Accessibility Is Health, Too: A Conversation on Salud en el West

Accessibility Is Also Health

We recently spoke with Alex Román on WKJB’s Salud en el West about Puerto Rico Reporta and how the conditions of our streets, sidewalks, and crossings affect the daily lives of many people in Puerto Rico.

When we talk about health, we often think about hospitals, medical appointments, medications, or clinical services. However, we also need to look at the environment around us. Being able to get to an appointment, walk through the neighborhood, cross a street, or leave home without facing obstacles is part of well-being and independent living.

Across our communities, there are still broken sidewalks, blocked or missing curb ramps, unsafe crossings, utility poles in the middle of pedestrian paths, inaccessible entrances, and other obstacles that limit mobility. These conditions especially affect people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, families, and others who depend on safe public spaces to move with confidence.

Listen to the Interview

We invite you to listen to the full conversation and share it with individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities, and community groups that may want to join this effort.

Why Document These Barriers?

Many of these situations are part of the daily routine of those who face them, but they are not always documented in an organized way. When a barrier is not recorded, it is easier for it to remain outside public conversations, plans, and priorities.

Puerto Rico Reporta allows residents to collect information from their own lived experience through reports that include location, photos, and descriptions. This information helps identify patterns, show specific needs, and support conversations with municipalities, agencies, organizations, and community partners.

A blocked curb ramp, an impassable sidewalk, or a dangerous crossing can determine whether someone is able to reach an essential service, participate in a community activity, or move with greater independence.

Support Salud en el West

We are grateful to Salud en el West and Alex Román for opening this space to talk about community health, mobility, and civic participation.

Salud en el West is a Puerto Rican radio program and podcast that promotes community education around health, wellness, culture, music, gastronomy, and topics of public interest, with a special focus on the western region of the island.

You can listen live on WKJB 710 AM in Mayagüez on Fridays at 1:00 p.m., stream recorded episodes on Spotify, and follow updates on Facebook.

Supporting spaces like Salud en el West helps bring important conversations to more people across Puerto Rico.

Map the Barrier. Demand Change.

Each report contributes a valuable piece of information. Together, these reports help build evidence, make lived experiences visible, and promote concrete actions to improve our communities.