Whenever I read about accessibility, conflicting thoughts come to mind. How did differently challenged people feel when run to a seemly obstacle? Are we are doing enough to improve accessibility worldwide? Most time, I could not find answers to those questions. Though physical challenges are Incomparable with someone recounting traumatic experiences or a rescued refugee from Mediterranean Sea sharing horror stories on pages of newspaper. I felt they too should share their stories.
Why not someone with physical challenge shares topic such as “How I felt when this and that are not there for me to access’’. This would create huge interest.
At the same time, I am not overlooking efforts of the past, I acknowledged a lot has been written on accessibility by local guides. And their efforts have yielded good results.
Accessibility has improved and has reached many places, at least I am sure of Russia . It is not uncommon to see:
- Ramps access to buildings,
- Brightly colored tactile paving to guide visual impaired,
- Traffic light with sound signal to guild persons with earing difficulties,
- Electronic bell near building entrances,
- Space for wheelchair on public buses,
- Accessibility features and assistive technology on electronic device, etc.
Even some newer additions have been added to aid accessibility, features such as;
- Wheelchair lifts outside buildings.
- Friction rubber sheet on ramps.
- Improvised rail on stairs.
- 2m wide walkway for cyclist, pedestrian and people on wheelchair.
- Flat escalator stair accessible to wheelchairs.
- Press-open doors on buses and trains.
Now, I want to imagine what should be added to accessibility. Maybe, they are available already in other countries? I don’t know.
- A cross light with audible time count down.
- Wheel chair only lift at shopping mall.
- A space for wheelchair on aircraft cabin.
- Wheel chair access to lift in residential apartments. This is especially missing on buildings in Russia.
- Increase crossing-time on expressway. At 22 seconds someone on wheelchair does not stand a chance.
- ‘’Accessibility hour’’ on popular mainstream media such as BBC.
Finally, I want to say a big thanks to accessibility team for the great works they are doing.
