Accessibility

Accessibility

Hello, I have been wheelchair bound since awakening from my six-month long coma, caused back in October 2006. I am currently offering my services, as I see fit, to KCIL, on a voluntary basis. I write this piece on various issues surrounding accessibility, as I experience things first hand as a wheelchair user, and I want to share with you.

I had my accident at the age of 22, after just having finished my educational pursuits. Following years of hospital and rehabilitation, I moved to live independently in 2010. Since, I have been ‘free’, to discover places that I have wanted to. As long as they are ‘accessible’, I am ok.  

Damn! There’s a catch! Not everywhere is accessible.

Well, I admit that it is only by experiencing accessibility issues first hand, do I become so aware of both the advantages and problems involved. Apart from time at University I have lived all of my life here in Kingston and have become very comfortable with and used to, life in Kingston.

It was in my Rehabilitation Home, in Thames Ditton, that I first learned to tackle accessibility issues, both in the home itself, and more importantly out in ‘the real world’. Once one has learned one’s ability of maneuvering their wheelchair, it really is a case of just practicing moving about, judging gap sizes and your own ability. It soon becomes apparent that if something is not wheelchair accessible, you cannot use it!

Most places/activities/things do have options for a wheelchair. Often, the biggest problem is finding it!

In this Rehab Home, I learnt (or re-learnt, following my injury), the necessity of planning trips or journeys especially involving public transport). If buses or trains were to be used or tested, then one would have to investigate timetables, and plan ahead. Trains and buses run by timetables, and therefore plans can be made. I quickly found that buses are fully accessible. Trains are too, but a station needs to be alerted to provide a ramp and access to and from the train. Timetables need to be checked, and time managed, to allow for access help.

Once living independently, I received regular guidance from the RBK ‘Outreach team’. I consider it invaluable, as it encouraged me to discover opportunities in London and have the confidence to visit places alone and tackle accessibility issues, should they occur, alone.

One of the last Outreach sessions regarded using the Underground. It allowed me to experience that it is indeed possible, but only if you stick to using specific stations or specific tube lines. It is a shame but I have found that is wiser (safer maybe), just to forget using the Underground. Accessibility on the ’tube’ is a big problem, that TFL are battling and confronting head-on, still.

I took my biggest ‘step’, psychologically, when I went on holiday to Paris, accompanied by my PA. I feared that the French capital has a reputation for being ‘old’. Therefore I thought that this would dismiss any chances of being wheelchair friendly. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.

Virtually all pavement corners included ‘dropped-curbs’, indirectly suggesting that the area was setup for use of a wheelchair or buggy. Shops seemed to notify potential customers, whether or not they are accessible. I was in a hotel at the foot of the Montmartre region (slightly awkward, perhaps?). Only a couple of hundred meters away, my attention got drawn into an amazing chocolatier’s. But there was a massive step in, making it inaccessible. As I was leaving, I got called back, shown the ‘wheelchair accessible’ sign. I was then shown their inbuilt, flip-down, ramp.

My holiday was perfected! Good weather, good coffee, and now I could buy very good chocolate! Such a simple device, I remain amazed that this the only time I have seen such, in France or England!

I quickly guessed correctly that the best way of getting around for a wheelchair user, in Paris, is just the same as London. Avoid the underground, plan using buses.

By far the biggest positive rating, of my trip abroad to Paris, easily goes to the wheelchair accessibility on Eurostar. Everything is thought of.

I do not consider Paris to be ‘behind’, I just know how far ‘ahead’ London is. I admit, that as an able-bodied human, you just don’t think of accessibility issues, in the same way as a wheelchair-user. I have been very lucky as I have only been wheelchair dependent for the last six years, but now I see that issues of accessibility, have advanced so far in recent years, and they continue to. Although I live in Kingston, London, and rate our accessibility issues highly with high standards, they can be found everywhere. There is seemingly more and more pressure on everyone everywhere to have an accessible option of high standards. 

Below is an explanation of this brilliant in-built ramp, at 'Jeff de Bruges' chocalatier in Montmartre, Paris.