The first barrier that fell in 1990, were the kerbs of pavements, which are so easily surmountable for people with no problems. Thanks to this decision, behind which was the pressure of different initiatives headed by the City of Prague and the foundation account “Barriers“, people in wheelchairs could for the first time get out into the streets
However, it was still very little help. Those, who ever helped to lift a wheelchair into a tram, know how hard it is, not to speak about disabled people themselves who are helplessly waiting at the edge of concrete steps at the metro entrance, and cannot but curse the person who projected such an entrance.
The first wheelchair friendly zebra crossing was built in May 1990. Today, you will not find a zebra crossing that is not wheelchair friendly. Good news is that nowadays, during preparations of new roads, pavements and public buildings, planners always take wheelchairs into account. On the other hand, people in wheelchairs often have to admit, that many such projects are ill-conceived and it is obvious that they were only projected from the drafting board and not after a real debate with the disabled. An example that speaks for itself is a wheelchair accessible WC with a narrow door, which make it impossible for the wheel chair to enter.
The fact, that under the Communist regime, disabled people were never taken into account is obvious everywhere and the result is that the city budget has to release tens of millions each year. We do not have to go far to find some examples: not even one of the originally built metro stations had a lift for the disabled in its project plans. Now the Prague Public Transit Company tries to find a technical solution to this problem, it is however extremely demanding. Only the lift that in the future should connect Florenc C metro station with Florenc B cost in total 60 million CZK. (At present, people on wheelchairs have to use two separate lifts, which are 200m far from each other.) To make the stations wheelchair accessible is a slow process and in some stations it seems impossible. At present, only 32 out of 54 stations have some kind of a lift. This is not a very optimistic number and the disabled manifest their dissatisfaction.
As for trams, the future seems more promising. The trams with the Porsche design are partly wheel chair accessible and the brand new trams 15 T, which should be introduced next year are fully wheelchair accessible. The city also considers that it would purchase some wheelchair accessible buses. Prague Public Transit Company makes an effort as well. Recently, its website started offering a search which helps to find wheel access connections. What is more, these connections go to and from those metro stations that are also accessible on a wheel chair.
People in wheel chairs are just like anybody else, their only disadvantage is the wheelchair. People in wheel chairs want to have fun, to go to the theatre, to an exhibition, to admire historical monuments in Prague. Just like anybody else, they need to go shopping and they need to use toilets. Among disabled people we can find world champions in many sports, they play tennis, run marathons or sprints, throw the javelin or do archery. If they get a chance, they can surprise us with their zeal and enthusiasm, ideas and diligence.
Times are changing indeed for disabled people. Cultural institutions put a lot of money into wheelchair access, mainly theatres (the first truly wheelchair accessible theatre was founded in 1994 in Prague10 – Solidarita Theatre), but also the National Gallery, Prague Castle or the Prague Information Service. Ordinary people would hardly guess that today, a person in a wheelchair can get to the top of The Old Town Town Hall or to Petrin View Tower. The truth is, however, that in order to be able to conquer the latter monument, the disabled person needs to own an above-standard wheel chair called ‘schodolez’ (stair climber), which can do more than just ride.
Offices and local authorities have also changed their attitude to people in wheelchairs, however, they needed a push at the beginning. When in 1993, people in wheelchairs blocked the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, there was nationwide turmoil. At that time, the disabled protested about the attitude of offices towards handicapped people and it needs to be said that in the end their objectives have been reached. Nowadays, the majority of Prague’s offices including governmental offices are wheel chair accessible.
The integration of people in wheelchairs into the society has taken a huge step forward and many things now seem self-evident. However, until the year 1994 when the Centre of Independent Life started to be built, supported by the Prague Organization of People in Wheelchairs, people in wheelchairs had even problems to study. Secondary school education was possible to get only thanks to Jedlička’s Institute and some other schools which were wheel chair accessible. It was not until 1995 that a group of people was formed at Charles University, which started to enable people in wheelchairs to study. Behind the initiative was the father of the actor Jan Potměšil, who after a car accident has been confined to a wheelchair.
Not only people in wheelchairs but also some famous people from the cultural scene have been taking the initiative to help disabled people. Eight years ago, a run called “Běh pro Paraple“ was first organized. It is a great entertaining event and it brings financial aid for one organization supporting people in wheelchairs.
Changes in the attitude towards people in wheelchairs are visible, although they are not as fast as would be needed and as the people in wheelchairs would wish them to be. However, when you compare the situation in Prague in 1990 and in 2008, you will find out that the Czech metropolis has taken a good step forward in this respect.
The first barrier that disappeared from our lives were the kerbs of pavements at zebra crossings. The last barrier, which will probably stay for a long time in the way of people in wheelchairs is the barrier in the souls of some people…