By Aidah Brown

Ryan Hudson-Peralta and his son Noah Hudson-Peralta are committed to sharing the importance of creating inclusive spaces through their company, Equal Accessibility.

They visited the Payne & Mencias Palladium May 28 to share their story and the results of an audit Equal Accessibility recently completed for the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts.

Ryan Hudson-Peralta, who was born with congenital limb deficiency, told the audience he has faced unique circumstances his entire life.

“On the day I was born, the doctors took me away from my parents, and they said, ‘Before we let you take Ryan home, you should know he’s not going to be able to do everything that everyone else can,’” Hudson-Peralta said in a video played at the beginning of the event. “My dad stopped him to say, ‘Well, I have a prediction for you. Ryan’s going to do each and every one of those things and prove you all wrong.’”

Now an inventor, designer and speaker, Ryan Hudson-Peralta – despite challenges — has succeeded in many areas.

“I’d go to a concert or a baseball game, but there’s these ADA sections that were away from everybody,” he said. “That was frustrating because I would look around and see my friends sitting practically courtside or front row at a concert. I said to myself when I was a kid, ‘One day, I want to make a change.’”

One way Hudson-Peralta’s is creating change is through Equal Accessibility, which offers assessments, product testing and other services. He shared results of the recent audit at the Center for the Performing Arts.

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act serves as a baseline, the Center is aiming to exceed those requirements. Changes he suggested include:

• More clearly marking disability parking spaces
• Clearing areas around ADA features from obstacles, such as trash cans
• Offering braille and large-print programs
• Adding accessible seating throughout the performance hall and theaters

The Center has already begun making some recommended changes and is working toward implementing others.

“The accessibility audit is part of our broader initiative to make Allied Solutions Center more inclusive and accessible for everyone,” stated Jeffrey C. McDermott, president and CEO of the Center. “We knew we met the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but we also knew we could do better. Ryan’s report showed how we could make very helpful improvements with simple changes like the placement of signage and automatic door openers.”

Noah Hudson-Peralta said that accessible spaces are beneficial to everyone, often directly.

“One in four Americans are disabled, so most of us know at least one person who is disabled, whether it’s physical or hidden,” Hudson-Peralta said. “The more we can design and make these spaces more inclusive in the beginning, the more compliant and more inviting these spaces will become for those people in the future.”