Begin the Béquilles: A Guide to Accessible Paris

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Begin the Béquilles: A Guide to Accessible Paris
At first glance, Paris does not seem to embrace the needs of those with reduced mobility or impairments. The cobblestone streets and traditional architecture (tiny rooms and lots of stairs) are charming, but are the bane of those who need more accessible accommodations. The ubiquitous narrow spiral to the “en bas” toilettes. © Meredith Mullins Even if you make it into a street level café or restaurant, the bathroom is almost always down or up a narrow flight of stairs. Is there hope on the horizon? Walk a mile in my shoes See what I see, Hear what I hear, Feel what I feel … Then maybe you’ll understand Why my life is what it is A year ago, I was a typical Paris flâneuse, wandering freely to discover all the treasures that Paris has to offer. Then a ruptured achilles tendon invaded my life. I braved surgery, survived two months confined to a wheelchair, graduated to rehab (rééducation in French), and then moved into months on crutches (béquilles in French). My life changed dramatically. My life with crutches (béquilles). Photo © Meredith Mullins I couldn’t help thinking about the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). In my new world of reduced mobility, these stages were ringing true, although slightly redefined. There was, of course, denial and anger. Why me? Why now? Why such a long recovery period? Will my taxi/UBER budget hold out? Will I find things to do while wheelchair bound other than watching the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial? Then came humility. I was not my old self. I had to do things differently. I had to ask for help. And I had to open myself to the kindness of strangers. The profound reward of this stage was how humanity rose to the challenge. Everyone was kind. Help arrived in surprising ways. I found a community of unheralded advocates who stepped forward to help when needed. Help arrived . . . in many ways. © Meredith Mullins When I first hobbled over to a taxi line after a concert and went to the back of the line, several French women stepped forward and insisted that I move to the front of the line. I was reluctant, but appreciative. Many times after this, these unhesitating advocates (usually French women) were there to make things easier . . . to find a seat for me on the bus or to send me to the front of the line. The next stage was acceptance/adaptation. I began to learn how to adapt to my new reduced mobility. I learned that Paris buses were much easier to navigate than metros.
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Lead photo credit : Guide provided by Paris Tourism.

More in disability, Paris accessibility, Paris on crutches, reduced mobility, wheelchair, wheelchair accessible, wheelchair travel

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Meredith Mullins is an internationally exhibited fine art photographer and instructor based in Paris. Her work is held in private and museum collections in Europe and the U.S. and can be seen at www.meredithmullins.artspan.com or in her award-winning book "In A Paris Moment." (If you’re in Paris, a few rare, signed copies are available at Shakespeare and Company and Red Wheelbarrow.) She is a writer for OIC Moments and other travel and education publications.

Comments

  •  Hazel Smith
    2023-03-23 05:50:10
    Hazel Smith
    Thanks for this article. On my last visit I opted for taxi to CDG to avoid all the steps at Chatelet with my luggage. The real reason Parisian women stay slim!

    REPLY

    •  Meredith
      2023-03-24 12:50:08
      Meredith
      Thank you for the comment, Hazel. And now that the taxis are regulated in price to CDG, they are an excellent option. With that said, we do walk lots of steps in a normal day. Good for health and longevity.

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