When The Disabled Are Un-Enabled

In 2013, the Berkeley Prize Essay competition was held under the theme of “The Architect and The Accessible City” which invited essays that spoke about how disabled people experienced space and transforming that experience … The winner of the prize-winning essay, Sophia Bannert wrote (about the city of Lincoln):

“Jarred into an utterly complex version of what I formerly knew as reality, my eyes begin scrutinizing and dissecting the cobbled street surface ahead into zones which I can and cannot access…. Whilst battling physical obstructions, I myself have become one. If the pavements were widened, perhaps disabled citizens wouldn’t be seen as causing an obstruction.”

My aunt has limited mobility in her city as she suffers from arthritis. Everyday functions like climbing a set of stairs that feel like second nature to me, are a herculean task for her. Due to lack of facilities for disabled access in public transport infrastructure in her city, she is forced to commute within the city only by car and is entirely dependent on a member of the family to drive her around. The only impression she has, of the local train stations is their unimpressive facades, as she cannot use the monumental staircases inside of them (that are only means of access to trains in these stations).

(The above text was submitted to SSoA as a part of an essay assignment. You can read the full essay here)

#exclusion #diasbled