I encountered an access barrier when I tried to buy take out from a drive-through restaurant. I couldn’t place an order because I am hard of hearing and couldn't use the intercom speaker system.

So I drove up to the window and explained to the attendant, using my voice, the problem I was experiencing. They still refused to take my order.

The attendant asked me to come into the restaurant and place my order inside at the counter. I told them I am a wheelchair user with two young children in the car. It is not practical for me to come into their (inaccessible) restaurant. They continued to refuse me service so I drove away.

Even though this has happened to me before, I still found it upsetting.

I want accessibility laws that prevent this kind of discrimination. Restaurants should not be allowed to refuse service on the basis that their processes are inaccessible.

This is a story about the barriers many face. We're sharing it because we want a law that puts accessibility at the heart of an inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.

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