A woman used twitter to complain how a stranger took control of her wheelchair causing other wheelchair users to share their stories.
Bronwyn Berg explained how passers-by did nothing to intervene even though she was "screaming for help" which made her question her safety in public.
Many wheelchair-users replied to Ms Berg to share their similar experiences including travel blogger Carrie-Ann Lightley (pictured) requesting people ask before assuming help is needed.
Hannah Bottomley, solicitor in the clinical negligence team at Potter Rees Dolan, said:
We often write about issues associated with accessibility of public spaces for people with disabilities. One of the main issues we have come across time and again is that disability access is almost added in at the last moment, like an afterthought. The disabled community can be forgotten in public planning and thought of as a nuisance, an added expense to have a big accessible toilet or a ramp which can be accessed easily and safely.
The tweets highlighted in this BBC article I think show an extension of those feelings, that disabled people are “in the way” and need help to get out of the way of busy commuters. The thought that they too are busy commuters seems to be ignored.
I would be horrified to witness someone being assaulted and made to go somewhere they did not want to go by physical force, however this is exactly what was described by twitter user Bronwyn Berg. The fact that she was in a wheelchair and not fully able-bodied seems to have made the assault more acceptable to the public around her. I can only hope that by highlighting her experience and leading others to do the same, there is more awareness of the fact that members of the disabled community are not “other” but the same and should be treated with the same respect and dignity.
We spent an afternoon with one of our clients, who is a wheelchair user, to investigate how accessible Manchester city centre is for people with disabilities; watch the video here.
Hannah Bottomley is a clinical negligence solicitor here at Potter Rees Dolan. Should you have any queries about clinical negligence issues or indeed any other aspect of this article and wish to speak to Hannah or any other member of the team please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Hannah directly.