Saturday October 2, 2010 By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
MEMBERS of the Damai Disabled Persons Association are finding it difficult to go the BSN branch in Persiaran Mergastua, Seri Kepong Baru, because there is no ramp for those on wheelchairs.
The disabled go to the bank to collect their monthly disabled persons allowance.
S. Krishnan, 36, said the lack of a ramp made it difficult for some disabled people to be independent because they had to depend on customers who were walking in or out of the bank to get assistance.
On the streets: A bank employee attending to (from left) Krishnan, Mehboob Sulaiman and Murugeswaran outside the bank. Photo by P. NATHAN
“The bank employees then come to us and the transaction is made outside the bank. It can be dangerous because there is a risk that we could become victims of snatch thieves,” he told reporters at the bank yesterday.
He added that the narrow one-way street also made it hard for both the disabled and other road users.Krishnan said there were at least 50 disabled people in the area from various disabled persons’ associations.
The association president, V. Murugeswaran, said every building should provide disabled-friendly facilities under the Uniform Building By Law.
He added that the disabled also dealt with banks and they should also be treated equally with facilities needed by them.
“We had the same problem with another bank before, but it responded well to our pleas and made it possible for us to access its building. We hope the same can be done here,” he said.