Will the Paris Olympics be accessible to fans with disabilities?

AFP (via Getty Images) Geoffroy van der HasseltAFP (via Getty Images) Geoffroy van der Hasselt

With just weeks to go until the opening of the Summer Olympics in Paris, there is excitement and anticipation among athletes and fans, but also growing concern for the approximately 350,000 spectators with disabilities.

Ahead of the Olympics, Paris has pledged to be “accessible for everyone” before the opening ceremony on July 26. This means upgrading services and infrastructure both near and beyond the Olympic venues. According to The New York Times, such efforts could include barrier-free buildings in the Olympic and Paralympic Villages, multisensory signage and service dog zones, more wheelchair-accessible taxis, and more barrier-free Ubers.

I am very encouraged to hear about their efforts, but at the same time I am very skeptical.

These plans all seem very positive, but some in the disability community are cautiously optimistic. “I’m really encouraged to hear about what they’re doing, but I’m also really skeptical, because it feels like a very broad and ambitious plan,” says Erin Tatum, a journalist and self-described “disability dynamo.”

Tatum, who suffered brain damage during an emergency C-section during birth and has cerebral palsy, uses a power wheelchair and has limited mobility in her hands and arms. She vividly remembers watching the Olympics while recovering from major surgery in 2004, and has been an Olympics fan ever since. So the news that Paris was taking accessibility into consideration was thrilling. But “no matter how well-intentioned it is, the scope can be a bit performative,” she says.

Emily Radau, a disability rights activist and wheelchair user, is excited about Paris’ goal, but shares Tatum’s concerns. “I really appreciate the effort to make accessibility a reality, but universal accessibility doesn’t really exist. It’s a myth,” Radau says. “It basically just assumes that the exact same thing works for everyone, but different people with different disabilities have different needs.”

Take something like a bathroom fixture, for example: What might work well for someone in a wheelchair might not necessarily work well for someone who has lost a limb, Radau explains.

Tatum says in his experience, something that says “accessible” doesn’t always translate to that. “Just because there’s a ramp, what does that mean? Does it mean you use the service elevator by the trash can? Do you need someone to hold the door open when there’s a ramp? Do you have an elevator? Do you have an automatic door opener?” There are a lot of little details that can be overlooked.

What’s more, universal accessibility goes beyond ramps and elevators, says Alex Genis, a writer, speaker, activist, and consultant who focuses on disability rights and climate change: “It means having ASL interpreters, multimodal speech and visual communication, one-on-one assistance when needed, ensuring everyone has equal access and participation in the environment. The list goes on, but it varies from one physical environment and space to another in Paris.”

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo seems to recognize these wider needs. In an April interview, she acknowledged that the city’s plan is aimed at improving access not just for people with physical disabilities, but also for those with sensory impairments and others. “In Paris, the work we do for accessibility is not just material,” says Lamia Al A’alaje, Paris’ deputy mayor in charge of urban planning, architecture, universal accessibility and people with disabilities. “Not just the physical access to places, but we also train all the staff, especially in facilities that are open to the public, to be aware of all kinds of disabilities.”

When people care about inclusivity, it shows.

Ann Lois, a personal trainer who is deaf, appreciates the sentiment but has some questions. “Are there test runs? Are actual people with disabilities testing and explaining the user experience? Do they understand the difference between a marginal and a great experience?” she says. “For example, when someone says, ‘We have an interpreter,’ my past experiences have led me to wonder, ‘Oh! I hope that the interpreter is prepared and informed, that they’re certified for the event or have the right qualifications.'”

Al Araje told PS that Paris had indeed consulted with the disabled community, specifically partnering with six associations: APF French Association of Disabled People, Action Handicap France, Association Valentin Hayuy, Unanim, CRAIF and Special Olympics France. “They were able to advise us to offer the best possible experience for people with disabilities.”

Radau also worries about the short deadline: “I think it’s great to have the Paralympics as motivation, but accessibility is an issue that regions have been working on for decades. Rushing it means that inevitably things will get overlooked, they’ll be shoddy, and they might not necessarily function as well as they could,” he says.

Still, “I’m the kind of person who believes we should celebrate progress, even if it’s frustrating when progress is slow or nonexistent until economic incentives kick in,” Radau said. “Any progress is better than no progress.”

And based on the goals Paris has set, the Olympics may just be the catalyst for lasting change in the city. “The Olympics will help accelerate the process of making the capital more accessible to everyone,” a statement on the Paris city government’s website reads. It adds: “The power of the Olympics and the momentum it will generate is a fantastic opportunity to make Paris a more inclusive city, making a lasting contribution to the enrichment not only of Parisians with disabilities, but of all who work and visit Paris.”

What happens if your disability isn’t “severe” enough to qualify for the Paralympics?

This may sound like an overblown cliché, but Tatum has seen firsthand how the Olympics change a city’s infrastructure for the better. She’s spent a lot of time in London and witnessed the city transform into a much more accessible destination after hosting the 2012 Olympics. She says there are now far more accessible taxis and it’s much easier for disabled people to use public transport. “It may seem like a basic thing, but now when I’m in central London, I see so many other disabled people,” Tatum added. “To me, that’s a good litmus test for infrastructure and a sign of a thriving community. Even in American cities, sometimes you don’t see someone in a wheelchair all day.”

From an urban planning perspective, Genis is optimistic that Paris can make such a lasting change: “The city’s urban fabric is already a good benchmark for independent living for people with disabilities, but adding universal access features is key.”

Reuss says it’s important to think of accessibility as a mindset and problem-solving, not a one-off solution. “You can have all the protocols in place, but it’s really about approaching these challenges with your head and your heart,” she says. “When people care about inclusivity, it shows.”

Ultimately, whether or not Paris meets all of its targets by July 26th, progress is progress — and the fact that the French capital is putting the spotlight on accessibility first is a huge step in the right direction.

“It means our community is becoming more accepted and mainstream, which to me is always a watershed moment,” Tatum says. “I look at the Olympics as a wrecking ball of progress that breaks down institutionalized ableism, and all I can say about it is this is long overdue.”

Kristin Thomason is a lifestyle writer and editor based in Southern California. She previously served as the Health & Fitness Director at mindbodygreen and the Fitness & Wellness Editor at Women’s Health. Kristin’s work has also appeared in PS, Travel + Leisure, Men’s Health, Health, Refinery29, and more.

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