Disability And The Urban Environment Summary

In the scholarly article “Disability and the Urban Environment: A Perspective on Los Angeles,” Harlan Hahn (1986) discusses concepts and views on the nature of disability in society. Hahn explicitly refers to the proposition that the dictionary definition of disability has evolved over the years from one used by medical and healthcare professionals, who stressed functional impairments, to one that focuses on the interaction of the individual with the so called environment. Through analysis and evaluation, Hahn’s views on disability and the metropolitan environment is no longer applicable to the city of Philadelphia at 30th Street Station, or today’s society as a whole.
Hahn expresses his opinions that the disabled are viewed as a minority group,

under the same pretenses as race, gender, sexuality, in the population, and the major problematic issue concerning the disabled person is attitudinal discrimination from society. Along with the social stigma and discriminatory behavior afflicting people with disability, this demographic faces numerous other problems: linked to political policies, lack of community, and physical impediments. Whether suffering from physical incapacities such as visual and/or audial impairments, obesity, necessary accommodations like wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetics, or troubled by mental disability such as ADHD, ADD, autism, people tend to be ostracized and alienated due to the apparent physical differences. Hahn concludes people need not be hindered by physical barriers from getting involved with the community, participating in daily activities, and enjoying life. Mastering the already existing environment should not be the reason to hold disabled people back from their Constitutional rights of citizenship. However, the need for extensive rebuilding of the existing structures is quite apparent among the disabled community.
Hahn’s claims that a disabled person can travel around a metropolitan environment with no need to plan or to fear the unknown terrain. Hahn gives individuals with disabilities too much responsibility, which they might not be able to uphold due to the circumstances of a present day city. I strongly oppose and argue that, unlike Hahn’s assumptions about city environment, there are just some structures and buildings unaccommodating to the disadvantages of the disabled, and it might be a true struggle and difficulty to survive in a metropolitan neighborhood.
To evaluate Hahn’s theory that regardless of altitudinal and environmental barriers, people afflicted with physical and/or cognitive disabilities can function and survive in the the unrelenting, fast paced city, I visited 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 30th Street Station is renowned for its beautiful architecture, famous art sculptures, and it has been a national transportation landmark since the early 1900s (Amtrak’s 30th Street Station). Thousands of people travel through this transportation hub- from children and teenagers enjoying their last few days of summer vacation before school starts, to the stereotypical businessmen and women heading home from a long day at work, to the elderly. One would think that a building specifically built for busy on-the-go people, there would be more facilities for everyone, including disabled people. There are minor accommodations like elevators and larger restroom stalls providing space for people with wheelchairs. Due to the Philadelphia city codes and standards, there are sidewalk curbs, ramps, and wheel chair assistance doors outside the building to aid the physically impaired into entering the building.
However, 30th Street Station is unaccommodating in some simple, not so obvious, mundane aspects. First, I noticed how there was a turn table door, in which twenty plus travelers would enter or leave the building in a matter of minutes. This could be considered a prime example of a physical obstacle for disabled people, who are confined to a wheelchair for their mode of transport. Furthermore, the ticket booth counters and food merchant counters were extremely high. For most people, this would not even spark any worry or anxiety, but for a person in a wheelchair it is not a matter of inconvenience. It is more along the lines that every time they want to purchase said product, people look “down” upon them in a superior manner. In addition, most SEPTA train stations are wheel chair accessible, but the sheer amount of extra time needed to accommodate for disabilities makes it a burden for travelers. In my many years of using SEPTA, both public and regional rail transport, I have never seen a person confined to the means of wheelchair travel the city comfortably. Last but not least, for the visually impaired population, the newer trains are accommodating in the area that they announce the next stop, and for the audial impaired, the newer trains have screens and monitors that display the next stop. If not for the new trains, the visually and audial impaired would endeavor a nearly endless battle, because the older trains do not have the inclusionary provisions. I would like to point out that most of the accommodations seem to be added on to the architecture of the building and trains. This leads me to believe that people with disabilities seems to be an after thought, similar to a minority group perspective. Overall, 30th Street Station is a quintessential example, that people with physical, mental, or cognitive disability will face numerous difficulties, in terms of structure and architecture, when traveling in an urban backdrop.
None the less, transportation and navigating the rough urban environment is a minor, miniscule concern for people afflicted with disabilities: throughout time, people with disabilities have endured adversity and attempted to live out long, meaningful, successful lives. As Hahn explains:
Prior to the 20th century, the life expectancy of most disabled men and women appeared to be extremely short. Yet a principal reason for the relative absence of disabled persons in earlier years probably can be traced to the difficulties they faced in surviving the rigors of an inhospitable environment. (277)
Hahn remarks that until recently, it was considered a humiliation to have a disability or have a disabled family member.

Most afflicted adults were stored away in the back rooms of houses, and children with mental disabilities were given up into adoption or aborted. In addition, Hahn reiterates that legislative polices have pronounced people with disabilities as unfit for society, unable to be hired to do work. People with disabilities are in no way “unemployed” because they can not do work. Hahn’s article, “Disability and the Urban Environment: A Perspective on Los Angeles,” which was published in 1986 is outdated, and the thoughts should be reconsidered. In the Disability and Discrimination Act of 1995 and 2005, it lays out policies that ban employers from discriminating against disabled people, when hiring (The Disability and Discrimination Act). It aims to ensure equal opportunity and a level of fairness in the workplace. Since 1986, the social structure of society has adapted and evolved over time. Nondisabled people are more liberal, and they are accepting; however, there still remains a level of discrimination. Even though they are more aware of the inequalities that exist today, people look down on the disabled population. As a society we need to make drastic improvements, in terms of attitudes. Disability should be viewed in a positive light: instead of a burden, disabled people should be part of the community. Disabled people should not have to deal with the social stigma of being different; it is part of what makes them stronger and more will

powered.
Even though Hahn makes clear, valid points on disability, and how it pertains to the urban environment, this article was outdated, which disqualified some of the information. His opinions about disability and the metropolitan city are no longer applicable, especially in the consideration of 30th Street Station. Apart from this minor drawback, Hahn presents the information in a way that is pragmatically valuable. His key concepts and ideas still hold true till this day. The intended audience has a great deal to learn, from Hahn’s observations of societal attitudes and discriminatory behavior towards disability. Restructuring buildings along with people’s attitudes should be a key priority for generations to come.