Updated 8:54 p.m. EST, 6 December 2025
Separate but equal is a term first used relating to segregation. The term was used to justify racist policies that allowed the white ruling class to create separate facilities for different people groups. Everything from classrooms to water fountains were made separate: a better one for white people and a worse one for people of color. The separate but equal doctrine was overturned in a court case called Brown v. Board of Education, where it was ruled that separate schools for children of color were inherently unequal. Equality means that we all have access to the same rights, the same status, and the same opportunities. Equality is not about handouts or infantilizing people, rather, it is about making sure people have the same access to the life they deserve, regardless of their views.
While equality among racial groups has improved, though still more should be done, we have failed to create a society where disabled people are treated equally. People with disabilities are often unable to participate in society the same way as most abled people, not because they can’t or don’t want to, but because our world is structured on rejecting people who are different.
“Equality means that we all have access to the same rights, the same status, and the same opportunities.”
The problem with accessibility is similar to the issue tackled in Brown v. Board of Education. Our current idea of accessibility forces people who are considered outside of “normal” into separate facilities where they aren’t seen.
Additionally, people in power often refuse to compromise on their ideal life by adding accessibility for people who are not seen as worth the time or effort. Often, disabled people are viewed as less than human: a problem to be solved, hidden away, or simply ignored. This perspective leads to decisions on health, rights, and the general wellbeing of disabled people being made by those who do not understand what disabled people need or want. If disabled people are viewed as less than human, then it is easier to care less about accessibility.
People with disabilities are not less than human; they live, breath, and feel just like anyone else. If someone struggles to walk, that does not mean they are incapable of living a full life. If someone can’t speak or hear, that does not mean they are suddenly an unfeeling monster. Remember that struggling with or being unable to do something does not mean you are worthless or worth less than anyone else.
This is why accessibility is important. It allows more people to be able to experience the same quality of life as abled people. If the difference between someone being able to attend school is ramps at every door, is that not worth it? If having a working elevator in every building meant that someone could share in the joy of a fuller life, is that not worth it? Having ways to meet the needs of people who can’t always make it on their own doesn’t make our world a worse place, nor does it make us soft. It makes us kind and makes our world brighter, safer, and fuller.
You may have noticed that the accessible features I mentioned above are things that most people benefit from. Having ramps on every building makes it easier to get inside and is safer in the winter. Elevators make getting around easier and are generally a much-appreciated feature in buildings. I want you to think about the things in your life that you take for granted, and think about how some of those things may, in a way, be an accessibility device. Automatic doors, handrails in bathrooms, and more. Accessibility is something that benefits everyone but is often only added after great struggle by those who need it most.
Another problem with accessibility is when the people responsible for installing, maintaining, and operating the equipment simply refuse to, despite being required by law. And, when they are installed, a significant number of facilities are hidden or made difficult to use—elevators down long hallways and ramps leading directly into stairs. Accessibility, when treated as a luxury, is less likely to be helpful. Many disabled people are told they are just lazy or are being greedy for requesting help.
“If you must separate a system just to make it equal, then you probably failed in its creation.”
Accessibility needs to be open to everyone, regardless of whether they need it. Amenities separate from able-centered facilities forces disabled people to work harder just to be treated as human. If you must separate a system just to make it equal, then you probably failed in its creation. ★
Sam Wager ’29 is a freshman studying education, with hopes to work in elementary education in the future. Sam enjoys discussing theology and its relationship to our modern world. They are also very interested in music technology and can often be found helping with events.
