely live at home rather than being forced into institutional settings such as nursing facilities,” according to the Disability Rights Center.

These two lawsuits aim to connect individuals with the resources they need to thrive in their homes and restore some agency to the those affected by these proceedings.

In addition, the Disability Rights Center advocated for Senate Bill 463, which secured the right for children who are in institutional settings or facing placement in one to have an attorney represent them in abuse and neglect cases. 

It also participated in the launch of the Stop Special Campaign, a long-term collaborative initiative that seeks to move away from language describing people with disabilities as “special.” Such language can create distance rather than inclusivity. Many organizations across the state – and the country – have taken a “Stop Special” pledge to foster more inclusive language. As the campaign gains momentum, these conversations around language continue to build more empowering environments.

Ongoing conversations

On a broad scale, special education has become a talking point in communities around the state as school districts navigate increasing costs as a result of reduced state aid. Students are legally entitled to special education services that can help them learn and thrive at school. The recent discourse around special education often frames these services as a financial burden to districts. While costs are rising, the idea that these students are a burden on the community can have negative effects on students and the way those children and young adults feel welcomed – or not – in their learning environments. These special education discussions continue in 2025, especially as towns and districts navigate the upcoming budget season.

The Capital Region also has a need for accessible spaces for play. Following legislation passed in 2023 mandating that playgrounds constructed in 2024 and beyond have solid surfaces on the ground rather than materials such as wood chips, which create a hazard for people who use mobility devices, the city of Concord secured funding back in January to build an accessible playground in White Park.

While construction has yet to begin, the redesign of the Monkey Around Playground will feature a wheelchair-accessible swing and merry-go-round, in addition to solid surfacing on the ground. What will become Concord’s first fully accessible playground aims to provide children of all abilities the opportunity to play together. 

With special education, housing, transportation, playgrounds and more, finances consistently play a role in how the state and the many communities within it promote accessibility and inclusion.

“A lot of this will be around money and where the state prioritizes resources for people with disabilities who need support from the state, from Medicaid, and from other state systems in order to live the lives they want to live in the communities where they want to be," said Stephanie Patrick, executive director of the Disability Rights Center.

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com