Forbidding city

Hong Kong's infrastructure is said to be world-class, but to handicapped people such as Twinkie Chau Oi-fan, the city is a daily obstacle course of swing doors, turnstiles and steps. Now, however, she and other members of the disabled community are helping themselves to get around facilities where their needs have been ignored.

Chau is one of four researchers acting as so-called pathfinders for the handicapped at People of Fortitude, a mutual help group for the disabled. They're putting together a city guide for Hong Kong's estimated 103,500 handicapped people, mapping wheelchair- and walking stick-friendly routes to office towers, malls and venues, access to which the able-bodied might take for granted, and posting information about how disabled-friendly they are on the organisation's website (pof.org.hk).

The team's only disabled researcher, Chau has visited 19 of the 2,000 spots assessed by the guide, usually checking out two places a month. Armed with a camera, she whirrs about in her electric wheelchair, examining building entrances, lobbies, hallways, parking spaces and toilets. It's hard work but worth the effort, says the extroverted twentysomething.

'Many people with disabilities are keen to explore the city but they cannot go out without checking accessibility in advance,' says Chau, who has been in a wheelchair for three years because of stiffened joints. 'I hope the reviews can give them a better idea of whether locations are accessible, what obstacles they might find, and tips on what they should be aware of.'

The Web-based guide is a long-term project funded by People of Fortitude founder Chan Wah-cheung, a businessman who partially lost use of his legs to polio.

'An online guide is flexible and can reach more people,' says the group's chief executive, Sky Liu