Francis and I had the same employer two decades ago. Although we were in different departments, we became good friends. Francis is among my few friends that use a wheelchair. When I reconnected with him after so long, I had to think again about our meeting venue. Was there designated parking for him? Were there steps or a ramp between the parking lot and our restaurant? These questions are often overlooked by people who have mobility. Unfortunately the only access to the  toilets was through a flight of stairs!  

Francis was crippled at the age of 3 and had to be ridden to school by his father and brother till the age of 12 when he got his first wheelchair. He had always dreamt of playing football but unfortunately didn’t realize it. This is one of the crushed dreams of PWDs.

Fast forward, Francis founded Fathers Heart Mobility Ministry with various partners with whom they have given over 21,000 people in Uganda mobility through wheelchairs, improving lives and impacting communities. Francis also sits on various national and community committees to champion infrastructural considerations and accessibility for PWDs in buildings and spaces. 

Having friends like Francis gives me the constant reminder not to take mobility for granted, but also to advocate for inclusivity and intentional architectural designs that accommodate PWDs including the visually impaired, the slow of speech, etc. 

We need to also consider employing PWDs as an inclusive strategy. Endiro Coffee has done this exclusively well by incorporating the deaf in their employment strategy. Svartklubben (also known as Food in the dark)  is a restaurant that is served by blind people, in a pitch black environment to enable guests to appreciate the world of the blind. 

What are you doing to create an inclusive environment for PWDs?