“How do you think about justice when you are dealing with bodies that are very very unequal in their ability and power and perhaps even harder when you think about mental powers that are very very unequal in their potential? All human beings have an inherit dignity and require life circumstances that are worthy of that dignity. The areas of life that seem to be particularly important when we think about the capabilities are of course life, bodily health, bodily integrity, the development of the senses, imagination, and thought. The development of practical reasoning, the development of affiliations both more informal with the family and friendship but also in the political community, the development of the ability to play and have recreational opportunities, the ability to have relationships with other creatures and the world of nature, [and]developing emotional capabilities.” –Martha Nussbaum, Examined Life

Many childhood designs that are integrated into childhood are affordances. What do I mean by this? Affordances are designs that allow people to participate in the range of human experiences as independently as possible. While curb cuts for wheelchairs is an affordance that frequently comes to mind, designs for childhood are replete with examples from high chairs, so the child can join in family meals without struggling to reach or see her food, to smaller scaled scissors with rounded edges. Each design fosters growth and thus a shared human experience. At some point in life, everyone needs affordances.  What do affordances -for childhood and beyond- reveal about design intent and our shared human experience?

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