‘I think that accessibility is just such an afterthought’

A TERENURE man who became wheelchair-bound after a devastating cancer diagnosis has set his sights on reshaping how businesses and society implement and perceive accessibility measures.

James McGill was aged just 33 when he received an unexpected diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer called lymphoma in December 2019.

The disease was discovered after James was admitted to hospital with a broken arm, with tests later showing that it was a symptom of lymphoma.

One of the lymphomas was located on the right side of James’s brain and affected his mobility, while a second lymphoma was found on his front temporal lobe.

His health rapidly deteriorated, dropping from 9st 4lb to just 5st 8lb by the following May, and he underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy before embarking on a path to recovery.

While James is now at the stage of his condition being actively monitored and is stable, one of the lasting effects of his experience is that he will require the use of a wheelchair for the foreseeable future.

The change in his mobility has been a significant adjustment for James, who is now 37, but he hasn’t allowed it to hold him back – and is keen to make society more inclusive for wheelchair users.

When asked what his experience of beginning to use a wheelchair was like, James told The Echo: “It was wildly eye-opening.

“I had no clue that somewhere being accessible doesn’t mean that there’s an accessible bathroom, and if it’s a listed building they don’t have to do anything.

“I have had the privilege of not always being in a wheelchair so I know what it’s like [to go out without a wheelchair] but the lack of accessibility could be a deterrent for people in wheelchairs.

“I think that accessibility is just such an afterthought – even when it comes to interior design, people will put up random plants or bench seating. Where is the overall consideration?”

Other issues that James has encountered include people parking on footpaths, which he cannot manoeuvre around, and poorly designed accessible facilities.

“The hardest part is when you have a venue and they’re hitting the bare minimum for requirements, but no one has done a dry run with someone in a wheelchair,” said James, who is currently on sick leave from his role as a media strategist in Google.

“There’s no cohesion and there’s no follow up either. I’ve been in venues where there is an accessible toilet in the basement, but there’s no lift to get down to it.”

James is focused on highlighting the lack of accessibility and also continuing treatment to increase his mobility.

The lack of accessibility is something that needs to be addressed across society, and James highlighted how some extra consideration can make life easier for wheelchair users.

“Just take a second and think about your surroundings,” he said. “I know people are busy and it’s all go, go, go, but do you really need to park in that accessible spot?

“Do you need to park on the kerb? Or if you’re a cyclist, do you need to lock your bike on a lamppost?”

Taking these things into consideration can make society more inclusive for all and reduce the restrictions that can be felt by wheelchair users, which is a central part of James’s aim.