For most people, moving across a room needs little effort but a lot of motivation on a lazy day. But those with disabilities find this a lot harder. Mobility and accessibility are challenging for people who are injured or disabled, and thus a variety of services and tools are designed to make things easier for them. This article will give one a better understanding of mobility and accessibility types, services, and tools.

What are mobility and accessibility?
Mobility refers to the ability to move and the efficiency with which people move. It is simply how much a person can move on their own. It reflects not just the ability but also the flexibility of the joints and limbs. Simply put, it is “how far a person can go in a given time.”

Accessibility, however, refers to reaching a destination or target location. It is “how much one has access to/can reach/obtain in a given time.” It does not reflect the ability to move but is related to the environment and context of the target location.

Mobility and accessibility are naturally linked since mobility influences how accessible a location is for someone. Both mobility and accessibility vary from person to person and even from time to time. Consider someone with a broken leg. In that situation, a room on the 4th floor of a building without an elevator may not be accessible to them. However, once the leg heals, the same place on the 4th floor becomes accessible to them.

Moving toward mobility and accessibility
Several medical conditions limit mobility. For example, paralysis, multiple sclerosis, muscle atrophy, amputation, congenital disabilities, and accidents all limit mobility differently. These can reduce energy, speed, and coordination and thus influence the accessibility of locations at home, at the workplace, or at school.

The degree of disability or illness influences the type of aid that can help the individual. For some, a cane is more than enough, but others may need wheelchairs or special lifts to go up the stairs. Further, accessibility also depends on how the building is designed and what features exist. Not all workplaces and institutions consider the physical access of those with reduced mobility. Mobility, or the lack of it, not only limits accessibility but can also play a role in other functions like work efficiency and the ability to write, type, use digital technology, and operate devices.

Accessibility and its importance
Mobility and accessibility services are designed with the following principle: a device, product, service, or environment must be useable by as many people as possible, including people with physical disabilities. Creating accessibility, first and foremost, requires an understanding of disabilities. These include visual, auditory, cognitive, psychological, neurological, and medical disabilities. Then, achieving accessibility is based on being mindful of the needs of people who are disabled and addressing these barriers to give them access.

In the country, accessibility is a civil right and federal law. The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit discrimination based on disability. They are firmly enforced by the Department of Justice and the Department of Education and Labor. The Offices for Civil Rights defines accessibility as follows: a person with a disability is allowed access to the same information, engages in the same interactions, and enjoys the same services as those without the disability in an equally effective and integrated manner. This access must be given fully, equally, and independently to a person without a disability.

Mobility aids and equipment
Mobility and accessibility types are numerous, and the tools available to provide the same level of accessibility to persons with disabilities are called mobility aids. Mobility aids include canes, wheelchairs, crutches, and stairlifts. These are designed to increase the freedom and independence of the user and provide added benefits like increased confidence and self-esteem. Common mobility aids and equipment are listed below.

Mobility and accessibility depend on the type of disability or injury one has, so it is essential to note that not all of the following tools will be useful. One can choose the best mobility and accessibility tools after consulting their physician, physiotherapist, and other medical specialists they visit to manage a condition.

Here are a few examples of mobility aids and equipment:

• Canes: It is useful for those who are at risk of falling. It supports the upper body and reduces weight on the lower body. They are most useful for older adults. There are several types of canes: white canes for those with visual impairment, quad canes for greater stability, and forearm canes that provide better weight distribution from the wrist to the arm.
• Crutches: These transfer weight from the legs to the upper body. They can be axillary crutches, Lofstrand crutches, or platform crutches.
• Walkers: These are also called Zimmer frames. They are metal frameworks with four legs that bring stability and support. They might have wheels or glides so the user does not need to lift the walker. This mobility and accessibility equipment is ideal for those with limited arm strength. Rollators, knee walkers, and walker-cane hybrids are a few types of walkers.
• Wheelchairs: They are a great example of mobility aids. They are ideal for people who put weight on their lower limbs or cannot walk. One can manually propel it, someone can push it, or the wheelchair can be electrically powered. It is appropriate for those with severe disabilities or when someone with a mild disability needs to travel a great distance.
• Mobility scooters: These are mobility and accessibility tools powered by a battery whose speed and direction can be controlled by foot plates. One needs upper body strength or flexibility to use a manual wheelchair. So people without those can use a mobility scooter instead.
• Safety modifications: These help those with low mobility gain access to buildings. Safety modifications include ramps for those on wheels or using canes to enter buildings, stairlifts to move people up and down stairs, and handrails in bathrooms and entrance doorways to provide support and stability.