Space, Place, and Disability

Where things are, and how they connect and relate to one another, is intrinsic to people’s lives, and our location, or where we are in a place, can affect our quality of life and opportunities to be part of society. This is particularly so for disabled people who inhabit a world crafted for non-impaired bodies in which the design of places rarely provides for ease of access, use, and opportunity. Rather, the construction of space, and the places in and through which people lead their lives, is characterized by disabling and debilitating environments. This essay considers the significance of space in the lives of disabled people, asking questions about how their sensate, bodily experiences are shaped by their movements through, and inhabitation of, different places.