E-wheelchair destroyed by a senior citizen: Munich's accessibility in danger!

E-wheelchair destroyed by a senior citizen: Munich's accessibility in danger!

In the Isar Porption Munich, the 63-year-old Gabi Meßer not only sees himself confronted with personal challenges, but also with the adversities of everyday life. She has been dependent on a wheelchair for 12 years, a fate that she had to endure after a mountain hike that ended with paralysis. Now she is not only fighting against her health restrictions, but also against vandalism, which recently had a hard time.

Meßerer's light e-wheelchair, which is essential for your everyday life, was damaged after it was parked in the garbage house. Since this wheelchair is not insured and its financial situation is tense - it lives from the citizens' allowance - the chances of rapid repair or a replacement are bad. The health insurance does not arise for a new e-wheelchair because the large wheelchair has already been paid. "I'm desperately looking for support to get a new E-Fix wheelchair," says Meßerer.

obstacles in the living environment

The life situation of Gabi Meßer is also difficult by the accessibility in your living environment. The property management had removed the parking space for her wheelchair in the courtyard two years ago because it was perceived as unesthetic. Instead, she offered to accommodate the wheelchair in a basement, but the ramp is too steep to be able to be used safely. The large e-wheelchair is now blocking the entrance area and represents a danger.

These difficulties are not just isolated cases in Munich. According to an investigation of the life situation of people with disabilities in Germany, everyday barriers are widespread. The [Institute for Human Rights] (https://www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/aktuelles/decht-auf-mobilitaet-das-ziel-ein-barrier--opflicht--o----IT-INTERNACHT-BUST-and-CONKRET-and should enable to participate in social life. A barrier -free local public transport (public transport) is of central importance.

barriers in local public transport

Although it was legally planned that public transport should be barrier -free by January 1, 2022, this goal has been tacitly missed. According to the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG), more efforts have to be made in order to actually ensure complete accessibility. At the moment, many offers in public transport - especially for people with intellectual disabilities - are often difficult to use.

In addition, there is a challenge that many entrepreneurs in the area of passenger transport that operate 20 or more vehicles have to make a quota of 5% of their vehicles barrier -free. This rule also applies to on-demand offers. The call to remove barriers and create more offers for inclusive local transport runs through the political agenda like a thread. The Federal Government decided to abolish the exceptions to the accessibility by 2026.

Gabi Meßer hopes that your situation can be improved not only by personal initiatives, but also by legal changes in transport policy. "I hope that people like me will receive the necessary support and opportunities for a self -determined life," she says. The city of Munich offers advice to support people with disabilities in conversions of their apartments, which is a step in the right direction.

But until all barriers are dismantled and people with disabilities can participate equally, there is still a lot to do. The comprehensive goal of creating a barrier -free society is a responsibility for society as a whole.