Recently I’ve been to a two-day business workshop in Mumbai. As the commute from home to workshop was not possible considering the timings, I chose to stay at Ginger Hotel in Mumbai itself. Indeed a great hospitality, no complaints whatsoever.
But, the whole experience, and many more in the past, makes me wonder whether being disabled is deemed as a luxury.
Every time I’ve to go out, I’ve to book a cab because the public transportation is almost inaccessible for a wheelchair user. Things may be ‘accessible’ on papers but reality is something else only. And, you can just imagine the fares for a cab that can accommodate a wheelchair. That cost itself is a demotivating factor.
Want to go to a restaurant on weekends? Well, it’s not easy. Most affordable restaurants and cafes either have multiple stairs to reach there or they are just too congested to maneuver your wheelchair. On many occasions, the owners would even tell you that ‘sir it may be inconsistent for you’. Now you have two choices, either cancel your whole plan or visit an accessible restaurant that is on the premium side. On most occasions, people would go for the first option only, and rightfully so.
Oh and how can I forget. The place you live in. The home. Are you a wheelchair user? Good luck finding a wheelchair accessible home. Let’s be honest, accessibility is not even a thought for the majority of real estate developers. It’s nowhere on their essential checklist. You would find these wheelchair accessible buildings either far away from the city areas where the space is good or at a premium price in city areas. Neither is a go-to choice but you can’t live on roads so you have to choose one anyway. You are prioritising the view from the balcony, swimming pools and amenities. Your entire focus is, if I can enter into this building with my wheelchair and if the elevator will accommodate me.
I’ve experienced challenges even with doctors. The doctors that are suitable for me have clinics with stairs and without an elevator. So, either I visit the same doctor in an expensive hospital that takes care of accessibility or I change my doctor altogether.
And, I am not even talking about the areas like movie theaters, libraries, public parks and so on… After multiple tries and hopes being broken, I have almost given up on them. I prefer visiting malls instead, they are not screaming inaccessible on the face.