A couple of months after we moved into our new apartment, the building’s only elevator unexpectedly went out of service. At first, I assumed it would be a quick fix, maybe a day or two of inconvenience. But that wasn’t the case. The elevator remained out of service for over a week. For most people, this might have been frustrating or a little inconvenience, but for me, it was something much more serious. It was a complete loss of independence. I live on the second floor, and using the stairs is not an option unless it’s an absolute emergency. With no working elevator, I was essentially trapped in my apartment.
Simple things like checking the mail became impossible. My independence was suddenly stripped away, and I had to rely on others for everything. I had to keep calling and asking when it was going to get fixed. There should be a plan in place for people with mobility limitations if the elevator were to go out again, or be able to make an accommodation temporarily until it gets fixed. What if someone didn’t have anyone to rely on to get the things they needed? What happens then?
This experience was a reminder of how essential accessible infrastructure is, not just for convenience, but for basic quality of life. It revealed just how fragile independence can be when systems aren’t built with everyone in mind. The good news is, we haven’t had an issue with the elevator since then.
