Barriers

I encounter access barriers with transport every day. A subsidised taxi trip to Wellington CBD from Karori currently costs me ten dollars. Without the current transport subsidy it would be twenty dollars. On the bus, it would be less than three dollars. Total mobility taxis are the most accessible way for me to get around, but they are way too expensive. And once again, the Government is about to take away the subsidies.

Inaccessible communications technology and red-tape has prevented me from accessing emergency services, and from saying goodbye to an old friend.

Our family home has become inaccessible to our daughter, due to inadequate funding support and lack of access to finance, that would enable us to make our house accessible.

I encountered an access barrier when I applied for a volunteer role as an event medic at Wellington Free Ambulance. I was interviewed for this role and rejected because I was discriminated against. 

I have been in a wheelchair ♿ since 2015. I had a fall and after 12 days in hospital 🏥 I was rushed to Dunedin by emergency helicopter for immediate surgery.

My partner and I regularly need to travel for work events and personal family events. There often is no transport available so we are denied access to public spaces and events, businesses and areas chosen by councils to be walking-only roads, government services and participation in government functions like voting and elections, tax and business support from IRD, council submissions, work conferences and meetings, houses, restaurants, and so on.

I was giving feedback to a Rotorua Lakes officer on the construction of new facilities at Lake Tarawera Landing. Another electric wheelchair user and myself commented on a jetty that is to be built straight out into the water, only 1.4m wide and with no larger platform at the end.

I had a fall off an inaccessible, narrow footpath that was raised above the neighbouring grass, with no lip or barrier. I injured my knee. I could barely hobble. I was using my white cane like a walking stick. With some help, I managed to drag myself into Accident and Emergency at Wellington Hospital.

I received an email from a business advertising a product with the subject line "The New Device is Here! Sensibo AirQ Launch".  That was the only accessible part of the email.

Did you know that some Kiwis are denied the right to equal participation in our democracy, and the right to cast a free and fair vote? Did you know that this is despite it being our right according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities?

Yep. This is a thing that is happening in Aotearoa New Zealand.