n Monday, B. Meenkashi spent five hours at the regional transport office in Sholinganallur, to get a learners’ licence. Even though the staff came down from the first floor to assist her, she was asked to go up in order to get a photograph. “There was no lift, and since I am in a wheelchair, I couldn’t use the stairs. It was very frustrating,” she said.
Access to government buildings in Chennai, disabled residents say, is practically non-existent. From post offices and civic services offices to ration shops, RTOs, universities and local councillors’ offices, almost all buildings are difficult to get into and use, they say.
“Access does not mean just building a ramp, though that is important. It means having proper signage, accessible restrooms, websites and other forms of information and communication that are accessible and sign language interpreters. Even the State Commission for Differently Abled does not have a sign language interpreter,” Ms. Meenakshi said.
For K. Raghuraman, a visually impaired professor, access should begin right at the entrance. “A tactile map that is installed or handed over would help us understand our location and navigate. Braille stickers on doors, rails on both sides of staircases, audio guides and large prints and contrast colours in signage would all make access much better in large buildings,” he said.
While the Secretariat has a ramp, some offices are not accessible, activists said. (With additional reporting by K. Lakshmi and Aloysius Xavier Lopez)
Access does not mean just building a ramp. It also means proper signage, accessible restrooms and websites
