City Offices Ordered To Get Wheelchair Access

Costa Ricans with disabilities should find accessible entrances to municipal offices in San José and Santa Cruz, in the northwestern Guanacaste province, within six months, a high court has ruled.

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) ruling concluded two separate cases in which complainants – one in San José and another in Santa Cruz – filed against the municipalities for the discriminatory layout of their facilities, without any way to enter besides stairs.

The ruling said that the current structure goes against the “right to equality of opportunities and to not be discriminated against” of people with disabilities, according to a court press release issued this week.