Effects of General Anesthesia Versus Spinal Anesthesia on Early Postoperative Cognition and 30-Day Activities of Daily Living in Elderly Hip Fracture Patients in a Chinese Plateau Region.

In 2022, approximately 16% of the world’s population over 1.3 billion people lived with a disability (). In Canada, nearly 27% of adults reported one or more disabilities that significantly shape their daily experiences (). Yet behind these statistics are individuals whose opportunities to fully engage with their communities depend, to a certain extent, on the environments they navigate. Indeed, access extends far beyond mere entry into physical spaces; at its core, it represents the fundamental freedom of each person particularly those facing social, economic, geographic, or technological exclusion to participate meaningfully and without constraint in everyday life (). Recognized internationally by legal instruments, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), access calls for environments that move beyond minimal compliance toward genuine inclusivity (). People with disabilities do not constitute a homogeneous group. Their experiences of the built environment vary depending on their functional, sensory, cognitive, or invisible characteristics (, ). In airport environments, these differences translate into distinct and context-specific access needs. While some individuals may encounter challenges related to mobility and physical navigation, others may be more affected by difficulties in orientation, information processing, or sensory overload, particularly in large-scale, complex, and highly dynamic settings such as airports (, ). These variations influence how travelers interact with spatial layouts, circulation paths, signage systems, and service interfaces throughout the airport journey. Airport accessibility has traditionally been examined from the perspective of physical mobility impairments, with most studies focusing on barriers affecting wheelchair users and other travelers with visible disabilities (, ). Yet airport travel can also present challenges for people living with cognitive, sensory, psychosocial, and neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly in relation to communication, orientation, information processing, and sensory stimulation (). Despite growing attention to these issues, invisible disabilities remain less represented in both research and airport accessibility initiatives. As a result, the needs of these travelers are not always fully considered in the design of airport environments and services.