My mother is almost 90. Though she grew up in New York City, when I think of her, it’s in the woods—fishing, camping, boating. Walking. Lots and lots of walking.

My mom is not a hiker. Even as a child, I remember her plodding slowly up mountains as we ran on ahead. But she loves a slow wander through local parks, along the river, or window shopping in town. She can walk a long way, given enough time. Her problem, and one that I’ve thought about a lot these last two weeks, is finding a place to rest. The limiting factor in her ability to walk, it turns out, is benches.

The lack of benches is an apt metaphor for our failure to make minor changes in our environment that would make it more inclusive. Around 12.2 percent of people in the U.S. have a disability that makes mobility an issue. This includes balance issues, difficulties requiring a wheelchair, rollator, or cane, or chronic fatigue that makes moving or standing difficult. As you get older, these issues increase, but toddlers aren’t known for their long-distance travel either.

It’s commonplace to see signs that accommodations have been made........

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