Little accessibility

When everyday life with a disability becomes a hurdle race

According to ÖZIV, barrier-free assistance in public spaces is still not a matter of course, even after the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008.

(Bild: Agence DER - stock.adobe.com)

People with disabilities are legally entitled to accessibility. But if they want to live independently, this often becomes a sticking point - not only in public, but also in their own four walls. Special aids are often the only option.

From one day to the next, it simply no longer works - the apartment on the third floor, no elevator, no help. "Accessibility in the home is a typical problem for many of our clients and members," says Hannes Lichtner from the ÖZIV Tirol advocacy group for people with disabilities. There are rarely lifts, especially in older properties. Guidance systems for the visually impaired are also still missing in many places.