#AccessDeniedDiaries by Kim

I was recovering from a broken knee when ACC hired a local taxi to take me to a check-up. On the way back, the van suddenly stopped, and I was thrown backwards. 😨 Luckily, I grabbed the wall—otherwise, I would have been hurled into the folding hoist lift in the rear! I screamed for the driver to stop, but it took him a while to even check on me. 🗣️ 

Turns out, he hadn’t secured my wheelchair properly. As a non-chair user at the time, I trusted he knew what he was doing when he strapped me in, but he’d only secured two restraints instead of four. He finally fixed the issue, but by the time I got home, I was trembling. When he asked if I needed help inside, I said, “No, I don’t want you anywhere near me.” 😤 

I reported the incident to ACC and received flowers and a card from the taxi company. Years later, I became a permanent wheelchair user, but that fear stuck with me. I’m too terrified to use regular taxis now unless it’s a special mobility service like St. John’s, where I know the staff are trained and care about my safety, not just the fare. 🚑💔 

I’ve had taxis cancel on me, leave me in the rain 🌧️, and force me to book weeks in advance because they prioritize more profitable bookings. When you rely on taxis because you can’t drive, it feels like a gamble—you’re paying a lot and risking your safety in the hands of an untrained stranger. 🎲 

Now, I’m even afraid of services like Uber because I fear they’ll drive off if they see my service dog. 🐕‍🦺 

After being left stranded, without access, and now also being Deaf, I can’t afford to take that risk. This one incident shaped how my disabled life looks when it comes to travel. 💔 

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#AccessDenied Stories #AccessMatters #Transport #KoreroForChange

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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