The Hidden Struggles of Disability in Nürnberg’s Urban Landscape
by Dania Al-Allow
“You feel like an animal in a zoo.“
These words from Jasmin, a 19-year-old who recently moved to Nuremberg, capture the emotional stress that people with disabilities endure daily. Living with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), Jasmin reveals the myriad barriers she faces in the city.
Imagine navigating a city where every step is fraught with hidden obstacles and every journey demands meticulous planning. For individuals with disabilities, this is an everyday reality. This article delves into the personal struggles and challenges experienced by residents, highlighting both the progress made and the persistent barriers in the pursuit of a more inclusive society.
In Germany, around 7.9 million people live with severe disabilities, making up approximately 9.3% of the population1. For these individuals, finding a barrier-free place to live is often a significant challenge, as most small towns are not adequately equipped with accessible apartments, train stations, and public facilities. Jasmin’s story is a poignant example of these difficulties and the stark contrasts between rural and urban environments.
“I used to live in a small town, Oppenheim. Small towns are notorious for being inaccessible; you really couldn’t get anywhere with a wheelchair. But since I’ve been living in Nuremberg, I can manage on my own,” Jasmin shares.
Jasmin is supported in her daily life by the organization “Menschen mit Körperbehinderung” (People with Physical Disabilities) and lives in an apartment provided by them. Urban areas often offer more resources and support for people with disabilities, whereas rural or less densely populated areas have far fewer options. When Jasmin moved out of her family home, Nuremberg was the only place where accessible accommodation was available, highlighting the broader issue of insufficient accessible facilities across Germany2.
However, even in large cities like Nuremberg, the situation for people with physical disabilities is far from ideal. Public transportation often presents significant challenges.
“If you don’t have advanced wheelchair skills, which I don’t, it’s impossible to board the tram on your own. Often, I can’t reach the front fast enough to get the driver’s attention, and then the tram is already gone,” Jasmin reports.
“At some stations, it’s a gamble whether the elevators are working—or if there are any at all. There should be at least two elevators at every platform,” she adds.
Jasmin also encounters obstacles when it comes to choosing a career. The options for people with physical disabilities are “extremely limited because you almost always have to be physically active.”
“As a wheelchair user, getting a training position in social work is nearly impossible,” says Jasmin. Her dream jobs require several internships, at least one of which is not feasible for her due to physical limitations. Now, she has to explore other options, where accessibility in the workplace is also a crucial factor.
Even during her school years, Jasmin struggled with the lack of accessibility. I remember when Jasmin and I were in the same class: We had never had a wheelchair user at our school before, and when she joined, it was something new for everyone. The school had installed an elevator only two years prior, but it didn’t reach every floor. The school’s restrooms were particularly inaccessible. “If I’m not back in five minutes, please come and open the door for me again,” Jasmin said to me after I helped her with the heavy door to the restrooms.
Inclusion is still not widespread enough in our society, and many people lack awareness. That’s why I asked Jasmin what advice she would give to able-bodied individuals who have little or no contact with people with physical disabilities.
“Be more aware. Don’t openly stare at someone with a disability; don’t offer help without asking—you can unintentionally cause harm, and people in wheelchairs are not as helpless as many think. Avoid being overly cautious; otherwise, you risk making someone feel excluded. Just treat them as you would treat anyone else,” explains Jasmin.
Although Nuremberg offers many advantages for people with disabilities compared to small cities like Oppenheim, there is still much room for improvement. To create a truly inclusive and equitable society, we must actively work together to dismantle these barriers, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate in all aspects of life.
1 : https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2024/07/PD24_281_227.html
2: Zusammenfassung Inklusionsstudie Nürnberg (nuernberg.de)
