Accessibility Should Work on Hard Days Too
Accessibility Isn’t Only About Permanent Barriers
Each year from April 20 through April 26, National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Week highlights the experiences of individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological condition that affects how the brain communicates with the body.
MS can influence:
- Movement
- Balance
- Coordination
- Vision
- Cognition
- Energy levels
But one of the most important and least understood characteristics of MS is variability.
Symptoms often change from day to day.
Sometimes even from hour to hour.
Accessible communities must account for that reality.
Accessibility should support people not only when conditions are predictable, but also when they are not.
Multiple Sclerosis Affects Nearly One Million Americans
Nearly one million people in the United States are currently living with multiple sclerosis (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2024).
MS occurs when the immune system damages the protective covering of nerve fibers in the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and the body (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2023).
Because these disruptions affect different parts of the nervous system in different ways, symptoms vary widely from person to person.
This variability makes flexibility one of the most important components of accessibility planning.
Some Barriers Are Invisible Until They Aren’t
Many individuals living with MS navigate environments that appear accessible on paper but feel very different in practice.
A route that works one day may feel unsafe the next.
Fatigue can change walking distance tolerance.
Temperature sensitivity can affect endurance.
Visual changes can affect navigation.
Cognitive fatigue can affect decision-making in busy environments.
Fatigue alone is one of the most common and challenging symptoms experienced by individuals living with MS and can significantly affect participation in employment, transportation, and community activities (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2024).
Accessibility planning becomes more effective when it recognizes these invisible changes.
Temperature Matters More Than Many People Realize
One accessibility factor rarely discussed outside MS awareness conversations is temperature sensitivity.
Heat can temporarily worsen neurological symptoms for many individuals living with MS, a phenomenon known as Uhthoff’s phenomenon (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2023).
This means access to shaded routes, cooling spaces, and climate-controlled public environments can influence whether participation feels possible.
Accessibility planning that considers environmental conditions strengthens usability for many community members, not only those living with MS.
Predictability Supports Independence
When environments are predictable, people can plan around changing symptoms.
Predictability includes:
- Continuous pedestrian routes
- Clear signage
- Rest opportunities
- Consistent crossings
- Logical navigation through public facilities
These features support individuals whose mobility and energy levels vary over time.
Predictable environments reduce uncertainty.
Reduced uncertainty supports participation.
Participation supports independence.
Accessibility Planning Supports Participation Across Changing Conditions
Municipal ADA Self-Evaluations and Transition Plans help communities identify barriers affecting residents with fluctuating mobility needs.
Accessibility strategies that support individuals living with MS often include:
- Continuous pedestrian infrastructure
- Aaccessible facility entrances
- Predictable navigation systems
- Inclusive public program participation
- Clear communication environments
These improvements support participation across a wide range of abilities and changing conditions.
Accessibility should support people not only when movement is easy, but also when movement is difficult.
A Community Designed for Flexibility Is a Community Designed for Everyone
Accessibility improvements that support individuals living with MS also support:
- Older adults
- People recovering from injuries
- Individuals with chronic fatigue conditions
- People navigating temporary mobility changes
- Families moving through public environments
Inclusive infrastructure strengthens participation for entire communities.
National MS Awareness Week reminds us that accessibility must adapt to people, not the other way around.
A Simple but Important Reminder
Accessibility should not depend on a person having a “good day.”
Inclusive communities support participation every day.
And awareness is where that work begins.
At the end of the day, accessibility is not about checking a box or meeting a standard on paper. It is about whether someone can show up, move through a space, and participate without having to second guess if today is a “good enough” day to try. That is the gap between compliance and lived experience—and it is where meaningful progress happens.
At Accessibility Consulting Partners (ACP), that perspective drives the work. Not just identifying barriers, but understanding how those barriers change depending on the day, the environment, and the individual. Because when accessibility is designed with flexibility in mind, it stops being a limitation—and starts becoming something people can rely on.