Opinion: London for disabled people

Walking in the centre of London, I often notice that there are a lot of disabled people on the streets. On first look, nothing special, but I was interested. I realized that people with disabilities in England just have a different mentality to those in Russia. They go out more. They use restaurants more. Why?

It would seem that their lifestyle is not so different from life of able-bodied people. There are far more opportunities for disabled people in London. This city has all equipment and services for people with different kind of disabilities.

For example, I was shocked by woman who came to the London Eye with a wheelchair. Besides, she was in an oxygen mask and without an accompanying person. Without help, she was able to get into the Eye’s cab and then get out from it. She was like an ordinary person, she just wanted to go sightseeing.

A sign for disabled people

In Russia it would be unusual and maybe ‘heroic,’ because Russian people with the same health problems in almost all cases just stay at home or in hospital. Of course, all of them deserve respect and care, but they can learn Londoners and London’s facilities.

I believe that all disabled people’s problems in Russia come from lack of opportunities. Comparing two capitals, I think that in London disabled people live more comfortably than in Moscow.

Relief plates for blind people

Pedestrian streets have relief plates at the ends of the streets and at the entrances to buildings for blind people. Also, public transport in London (buses, cabs, tube, railway) is wheelchair accessible and carry assistance dogs at no charge.

People can go anywhere in London by different types of transport without the level of discomfort found in Russia. Moreover, I saw a lot of call-boxes for people in wheelchairs. Telephones are set low so disabled people can use them. Usually these kiosks are marked by special sign.

A call-box for people in wheelchairs

The most interesting thing about opportunities for disabled people is culture life. I saw a lot of people with disabilities in every museum, in theaters, in parks and shopping centers. Museums and theaters are equipped with special lifts and toilets. In malls there are big changing rooms for disabled people with place for wheelchair, chair for assistant, and low-set hangers.

Also museums have offers for blind people. For example, it is good that all exhibits in V&A Museum are accompanied by descriptions in the language of the blind. Besides, you can use audio apps and learn more about historical heritage. There are no borders in social life of disabled people in London, they can get all what they need.

Description for blind people

Information about theaters you can find on THEATRE ACCESSIBILITY. There you can also find more information about traveling in London for disabled people.

Moscow accessibility for people with disabilities is in progress now. There are rampants in tube and near buildings, the same sighns on streets etc., but I think that Moscow social and culture life is not adapted for disabled people completely. I believe that it is a matter of time, and Moscow will solve these problems if it is able to learn experience from other cities, for example, from London.