The Paralympic Games start in just over two years’ time. However, many London Tube stations are still not accessible to wheelchair users.
The Paralympic Games start in just over two years’ time. However, many London Tube stations are still not accessible to wheelchair users. As any disabled person who has ever tried to get a lift installed anywhere knows, lifts cost money. A lot of money. So it is a shame, but not a surprise, to disabled people that six step free access schemes were deferred last year, saving £50 million.
London Underground says there are 61 step free, accessible stations in London but, as last night’s BBC News investigation showed, the lifts are too small for more than one person – especially since most wheelchair users would always need a carer with them on public transport.
As Steve Smith, the son of a long-term wheelchair user, told the BBC:
“The underground stations with ‘accessible lifts’ as you could see in the report are too small and not easily accessible for a disabled person and their luggage and any carers. God knows how they would feel if they suffered from claustrophobia!
“If they put proper lifts of a decent size in, they would be accessible to everyone who needs help accessing the underground – not just some of the disabled.”
A spokesperson for Transport for London told Left Foot Forward:
“We would like all stations to be step-free, but it costs a lot of money – a lot more than people think. There are 8,500 step-free buses, all black taxi drivers have ramps and drivers are trained to assist disabled people. All of the Docklands Light Railway stations have lifts.
“Disability is not only about people in wheelchairs – we now have announcements and hearing loops for those who are deaf and blind.”
Unfortunately for the Coalition Government, they are currently making massive spending cuts wherever possible – just when spending extra money on sport and access would have allowed the rest of the world to see London for the wonderful place it is.
Unfortunately for Paralympic athletes and their disabled fans, disabled people already feel that their services are at the top of the list of things to make cuts to. So while it is to be hoped that Tube stations will become more accessible in the next two years, disabled Tube users cannot be blamed for having their doubts.
It is to be hoped, however, that the Government will consider the fact that if and when Paralympic athletes and disabled fans are able to get around the city, they will spend just as much money as anyone else during London 2012 and will, in this way, contribute to our economy, just as Olympic athletes and their non disabled fans will.
53 Responses to “Lack of access will hit disabled fans’ enjoyment of Paralympics”
Lisa
“I personally don’t mind the phrase ‘able bodied’ but some disabled people do. Wasn’t sure.”
I get annoyed that people think the phrase “able-bodied” is the opposite of “disabled”. It’s not. There are a great many people who are both disabled AND able-bodied. Most people with mental health problems or learning difficulties are both disabled and able-bodied.
I do use the phrase “able-bodied” to specifically mean the opposite of “physically impaired”. Like the time I tweeted about an able-bodied friend of mine changing a light bulb for me. She is disabled, but the fact that she’s also able-bodied is how she was able to change a light bulb for me.
The opposite of “disabled” is “non-disabled”. In http://lisybabe.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-3rd-international-day-of.html I looked at how “disabled” is all about disabling barriers. Some people who like to slam “political correctness” just cos the Daily Mail taught them that it’s a fun pastime grumble that “non-disabled” is a double negative. I s’pose you could also call non-disableds “enabled” seeing as how they are enabled by the absence of disabled barriers.
Naomi
Yes, many of us ARE offended by the term ‘non-disabled’. There are innumerable disabled people whose bodies are perfectly abled. They are those with learning difficulties and mental health problems. And some of them have extreme difficulties with using inaccessible transport in London, too. It’s polite to avoid creating hierarchies by including ALL disabled people in terminology relating to us.
Naomi
Apologies. It’s the phrase ABLE-BODIED that I object to. The phrase ‘non-disabled’ is the preferred phrase.
I shouldn’t be commenting on blogs when I’m tired!
Dominic Campbell
@katiekatetweets @emercoleman @jaggeree speaking of @accesscity … http://bit.ly/9A5hwZ
Evidence based.
It shows you how much of a cynical non story this is when the discussion turns to whether “able bodies” is a PC term. Presumably this was a cut that would escape Labour’s £44billion cull??