Maria do Carmo Gomes da Cruz, 56, who has used a wheelchair since 2015, encounters numerous obstacles in her daily life in Caniço. Uneven sidewalks, parked cars, steps, and inaccessible store entrances turn simple shopping trips into difficult journeys.
"Sometimes I have to walk by the side of the road," she tells DIÁRIO, which followed her routine. Even inside supermarkets, her autonomy is limited, requiring help from other customers to reach certain items. While some improvised ramps offer access, essential services like her local bank branch remain out of reach, forcing her to travel to Funchal.
The difficulties extend to her home, with a narrow access ramp and a bathroom not suitable for safe transfers to the shower. The kitchen counter also complicates common tasks. Maria do Carmo has been waiting over 25 years for adapted social housing, highlighting the significant cost in time, effort, and autonomy for seemingly ordinary daily activities.
