Post by Alex Norman

Accessibility is not cosplay. It is a commitment. I recently read a Wall Street Journal piece where Amy Dockser Marcus spent a day in an “age-simulation suit.” The intent may have been empathy, but the effect was troubling. Aging is dynamic, not a costume. Abilities change daily depending on health, environment, and context. Reducing aging to a weighted vest and goggles risks flattening a rich, diverse experience into stereotypes. Perspective matters. When younger people simulate aging, the result reflects their own assumptions rather than the lived expertise of older adults. We would never accept a bank dressing up white employees to simulate what it feels like to be Black applying for a loan. That would be offensive and inaccurate. Yet when it comes to aging, simulation suits are often praised instead of questioned. Both approaches miss the point: you cannot costume your way into lived experience. There is also an industry already doing this work. At Access Built we partner directly with seniors and people with disabilities, compensate them for their expertise, and co-create practical solutions. This approach produces authentic insights, better design decisions, and greater respect for the human condition. Pioneers in this work include Institute for Human Centered Design Better Living Design Institute and many others. The suit may raise awareness, but it overlooks the people and the businesses already dedicated to building environments that work for everyone. If your organization is looking for a more authentic and respectful approach to accessibility and inclusive design, let’s talk. Steve Wright Valerie Fletcher Elissa Vanaver Ana C. Martinez Garrett R. Mayersohn Philipp Willigmann Sophia Ashebir Lisa D'Ambrosio Pnina Gershon Malcolm Grba Chaiwoo Lee MIT AgeLab Access Built Joseph Anthony The Wall Street Journal Ad Age #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #Aging #UniversalDesign #AccessBuilt

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