Chennai accessibility report documents mobility barriers for disabled and elderly

A new report by the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG), titled ‘Moving Without Barriers: Documenting Mobility Barriers Encountered by People with Disabilities in Chennai’, was released on Thursday. The report is based on a year-long study involving surveys, focus group discussions and secondary research with 270 participants. It documents accessibility challenges faced by disabled people and senior citizens across the city.

The report includes accounts from wheelchair users and others with disabilities. Dr Anusuya, a wheelchair user and special educator, said many accessibility ramps in Chennai are unsafe. She also said bus conductors are not trained to use ramps properly and that buses sometimes do not stop at the right place. She alleged she has been mistreated by bus staff, saying they do not want to help wheelchair users.