Bengaluru woman's search for wheelchair-friendly housing highlights widespread issue
In some apartments, the elevator was so small that it couldn't fit me, my wheelchair, and my carer all at once, according to Mrunmaiy. Now, the only flat options available to me are those in pricey, large gated communities, she added.
By The Feed |
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People who depend on wheelchairs for daily mobility face a serious problem when trying to obtain accessible homes. This issue is particularly acute in apartment complexes, where the absence of wheelchair-friendly amenities can severely restrict these people's independence and frequently necessitate assistance from others for daily duties.
This issue recently gained attention due to the experience of Mrunmaiy, a woman from Bengaluru who lives with a disability. She shared her story on a social platform after being asked to leave her current apartment, sparking a challenging search for a new wheelchair-accessible home.
Mrunmaiy's current apartment is located within a campus that also houses her workplace. However, she quickly discovered that finding wheelchair-accessible apartments in the city is a rare and costly endeavour.
"A couple of weeks ago, our landlord informed us that we needed to vacate our apartment," she explained.
"Six years ago, we were fortunate to discover that my workplace is situated on a campus that includes residential apartments, shopping centres, hospitals, schools, and more. Paying a higher rent than neighbouring buildings was a small price to pay for the convenience."
For Mrunmaiy, the elevated rent was justified as it spared her the challenges of commuting on the road, particularly given the limited availability of accessible transportation.
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"But now, finding another wheelchair accessible apartment and a house in the last few weeks has been a difficult journey. It's alarming to know that many brokers and homeowners think that a couple of steps can be passed off as accessible," she added.
Mrunmaiy said, "In some apartments the lift/ elevator was so small that it could not accommodate me + my wheelchair and my caretaker together. My choice of apartments is now limited to big gated communities that charge a premium rent."
In her concluding remarks, she stated, "sharing my experience here on X just to sensitise you all about the importance of accessibility, and challenges of living with a disability in India."
