Lata Umrania is totally blind, and has been since she was two years-old. Getting around her home city of Mumbai, India is often difficult:

I was waiting to cross a very busy road. People were passing in front of me, I was saying, ‘excuse me' but they weren't paying attention. I was waiting 15 minutes before I decided to cross the road myself. A truck was coming, so somebody just ran behind me, and he pulled me away.

Lata Umrania (Photo: Chhavi Sachdev)

Twice she has fallen off train platforms because there is no physical ledge to help guide her. Lata is denied the right to access public places safely because, as she says, there is no enforcement of the law in India.

Better access, but no legal force
Monique Wijnen is a Dutch journalist and advocate for disabled rights. Last August, a television audience granted her the CAPaward in the category of careers. She now serves as the Ambassadeur Onbeperkt NL.

Monique was born with shortened arms and legs. At her apartment in the Dutch city of Gouda, she has two helper dogs, a cat, and a specially fitted Mercedes van that she's able to drive. In her neighbourhood of public housing, there are assistants on call 24 hours a day who can help her.

But there are limitations for people with disabilities when living in a European city. Newer parts of town have accessible buildings, but in the older city centre, Monique has problems. Some shops are not designed to handle her electric wheelchair, and many restaurants have steps and entrances that take patience and often assistance for her to navigate. Monique Wijnen (Photo right: Monique Wijnen © Dave McGuire) 

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