I think the council thought ‘right ,you want a ramp , we’ll give you a ramp!’
No. They're constrained by what the design regulations require. Which is a very detailed specifications. You can't have a run of more than so many metres on a slope. There has to be a level area at the change of direction (so the wheelchair user isn't trying to tackle a gradient and a turn at the same time). The handrails are required too. Add it all up, and that is the only solution that would comply with the regulations.
Thank you for explaining this. It seems as though this ramp, unsightly as it is, was the only possible solution to meet this family’s needs. In which case, RH’s joke at the council’s expense is neither funny nor fair.
I think people are missing the fact that this was an example of the levels of thoughtlessness that the less able face every minute of their life. "Casual sexism", "casual racism" are real things, but "casual ableism" never gets a mention. Unless you are - are care for - someone with limited mobility, you will never really grasp the full picture.
Having to enquire about accessibility for any and every trip somewhere new (obviously the travel to get there is an adventure in itself, but you can only write so much in a single post). Can you imagine that ? "Oh, I'll just pop to that exhibition today." No you won't my less able friend. What you will do is spend half the day trying to research accessibility, and then hope no one fucked up ....
Being told somewhere is accessible, because ... well it's only a small step.
Trying to find the disabled toilets (having been told they exist) and discovering it's a regular toilet with a sign. Or it is a disabled toilet that double as a stock room for Christmas overflow.
Arriving at the "accessible" venue to discover the service lift is through a storeroom.
Personally, well done Russell for saying what you said, and humbug to the professionally offended. And, again, personally, what offends me is not only the continuing second class citizen treatment the less able get, but the fact that over the past 20 years - since I have been with DW - it's got worse, not better. At this rate, in five years time, it will probably be more common to see tap dancing polar bears on our high streets, than people who use wheelchairs.
Dropped blocked kerbs; gravel/shingle paths ...
Lot of frothy posts here. No mention of the wheelchair user made to stay next to the crisps trolley. Or the passengers left unassisted. Or the passenger asked to pay extra for the wheelchair. Speaks volumes, really.
On the very small plus side, some venues have added virtual tours to Google Maps, so you can see inside and checkout accessibility. Well, when I say "some", I actually mean less than 1%. Presumably the huge cost of asking someone to walk around with a phone camera for 10 minutes has been a barrier so far. But when more people have access to smartphones and the internet we might get to 5% by 2030. That and HS2.