My House
My house is not very accessible. The way that it is built is for able bodied people. All of the bedrooms are upstairs which would cause difficulty for someone who couldn’t walk and could be tricky for a blind person. In addition, the backyard can be difficult to maneuver. The majority of our backyard is taken up by our pool, and with how the patio furniture is set up it leaves little room to walk around. Lastly, it can be hard to figure out where things are or how to use them for someone who has mental disabilities.
CSUEB
I would say that CSUEB is accessible. In most buildings we have functioning elevators for those who are unable or have difficulty climbing stairs. There is braille on the signs for those who may have sight impairments. In addition, we have an accessibility department who works with students to accommodate for their disabilities. There are ramps across campus to help people get where they need to go, and there are wide walkways so you are able to maneuver freely. The only building on campus that I think isn’t very accessible is Meiklejohn Hall. There are a lot of stairs in that building, and I haven’t really seen an elevator when I’m in that building.
Hayward Shoreline
The Hayward Shoreline is not very accessible. Though it is somewhere that I enjoy to go to take walks, it is not accessible for people with disabilities. All of the signs that are hung near the entrance are tailored for people who can see; there is no braille. In addition, the people who go there need to be able bodied. Areas of the shoreline have gravel which would be tricky to move on for someone with physical disabilities. Lastly, for those who has mental disabilities, this place would be a little dangerous because there are some areas of the shoreline that have rocks near the water so if they weren’t careful they could get hurt.
Mia’s Dream Come True Playground
Though this park is not yet open, I think it is one of the most accessible things we have in Hayward. Mia’s Dream Come True Playground is a playground that is currently being built in South Hayward and will be opening later this year. It is being designed specifically for people with disabilities. The closest playground for children with disabilities in in Palo Alto, and the addition of this playground helps make Hayward into a better city by meeting the needs of everyone. The playground was designed by a little girl with cerebral palsy and her parents. They plan on making the park accessible to all children. The park will feature wheelchair accessible play structures, multiple walkways, and a quiet play area for children with autism.
All Saints Church
Growing up I went to church at All Saints, and until this assignment hadn’t put thought into whether the church is truly accessible. I believe that in parts the church is accessible, but it is not completely accessible to everyone. It does have ramps around the area, and they do have speakers and screens inside the church for those who may have trouble hearing or seeing. What they lack is braille for those who are blind, wider walkways to better accommodate for those in wheelchairs, and resources for those who have mental disabilities. They do give out pamphlets for children that contain activities and break down what they week’s mass is about, but they don’t really have anything for people with mental disabilities.
Julissa's Sociology Adventure 
I like that you included Mia’s Dream Come True Playground. I have never heard of it before. It is a really cool idea that they are in the process of building it mainly for those who have disabilities. Are there other parks that are like this other than the one you mentioned in Palo Alto? I wonder if more cities are planning on building more parks that are just like this. It is definitely a great idea to incorporate. I can also agree with you about the Hayward Shoreline because I’ve been there before and it isn’t very accessible to everyone. Everyone just has to be cautious of their surroundings and be careful where they are going.
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Hello,
The Hayward Shoreline is a really peaceful place to go for a walk. However, I do agree with you that it’s not very accessible for individuals with disabilities. The road isn’t flat and it has many cracks as well. I wonder if other shoreline parks such as the one in Mountain View has better accessibility. The CSUEB campus for the most part has elevators and handicap parking spots in each lot. They also have bigger desks in front of the class for those individuals that require more space or have any disability.
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Hi Julissa,
I really enjoyed your post. I like how you include a place that wasn’t even built yet, but has high hopes of being accessible, for it is supposed to be designed with people with impairments in mind. It really makes me excited to see it open and visiting it. I’ve also heard that the people who will do the structures at the park are also those who worked for Walt Disney projects. With the picture of your own house, I would agree that most homes are only able-bodied accessible. I feel like most homes have to be renovated to be more impairment friendly. Looking at your assessment for the church, I was also wondering if churches are lacking the accommodations for those with impairments because it isn’t their first thought or they don’t have the funding to do so.
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Hello Julissa,
I really enjoyed reading your post. I found it very interesting when you mentioned Mia’s Dream Come True Playground. I actually have never heard of this park but I’m excited to see how it turns out. Im glad that we are going to soon have a park where all kids are welcomed no matter the circumstances. I wonder if our community will be making more places like the park you included. I hope this is just the begining to having more places available for kids with disabilities they all deserve to have a memorable childhood.
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