The Hidden Dangers of Inaccessible Public Spaces on Mental Health
Imagine: you’re on your way to a gathering, already feeling a little tense about being somewhere new. You’ve checked the address, looked up photos online, maybe even called ahead, but still, the questions pile up in your head. Will there be stairs? Will people stare if you ask for help? Will there be anywhere to sit if the pain or discomfort kicks in?
For many people with disabilities, this isn’t overthinking, it’s survival.
“I feel often drained by how much I have to always think about everything, every detail before committing to going somewhere or doing something,” shared my guest, Lunatik, during our conversation. It’s a sentence that stuck with me, not just for what it said, but for how heavy it felt.
We often talk about accessibility in terms of ramps, elevators, and parking spots. But what we don’t talk about enough is the invisible weight that inaccessible spaces place on someone’s mental health. The anxiety. The over-planning. The quiet grief of being excluded by default.
This post centers a raw and honest interview with someone who lives this reality day to day. Their insights reveal just how deep the impact of inaccessible design goes, and why mental health needs to be part of the accessibility conversation.
Meet Lunatik
I’m Lunåtik, but most people calls me Luna (She/Her). I’m a french VTuber or GifTuber, that mainly stream in english to practice my ability to speak english and be more comfy with that language. I enjoy cozyness and just having fun and chill times, in games, or by reading books. I would love to get a cat one day, cause.. they’re adorable and i want to save a cat ideally adult from a shelter, i know adults cats or cats with disabilities are less likely to be adopted, so i’d like to try to offer a better life to one of them one day. I do work full time outside of my online activities, I’m an engineer programmer. It takes a lot of my energy away from my hobbies but i’m trying to balance it the best i can 😀
Can you share a little about your background or day-to-day life as it relates to navigating public spaces?
In my day to day life, i barely go outside except by obligation : when i’m not remote working, when i need to get groceries, and sometimes to just hang out with friends. I own a car and i have the right to park into disabled spots, that helps a lot. If i know i will walk a bit too much compare to what i can handle, i bring my walking canes help thingy (idk the proper english word sorry). I usually plan in advance when going somewhere, to look up if it’s accessible and how close i can park, and if can’t park close i’ll usually refuse to go. I find it easier to refuse to go somewhere then force people to change their plans just to accommodate you. My closes friends will accommodate me, but when it’s also involving people i may not know very well or such, it’s easier to just not go and not fight cause i don’t have the energy to spare for that kind of things, if that makes sense?
Oh absolutely, I can only imagine. How do you hope readers will feel or think differently after hearing your perspective?
I don’t think you can change someone habits or way of thinking with just one article sadly, but it is a start, like a spark that i hope will make people think a bit more and be more considerate with others that may struggle with disabilities or occasional health issues, visible or not. I want to hope that people can get kinder with each others and less judgmental I would wish also for people that are responsible of building the cities can think a bit more about making every new building accessible easily (commercial, or for a living building)
Interview
Hi!! Thank you for being here talking about your experiences with me. Lets start with what emotions do you experience when encountering spaces or environments that aren’t accessible to you?
I think the first emotion is anxiety / worries. Anxiety caused by the question “how am I going to deal with this inaccessible environment or can I avoid it and find an alternative?”.
The 2nd emotion, and it’s more an emotion that comes after sitting in the situation for a while, is a bit of anger and resentment on how I’m always supposed to be the one adapting, and finding works around a situation, when sometimes i feels like it should be a common effort, regardless if you’re abled bodied or disabled. That’s how the world will get better at being accessible for everyone.
Can you share a specific instance where inaccessibility significantly impacted your mental health?
I feel like it causes me to always be overthinking every situation i’m involved into. I feel often drained by how much I have to always think about everything, every details before committing to going somewhere or do something.
How do you prepare yourself mentally for navigating potentially inaccessible spaces?
I have a mental todo list in my head of things to checkout: is there parking option? is it free or paid? Is there elevators needs / available? That kind of stuff. I try my best to either search the answers to those questions or to ask for help from the people I’m going with, or if I go alone, from the website or something from the place by example. I rely a lot on internet information, to prepare mentally.
I also plan ahead a “recovery / rest” time afterwards
In your opinion, what are some of the most overlooked aspects of accessibility that affect mental well-being?
I’d say it’s public knowledge and awareness. Especially for invisible disabilities, people are quick to judge that you look too “abled-bodies” or that you’re too “young” to be disabled. And facing that on a day to day basis, prevents some disabled people to use what they need out of fear / anxiety to be judged. But also for those who do use what they need and what they have rights to use due to their disabilities, it’s tiring to face those comments / looks and atmosphere.
Have you noticed any positive mental health effects when you’re in environments that prioritize accessibility?
Yes for sure. Cause it means I can focus my energy on whatever is happening or why I’m there, rather than all the others questions mentioned before. Also, my disability causes me lots of pain, and having accessible areas for me, it means being able to rest / sit properly, and cause of that, the drain on my energy levels and on my mental health is way less important. I can be more in the present and actually full on “there”, and not just partially “there” cause i have to deal with inaccessibility of the place by example. I have a lot less worries.
What do you think allies and advocates can do to better support disabled individuals dealing with inaccessible spaces?
I’d say people needs to be more understanding and less judgmental on who “deserves” to get accessibility related things. By example, we all need to not say or think “oh this person is more disabled than this one”, cause this way of thinking hurts everyone. And I feel like it’s implicitly taught by what the images we have from disabled people, from losing a limb to dealing with PTSD by example. In most cases, disabilities is represented by someone in a wheelchair, or using walking aids. And therefor, many people I faced judge someone that doesn’t use those, as less disabled, and I personally hate that society tries to rank disabilities, when it shouldn’t. I would also say, in the work settings at the minimum, everyone should be concerned about accessibilities, right away, and not just “when they hire a disabled person”, like sure some things can be specific for that person and need a talk or something between the people involved. But basic accessibility things should be taught, and just be part of every day life, cause I also do think some accessibility stuff are beneficial for everyone and not just disabled people. Like access to elevators by example, imagine you have 2-3 bags of heavy groceries, abled or not, you’re more than happy if there is an elevator available and not have to take the stairs with those I think.
Honestly I think the most challenging thing as a disabled person (outside of medical related things) is how others treats you. Mostly cause either they don’t know how to treat you, I feel like there is like 3 options : 1. they pity you, 2. they ignore your disability, cause they don’t want to think about it, and therefor ignore your accessibility needs, 3. they treats you as a person, that needs some accessibility tools, but they don’t look down on you cause of it (this is what we need to keep). And changing that for the better, is a first step for everyone to acknowledge and put in place more accessibility options overall.
How do you personally cope or recover from the mental toll of navigating inaccessible environments?
Honestly? I go home to cry it out then I sleep and do nothing for a few days outside of just reading / gaming, or if I have to go to work. I also often withdraw from socials environment, I will talk less and isolate cause I need time to recover.
I sometimes write down for myself or for friends to evacuate the frustrations and the anger it might have caused. And often put a note in my head with “do not go there again until stuff changes”
Reflection: It’s Not Just About Ramps
What struck me about our conversation wasn’t just the logistical stress; the endless planning, Googling, double-checking, calling, and more. It was the emotional toll of always being the one expected to adapt.
“I’m always supposed to be the one adapting.”
It’s a feeling I think many people, disabled or not, have experienced in some way or another, but here, it’s constant. Daily. Invisible. Exhausting.
I realized how often the conversation about accessibility stays at surface level. We talk about elevators and ramps (which are, of course, important), but we rarely address what it feels like to exist in a world that wasn’t designed with you in mind.
I’ve witnessed friends decline invitations because of the uncertainty around the location, or leave early without explanation. Part of the equation is knowing if a venue has stairs or an accessible bathroom. The other half is whether a person feels safe, seen, and like they can show up without running on survival mode.
Accessibility isn’t just about infrastructure. It is, of course, where it starts. Its the root cause of the problem. With accessible spaces, the mental fatigue would decrease. But with our world in its current state, the mental health aspect is also something that should be talked about more. It’s about mental ease, dignity, and the ability to participate fully without needing to apologize or over-plan
Key Takeaways
- Inaccessible spaces don’t just block physical access. They create mental strain.
- The emotional weight of inaccessibility builds over time. From anxiety to anger to burnout, it takes a quiet toll on mental well-being.
- Judgment around invisible disabilities causes harm. When people assume someone doesn’t “look” disabled enough to deserve accommodations, it creates fear, shame, and isolation.
- True accessibility must be proactive, not reactive. Accessibility should be standard, not situational.
- Accessible environments allow people to be present. There is more energy left to engage, connect, and enjoy the moment.
- Accessibility benefits everyone. And let’s shout that for the people at the back, designing with access means designing with care for all.
A Short Stat Block
According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults (28.7%) live with a disability. Many of these are invisible, such as cognitive or mental health conditions.
Research shows that discrimination, inaccessibility, stigma, and lack of representation directly contribute to poor mental health outcomes among people with disabilities. Support must include inclusive environments, accommodations, self-advocacy tools, and systemic change.
Closing Thoughts
Start small. Look at places you frequent. Notice who can access them easily, and who can’t. Bring accessibility into your conversations, especially in workplaces, schools, and creative spaces. Most importantly, listen to the voices of people with disabilities, whether their disabilities are visible or not. Their experiences are not optional; they are essential to designing a world that works for everyone.
I’m deeply grateful to my guest for their honesty, vulnerability, and insight. Their words are a powerful reminder that accessibility isn’t a bonus feature, it’s a basic form of respect.
Let’s build with that in mind.
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