Connecting the dots

Connecting the dots

I had a long and productive meeting with an NGO that specializes in architectural accessibility. They are a small organization an are just getting the ball rolling in regard to providing engineers, architects and developers feedback on how their designs comply with international accessibility guidelines.

The meeting was a typical 4 hour marathon session with multiple cups of chai and plates of biscuits. I learned a great deal more about india's access nightmare. The first of which is that my friends in the NGO did all their work for free. Although there is a law mandating access, there is no actual enforcement of it. As such, projects have no reason to comply with a law that will never be enforced.

The few projects they've worked on have included access facilities "just for the fun of it." These amenities provided out of the kindness of the project's hearts have been a positive step in increasing awareness of the needs of the disabled, but have done surprisingly little in terms of actually increasing their independence.

For example, while a wheelchair user can independently get to any station while they are in the system, they can't make it to the elevator door. The shiny new elevators on the new Metro system that I previously spoke so highly of cannot be independently accessed by someone from the street level. They either had a nice concrete ramp that fed down to a 12 inch curb, or had a ramp that was obstructed by metal barrier.

The second nightmare access issue is that there are no set standards for accessibility. There is just vague language that requires architects to make the buildings they design "accessible." There are no definitions of accessible, so they leave it up to the designer which groups of people with disabilities will be allowed to utilize their designs.

Delhi is creating a series of accessible islands. There is no integration with the city streets and no way for users to connect the dots between isolated access zones. You have to give them credit for moving things forward, but you have to question the roadmap that they are following.

Following my great meeting, I left sweltering Delhi for the hill station of Mussorie. Finally, I've met up with M, to join her on the honeymoon that she started several months ago (without me). I'm very happy to see her. I'm elated. I'm dizzy and giddy and out of breath... I may be experiencing some sort of elevation sickness. But we'll call it "love" for now. Mussorie is beautiful and much more pleasant in July than in February. I start Hindi classes tomorrow.

It will be nice to gain a better handle on the culture and be able to interview more people about accessibility. We'll see how much my mind is able to soak up in the short week I've got left.