Wheelchairs like Central Park, too (Photo credit: Ed Yourdon)

I distinctly remember being asked by a kid on the playground, if I missed being able to walk. I think this child assumed, incorrectly, that I was in a wheelchair due to injury. But this offered me food for thought: How can one truly miss what they don’t know?

My perceptions

The thought process that I go through before going anywhere new is extensive. My focus of course is: Is this place accessible?  Often when I ask able bodied friends who have been to the location before I am met with a hesitant “Yeah, I think so. But I can’t be sure.” My friends meant well this is just not something they have to pay attention to.

Stairs (Photo credit: jeremydeades)

This, at first, used to frustrate me until I understood that people do not think like I do with regards to this unless it impacts their own life in some way?  I think about it, because I am forced to. I highly doubt though that if it wasn’t part of my day to day life that I would not pay much attention to it?
Food for thought: Are your friends good at recognizing accessibility issues?