I have a family member who is wheelchair bound and have thus experienced, from an outsiders perspective, the lack of consideration of many restaurants, wine farms, bathroom facilities and countless other buildings and businesses.
The one that really irks me is when retail outlets pack the centre of their aisles so full of products that even an able bodied person would not be able to pass through without knocking something off the display.Also the businesses who have a disabled bathroom that is only accessible two steps up.This is just ridiculous.
Most disabled people, just like anyone not in a wheelchair, need to feel independent and able to access whatever they need without having to ask someone for help.
As we live in the country that is renowned for having the best constitution in the world it would be expected that all citizens, able bodied or not ,are allowed the freedom,independence and respect we all deserve and are entitled to under the constitution.Unfortunately this is not the case yet and there are very few places in my experience that a disabled person can access independently if at all.
There must be building regulations regarding the matter and I will be writing a follow up article on the matter within the coming months.In some cases all that may be needed is a ramp to access the front door, this is not too much to ask.
Readers, what are your views on the matter?
