The image people tend to have of those who buy a condo is one of singles or newlyweds, typically with one or two children. Professionals are usually seen as the primary market since they can afford most of the reasonably-priced condo units. The “new rich” are also common, particularly since that segment of the population often prefers condos over the large mansions the “old rich” are associated with. What most people don’t imagine when thinking about the typical owners of a Makati condo are the disabled.
Limitations
The disabled often face a number of problems, and in some instances, getting in and out of their own home is one of them. Not every Makati condo tower is going to have wheelchair access, and that kind of situation can make getting to any unit above the second floor difficult. Even the most advanced wheelchairs have problems with managing flights of stairs, which means that condos without wheelchair ramps are almost automatically removed from consideration. Mobility is actually the primary concern in this instance, though it is one that is rarely addressed.
Low-level options
One possibility is for the disabled person to buy a Makati condo unit in one of the lower levels. Depending on the strength of whoever is assisting them, as well as any existing access ramps, it might still be possible for a disabled person to live in a condo, so long as the unit isn’t on the upper floors. For towers that don’t have any access ramps, there is still the possibility of being able to afford a unit in the first or second floor. It isn’t entirely ideal, but the higher someone goes up a condo tower, the harder it is to get back down.
The association
In some instances, it is possible for disabled residents of a Makati condo tower to request help from the condo owner’s association. These are not common events, but it might be possible for them to ask the association for help in getting more accessibility. This can come in the form of the association petitioning the building management – or, in some instances, the developer – to provide wheelchair access. In some cases, it might also be in the form of the association coordinating with the management to install the access out of its own mutual funds.
It is unfortunate that the Philippine real estate market generally does not have a reasonable degree of accessibility for the disabled. Makati condo units are rarely designed such that it is easy for the disabled to get in and out of them, and wheelchair access is uncommon. There are still ways they can take advantage of condo living without having to deal too much with the hassle of limited mobility.
