Spinal Injury Led This Man to Build 600 Accessible Spaces

A simple flight of steps became an impassable wall the day Prateek Khandelwal returned to his city in a wheelchair. After a spinal cord injury in his 20s took away his ability to walk, the
urban landscape he once moved through effortlessly suddenly felt hostile.

Narrow doorways refused entry. Washrooms became off-limits. The message was painfully clear: his city wasn't built for people like him.

For millions living with disabilities, this isn't an occasional inconvenience. It's a daily reality that dictates where they can work, learn, shop, and even socialize.

But Prateek refused to accept exclusion as permanent. In 2020, he founded RampMyCity with a straightforward goal: redesign public spaces so everyone can use them with dignity.

What started as one man's response to personal frustration has grown into a nationwide movement. RampMyCity has now transformed over 600 public spaces across India, installing ramps, conducting accessibility audits, and pushing for inclusive design from the ground up.

The journey demanded persistence. Prateek faced constant questioning about why ramps were necessary, fought through funding struggles, and navigated endless approval delays. Each accessible space represented not just construction work, but a shift in how people think about urban design.

His approach centers on lived experience rather than abstract policy. RampMyCity's team understands that accessibility isn't just about following building codes, it's about respecting human dignity in every design decision.

The impact reaches far beyond wheelchair users. Senior citizens navigating stairs, parents pushing strollers, people recovering from temporary injuries, delivery workers with heavy carts—they all benefit when cities remove physical barriers.

In 2024, the President of India recognized Prateek's work with a National Award, honoring him as a role model. But for Prateek, the real achievement isn't the award itself.

The Ripple Effect

RampMyCity is proving that inclusive design creates cascading benefits throughout communities. When a restaurant becomes accessible, it doesn't just serve more customers—it sends a message that everyone belongs there. When schools install ramps, children with disabilities gain equal access to education, changing the trajectory of entire families.

The movement has sparked conversations in city planning offices, architectural firms, and construction sites across India. Other organizations now seek Prateek's guidance, multiplying the impact far beyond those 600 spaces.

Prateek envisions an India where accessibility isn't an afterthought added during renovations. He's working toward cities designed from the start to welcome everyone, where people with disabilities don't spend mental energy plotting routes around barriers.

His journey demonstrates a powerful truth: the people who experience exclusion most deeply often see the clearest path toward solutions.