Toulouse: every day, the wheelchair meal book
On the outskirts of Toulouse, Ilyas delivers meals on his wheelchair. With real determination and a thirst for encounters, the courier wants to show that another vision of the work of people with reduced mobility is possible.
In front of the McDonald’s car park in Plaisance-du-Touch, the meal deliverers are glued to their smartphones. Attentive, they wait for the slightest notification. It is this precious signal that indicates the start of the race. Among the group, Ilyas does not want to stand out.
Despite his wheelchair and his handicap, the 29-year-old intends to ensure the delivery of orders: “I don’t like people having to worry about me. There are some who understand my profession but others still do not. This is my daily life”.
Ilyas has been registered on a famous meal delivery platform since 2019. Every day, he travels several kilometers and travels the roads to deliver to his customers. “Some do it on a scooter, I do it with my wheelchair. I love this job. I like to serve people. Now that I’m here, I plan to stay a delivery driver for a while,” warns Ilyas.
A job closer to people
The courier does not believe he has financial difficulties. He receives aids for people with reduced mobility. The Toulousain does this work to have a complement, but above all to have a new experience. This isn’t the first time Ilyas has stepped out of his comfort zone. He has written several books and is also developing his microenterprise in different audiovisual sectors.
“If Ilyas had legs, but let it go, we could never stop him,” laughs Adil, who is considered a big brother by the delivery man. “I often say that he is hyperactive, unfortunately blocked in his body”, continues his childhood friend.
“I want to react on the handicap”
In his life, Ilyas was not very lucky. He comes from a country at war. When he was born, he suffered a cranial shock which partially paralyzed him. It was not until 1999 that Ilyas and his family arrived in France to escape the dramatic situation in their country of origin. “I am proud because I went to school, to college and I had my patent”, recalls the one who has had French nationality for many years.
Today, for his safety on the roads, the delivery man applies rules: he does not accept any race of more than 4 kilometers, he does not work when it rains and does not exceed more than 10 kilometers with his wheelchair. ‘time. On the spot, the customers seem rather convinced. On his account, he has a satisfaction rate of more than 98%. “Some people give me tips, that motivates me even more, but basically that’s not what I’m looking for. I want to react on the handicap and thus show that a person with reduced mobility can also help a valid person”, finished Ilyas before leaving for a new race.