Differently-Abled Woman Slams Theatre Chain On Twitter For Lack Of Wheelchair Access. When Will Accessibility Get Better In India?
Differently-abled people have it tough and that’s a fact. More so in a society where they don’t have access to all the places we do including theatres and whatnot. They are often made to feel unwelcomed and subjected to bias and something similar happened to a wheelchair-bound woman when she went to watch a movie. The woman recently took to Twitter to share her ordeal. In her Twitter thread the wheelchair-bound woman, Kavya Mukhija revealed that she went to watch a movie at PVR Cinema in Delhi’s Dwarka area as it was ‘wheelchair accessible’ according to what she had heard and as per the BookMyShow page but not only did they not have wheelchair access but she was made to sit away from her family and made to feel like an outsider.
Slamming the theatre for lack of wheelchair access, Kavya Mukhija shared that she booked the tickets after checking if the theatre could accommodate her only to find out that they just had regular seats for wheelchair users. She went on to add that she had no choice but to sit away from her family, near the door and felt like an ‘outsider’. When she spoke to the deputy manager of the theatre about the same, he informed her that the hall was ‘wheelchair accessible’ as the wheelchair could enter. Expressing her disappointment, the differently-abled woman said, “What’s even the point of claiming wheelchair access when you don’t even have proper, dignified seating arrangement!? Why am I required to move out of my chair? Am I not supposed to watch films if I’m a wheelchair user? Why am I made to feel unwelcome every time?”
Kavya Mukhija questioned the inclusivity and asked why she was forced to sit away. Pointing out that we’re in 2022 but there is a severe lack of wheelchair access she questioned why she cannot feel included for a change. She further expressed her frustration due to the discriminatory experience and added that this was not the first time something of this sort had happened. Take a look at her Twitter thread.
We went there and found that they just had regular seats designated for wheelchairs users. With no option, I had to sit away from my family near the door, like an outsider! (2/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
What's even the point of claiming wheelchair access when you don't even have proper, dignified seating arrangement!? Why am I required to move out of my chair? Am I not supposed to watch films if I'm a wheelchair user? Why am I made to feel unwelcome every time? (4/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
It's frustrating to experience discrimination every single time! This was not the first time I faced this in the theatre. What an irony that this happened on International Wheelchair Day! @_PVRCinemas, you RUINED our family time. (6/n)
— Kavya Mukhija (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
ID: A screenshot of book my show's PVR Vegas Dwarka theatre layout, showing the seats reserved for wheelchair users/persons with disabilities. (8/n) pic.twitter.com/vo8kfFokzw
— Kavya Mukhija (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
@PicturesPVR @RisingFlameNow @chronicpainind @ncpedp_india @TheHinduCinema @toi @povmumbai @DisabilityIndia @BehanBox @thewire_in @ThePrintIndia @YouthKiAwaaz @rampmycity @vsheshco @FeminismInIndia
— Kavya Mukhija (@KavyaMukhija) March 1, 2022
Also Read: 10-Year-Old Boy Pushes His Disabled Mother’s Wheelchair For 350 Kms To Reunite The Family
It is shameful that a differently-abled woman not only had to face inconvenience due to lack of inclusivity but her family time was ruined and she had to face bias due to the lack of information and knowledge and compassion from the theatre. When will things really change for differently-abled people? Can we please, for a change, treat them with more respect and compassion?
First Published: March 03, 2022 3:17 PMAhmedabad Woman Gets Beaten And Dumped At Parents’ Home By Husband For Using Her Cellphone. WTF?
