Wheelchair User Woman In Bengaluru Struggles To Find Accessible Apartment

The lack of wheelchair accessibility in numerous apartment buildings can be a significant inconvenience for individuals who rely on wheelchairs for their mobility. These obstacles often hinder the ability of wheelchair users to maintain independent living within standard apartment settings, necessitating reliance on others for assistance with daily activities.

Recently, a Bengaluru-based woman with a disability has spoken up about the difficulty of finding a wheelchair-accessible apartment in the city. Twitter user Mrunmaiy said she was asked to vacate her current apartment a few weeks ago, sparking a long search for a new home.

Mrunmaiy's current apartment is located on a campus that also houses her office. She said she was willing to pay a higher rent for the convenience of living close to work, but that she has now found that there are very few accessible apartments available in the city, even at a higher price point.

"A few weeks ago, my landlord informed us that we needed to vacate the apartment where we have been living since I moved to Bangalore. Six years ago, we were blessed to know that my workplace is on a campus that also has residential apartments, malls, hospitals, schools, etc. The fact that we had to pay higher rent than nearby buildings was an easy compromise," she wrote.

Six years ago we were blessed to know that my workplace is in a campus that also has residential apartments, mall, hospital, school etc. The fact that we had to pay higher rent than nearby buildings, was an easy compromise.

— Mrunmaiy (@mrunmaiy) October 22, 2023

The increased rent was deemed justifiable for Mrunmaiy due to the advantage of not having to commute on the road to reach her office.

"I did not have to go to the ordeal of being lifted and shifted into a cab in the absence of an accessible vehicle," she wrote.

"But now, finding another wheelchair-accessible apartment and a house in the last few weeks has been a difficult journey. It's alarming to know that many brokers and homeowners think that a couple of steps can be passed off as accessible," she added.

In concluding the thread, she wrote, "I am sharing my experience here on X just to sensitise you all about the importance of accessibility and the challenges of living with a disability in India."

Mrunmaiy's story highlights the challenges faced by people with disabilities in finding accessible housing. Most of the apartments have steps, narrow doorways, and high counters, making them difficult or impossible for wheelchair users to navigate.