Cherylee Houston has started a new hashtag to enable people with disabilities to "demonstrate how inaccessible our world is".
The ‘Coronation Street’ actress, who has been in a wheelchair since she was 23 after being diagnosed with a rare connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, has come up with #takingthedis for her and others to use when they find somewhere out of reach.
She wrote on Twitter: "Starting a new hashtag for #disabled people to use to demonstrate how inaccessible our world is for the next few days #takingthedis my first for the day (sic)"
Cherylee shared one of her own experiences, admitting she has "fallen off" temporary ramps while in her wheelchair because of the mobility aid’s weight, but praised a restaurant worker for being "really helpful" in a tricky situation.
She tweeted: "#takingthedis breakfast problems, hate temporary ramps as they’re a faff, take minutes and I’ve fallen off them because the weight of my chair makes them slide. Lovely man from @leonrestaurants was really helpful and said we can pay next time! And a kind stranger offered to pay! (sic)"
Earlier this week, Cherylee was left in "tears of frustration" after being asked if she minded being "lifted" in and out of a hotel to use their disabled room because of the establishment’s steps.
The cobbles star claimed she booked a "disabled access" room at a hotel only to be asked if her wheelchair was "modern or old fashioned" because there are steps to the room.
She shared a series of messages on Twitter detailing her plight, and the 45-year-old star – who plays Izzy Armstrong in the ITV soap – then retweeted a number of posts from people supporting her and sympathising with her.
And she shared a message the hotel had posted to her, which read: "Hi Cherylee, The property has informed us that they already contacted you regarding the room access, and that they did gave you their accessible room already, but there is two steps at the entry of the Hotel and they do not have any kind of rampe to access it, but to access the room with not be an issue. If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us (sic)"
Cherylee tweeted: "Wow! Erm it’s definitely an issue to me! After half an hr on the phone to @bookingcom this is their response about wheelchair access. So @bookingcom is this your solution? (sic)"
But fortunately, the cobbles favourite’s problem was eventually resolved.
She wrote: "Very kindly @bookingcom have sorted out my hotel problem, I’m aware that without my job and a twitter campaign this might not have been the case. I’ve offered them training, this is a problem for many disabled people across many companies. This shouldn’t be the norm re access. (sic)"
Cherylee Houston starts hashtag to highlight inaccessibility
