Access Denied Diaries

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#AccessDeniedDiaries by Tracy

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Tracy I have experienced access barriers at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. The signage in the park is very, very poor. It is very hard to read and hard to even locate the signs. I want the new access laws to ensure that all signage has good contrast and big enough letters, so people with low vision can read them and then use them.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan

I encounter access barriers whenever I am out and about with my white cane, especially when I am alone. I am grabbed, pulled, shouted at, patted, questioned, 'helped' without asking, and harassed by the public. Every time the environment I'm in makes me visibly struggle - in the eyes of others - it reinforces the idea that disabled people always require help and 'saving'. Every time a disabled person encounters a barrier that causes them to stay at home, it makes seeing people with disabilities - going about their daily lives - an even rarer sight. Access barriers - combined with a lack of education and public information - make those disabled people who are getting on with their lives, out and about in public, to be viewed as somehow extraordinary, or heroic, or even a cause for panic! This is a social media post I wrote two years ago. It is as true now as it was then: Social Distancing: The Perfect Time to Stop Grabbing Disabled People. “Surely people have stopped touching you now?” I wish. Let me share the story of my day, 19th March 2020. I am functionally blind. I walk competently with my white cane, and I am always grabbed by strangers without consent. Today I counted. I caught and changed buses, walked to the doctor’s, the fruit and veg shop, and the supermarket. Total walking, about five blocks. In that short time I was pushed, pulled or patted by five different strangers, all on my shoulders. Usually it was the first I even knew they were there. Two people also snapped at me. The first snapper didn’t actually touch me. This person asked four times if I needed help off the bus, despite my firm “No thanks” reply each time. They then shrieked at me when I felt for the ground with my foot. I said I didn’t need help simply getting off a bus. They muttered behind my back, presumably about how rude I was. The second snapper was a man who patted me on the arm at a pedestrian crossing. I moved away, but when I was crossing went he put a hand on my shoulder and pulled, saying, “Here I’ll help you." I said, “Please don’t touch me without asking.” He snapped, “Be like that,” and stormed off. I am not sharing this because my story is unusual. It wasn’t even a bad day. This treatment is my normal. In the past I have been gripped and pulled by my wrist, grabbed, pushed and pulled by my shoulders, around my waist, my hands, and even my backpack. My white cane is also often grabbed, this leaves me vulnerable and unable to sense my surroundings. I’ve been screamed at, sworn at, snapped at, ignored, disbelieved and told I should be grateful. I know that people often ‘mean well’, but at the end of the day, actions speak louder than intentions. Barring some life or death scenario, it is never acceptable to touch someone without consent. To clarify, being a disabled person in public is not life or death. Pulling me towards a drop could be. But it happens. It happens to all my disabled friends too, whether they are blind, or are wheelchair users, use other mobility aids, etc. It happens to disabled people all over the world. Here’s what we need from you. Never ever touch a disabled person, or our mobility aids, without consent. Stand beside us, support us, as we stand up to those who do try to non-consensually touch us. Educate your friends. Call out those who won’t stop. Never ever defend it by saying, “They’re just trying to help”. Please share. I have made this post public so that you can. Many people don’t even know this is a problem disabled people face. COVID-19 social distancing highlighted another layer of danger. I am asthmatic. Most of the people I know are vulnerable. But I cannot keep myself or those around me safe because personal space is not a right disabled people get. I want the Government's new access law to remove the barriers - physical, financial and social - to disabled people's access to public spaces, activities and general life. Accessibility legislation should increase education and public awareness. And the Government should lead by example in treating disabled people as valuable and respected members of society.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Sanae preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Sanae

I have encountered many access barriers when trying to find a new job. It's difficult to find an employer who understands the way my brain ticks and tocks, and who can make necessary accommodations - such as breaking down instructions better, or simply not giving me so many instructions at the same time. My Dyspraxia also means it's taking me a long time to learn to drive, which limits my options a lot due to the location of many jobs. When asked about my weaknesses in employment interviews, I am honest and say, "Processing too many things at once." This puts potential employers off. The outcome is I either don't get the job, or I end up starting work but then encounter problems when people aren't accepting of me and my differences. This has caused me to lose my confidence a little bit in my job hunting, because I am not sure if people will accept my unique personality for what it is. I would love this new access law to address workplace training for managers on the topic of, "How to work with someone who has a neurodiversity/disability in the work place". I would also like to see more transport options for people to get to work, that don't cost too much because - although it is only a small issue for me - it is a big issue for many other people who struggle getting access to transport.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by SW preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by SW

I encounter an access barrier every time I try to go to the movies. Not a single cinema, that I know of in Aotearoa New Zealand, routinely provides audio descriptions for its films. Overseas cinemas have headsets to listen to the audio description track, so blind and low vision patrons like me can follow the film. The audio description tracks already exist. They are made by the movie producers and released with the film. The cinemas don't have to create anything! They just have to provide a few headsets, sync the track up, and play it. It's as simple as broadcasting subtitles, or the soundtrack at a higher volume - which are not perfect solutions from what I have heard from d/Deaf folks, but at least d/Deaf people get something to make movies accessible. I have to pick the films I see based on whether or not I think I have any chance of following them. I often have to go home and Google the movie to find out what happened at the end! If I am with a friend, they will whisper descriptions in my ear the whole way through the movie. This is so lovely of them, but it is extra work, and it's socially awkward for both of us. Audio description headsets - and the cinema's willingness make the audio description track available - would let me access movies equally with others when out watching films. The new access laws should make businesses meet reasonable standards of accessibility, including providing access for blind and low vision patrons. New Zealand businesses should provide an equal level of access for all their customers, as is required of businesses in countries overseas that have good accessibility legislation.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Kay preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Kay

I wanted to make a payment at Wellington City Library's Te Awe Branch. I was told they only accept digital and electronic card payments. Cash isn't good enough. Other branches still accept cash but they're harder to reach and open shorter hours. Some people can't do digital banking or transactions, or don't want to. This is a policy change the library has made without any consultation. So I didn't pay and I haven't resolved the issue. I'm worried cash payments will be banned for various services in Wellington, like Auckland Transport have banned cash for bus travelers. I would like the new access laws to: A) require consultation in range of medium for change in services; B) make service organisations accept cash for payments.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Suzie preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Suzie

I was going up the road in Henderson, Auckland, in my wheelchair to buy milk. But I got stuck! And I couldn't cross the road safely. Thankfully a guy jumped out of his car (he was waiting at the lights) and gave me a hand. Embarrassment!! Humiliation!! I am too scared to cross the road there anymore. I was also really frustrated when I later called the council to advise the state of the road, especially when their response was, "Well, we will fix it in the next few years." I encounter access barriers like this all the time, with bad surfaces on the streets, and curbs that are too high or are damaged. The footpaths in my area have been terrible for four years now - broken curbs, broken concrete and blocked footpaths. I have approached Auckland Council several times about it, but they just won't do anything. I want accessibility legislation that will make local councils immediately address access barriers on the roads or footpaths, as soon as they are reported.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Gerard preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Gerard

I have been denied access to an appropriate benefit from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) because of my disabilities. MSD treats people with disabilities the same way they treat abled people. That is, MSD will provide as little financial assistance as they can get away with. The underlying rationale being, if beneficiaries are denied a livable benefit, then they will have to accept any form of employment in order to make ends meet. There are many beneficiaries with disabilities who aren't able to work, including myself. This fact doesn't enter into MSD thinking. And no matter how much hardship MSD places us in, we still aren't able to work. MSD refuses to acknowledge that there are people needing financial assistance who would love to work but aren't able to. By denying people with disabilities a reasonable benefit, MSD is not only breaking their own obligations under the Social Security Act 2018, but they are also flagrantly denying their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). MSD can do this because there is no independent body with the appropriate authority to hold them to account. My disabilities, amongst other issues, include Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and brain damage in general. My ability to comprehend information is severely compromised and massively exacerbated by stress, as well as other negative stimuli, such as noise and other distractions. These conditions all exist at MSD offices due to their preferred choice of design - open plan office layouts. In addition, the use of commercial lighting brings on migraines and my inability to tolerate any Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) - such as perfumes, fragrances, cleaning chemicals, etc, all of which are continually recirculated through the 'air-conditioning' system - make any visit to an MSD office absolutely brutal! Add up all the above mentioned stress into the mix - with staff who don't want to hear you, and don't want to assist you, and try to as unhelpful as possible - then it's no big surprise that I end up in tears again and again after each appointment. It is no understatement to say that I now also suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of the continual abuse I have had to endure from MSD. It will probably come as no surprise that I prefer to live in a vehicle rather than deal with the chronic abuse and stress I have had to endure from MSD. The fact that I have been living in a vehicle, for 20 years, reflects poorly on a system that just doesn't care. The new accessibility act needs to look beyond the narrow scope of physical and/or sensory disabilities - such as having low vision or being hearing impaired - and consider the broader definition of disability as outlined in the UNCRPD.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Blessing preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Blessing

We went to Keith Hay Park but I couldn't play with my siblings because my wheelchair can't get into the playground. This is because there is a wooden barrier around the entire playground. I had to sit in my wheelchair and watch my siblings play. I experience this a lot at so many playgrounds in New Zealand. It makes me really sad because I always miss out when we go to the park. I want the government to fix our laws so that all playgrounds are accessible. Kids with disabilities want to play too. (Also, I wish every playground had a wheelchair swing!)

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Karleigh-Jayne preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Karleigh-Jayne

I have an essential tremor. I find it hard to fill out forms by hand, but I have to when I need to get help or when I want to participate in activities. I often encounter barriers that prevent me being able to partake in things that I love, or to be able to access services. One example was owing money for a gym membership, even though I wasn't using the gym, due to issues with the form I had filled out. These sorts of incidents have affected me mentally, because I have felt like I am a freak. I want the access laws to address the fact that not everyone can fill out forms the usual way, and that services need to use more than one way to get the needed information.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan

I was applying to participate in a market research project, but was declined because the office used for the research panel is upstairs, and they do not have any means to get a wheelchair user into that room. I have been a member of Prime Research for many years and you have to apply for opportunities to participate via a survey. If you meet the criteria or demographic for the panel they call you to book a session. I have been called approximately seven times, as I meet the criteria, but when I ask if the venue is wheelchair accessible they say, "Oh sorry. No you cannot take part." They never offer to try and do my interview any other way. This means I miss out on the money I would have received for participating. I miss out on meeting others who have similar interests. I miss out on the experience of being involved in a market research panel. I want new access laws that ensure all buildings are accessible, or that there has to be alternative accommodations for people with access and/or mobility needs. Being disabled, I sometimes have to be creative in finding ways to make a little extra money, for day to day living. I want to see positive change so that these sorts of simple opportunities are made available and accessible to people with disabilities.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Stephanie preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Stephanie

I was trying to enter the medical laboratory in Lower Hutt, to obtain a blood test. The entrance door is heavy and I could not open it with my disabled hands and arms. This is the third time I have experienced this at the lab - the degree of my disability can vary. I previously complained, but nothing has changed. I had to wait for another customer to spot me and help me enter the laboratory, which is very embarrassing. I want the new access laws to specify that health facilities should have a higher standard of access, which takes into account wider accessibility needs and challenges, beyond those using wheelchairs. I'm a walker and I have access needs too.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Nikki preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Nikki

I am currently in the process of gathering documentation for Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ), to prove I still have a permanent disability, via the infamous 'Disability Allowance Renewal' form. Why does WINZ insist on proof of this unchanging situation, every two years, with the accompanying threat of losing part of my benefit - my only income - if I do not, or cannot, comply? I would like disability allowances for permanently disabled people, to be marked by their General Practice doctor - the ones who know our conditions best - as "Never Review" and to be treated as such. Disabled people should be trusted to provide WINZ with any information required about changes in costs. I want the new accessibility legislation to bring positive changes in the policies and attitudes of all government departments, especially WINZ.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Anamaria preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Anamaria

We are trying to get some support for my teenage Moko who has a brain injury after being reversed over by a vehicle, aged 18 months, never to be the same again. Four years after his accident, an MRI suggested he has pachygyria, which causes Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) denied his injury claim on the basis that he has FASD, which ACC says overrides the accident. However an official FASD assessment has never been completed. We need the official FASD assessment to be able to move forward but the cost is huge, at over $6500! We have been denied the accident claim after 16 years of battling ACC, and every other government agency. In addition, Whanganui Hospital did not correctly record the original accident, and have refused to amend it. This has also stopped us being able to access support. We get shoved off every time. How is this young man supposed to manage in the community? He has hardly attended school due to no school being able to cope with his behaviours, no matter how many strategies the specialists provide for the principals and teachers. Who decides who gets help and who does not? What qualifications do the people in the agencies actually have? Are they even qualified enough to be running these agencies?! Why do you have to continue to prove that your child has a disability, when it's been repeatedly confirmed by top specialists? How can an agency demand yet another assessment, by people less qualified, to override a specialist opinion, so that my child will not qualify for help? Why is the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination service (NASC) stopping families in Whanganui from getting the necessary help they need for their children with disabilities? These access barriers have stopped my Moko making progress. This is a burden we bear every day. It takes up so much time, and constant changes in medical staff make it even more complex. We are often told that there are other people who are way worse off than my Moko. Cold comfort. We continue to get brushed off due to incorrect information on my Moko's medical file. I am told it cannot be removed or amended, after trying many times. I have been in touch with the top pachygyria specialist in the world who has confirmed my child does NOT have pachygyria. They have asked for another MRI to be completed, but we are constantly refused this service, and this concerns me. Each specialist we visit has a new spiel on my Moko's medical condition; taking it out of context and removing it as far away as possible from the original accident. The ACC medical team are the worst at making my Moko's medical history complex. They overrode our specialist, who was our main provider. This all makes me feel undervalued as a caregiver/parent, and this has been am extra barrier to being able to source the correct support. I should not have to battle at every corner. I am asked to jump through all these hoops only to be told we do not meet the criteria, and that it is an ACC issue. I have fought ACC for 16 years, with the last five years in court, only for them to close the door on us. ACC insists my Moko's condition is FASD, when there is has been no official FASD assessment. It is exhausting and dehumanizing. I have been made to feel worthless and unvalued. I have been bullied by many agencies, medical professionals, ACC, lawyers, teachers, WINZ, ACC specialists and sporting coaches. I have exhausted all avenues, including writing to Members of Parliament, the Human Rights Commission, the Children's Commissioner's office, the Race Relations officer, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Health and Disabilities, you name it. They simply dismiss me by referring me to the Advocate of Ministry of Health and Disabilities. It's endless. :( What processes can be put in place to remove incorrect medical information from someone's medical file, especially when it hinders the person? Where can we source funding to pay for additional assessments like FASD? I would like to see a Special Needs Teacher Training School set up. We had a teacher from England come into my home to teach my Moko. She had special needs teacher-training and her skills were precious. However it was only for a short time as she took up a teacher's position in a school. Her time with my Moko showed he can improve in his school work. I want the law changed! I want all people, with any type of disability, to have easy access to an effective advocate. So that parents can get on with caring, and be able to get the necessary support much more easily. Accessibility legislation should allow all children to attend school, with funding for extra specialist teachers whenever necessary.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Philippa preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Philippa

I am a support worker and work with people with disabilities. Recently I went into town with a woman who was looking for some cheap dress-up accessories, so we went into one of those low-cost variety stores. She is a small woman, in a small wheelchair, and needs assistance. So I push her wheelchair into town and around the shops. The aisles of the variety store were so small that we barely fit. She lives with other people with disabilities who have much larger wheelchairs and there is no way they could go into this shop. The new access laws should ensure that retail is accessible for everyone.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Michael preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Michael

Welly Wellington ... capital of New Zealand, but not for the disabled! I recently visited Wellington, from the South Island, for a two-night stay. I attended a one-day workshop about volunteering and Not For Profit governance. I was appalled, to say the least, at the lack of disability services available. Namely Powerchair transport. Having gained great confidence using my one-year-old Powerchair, which has allowed me to become very independent, I was dismayed when I began to research my transport options in Wellington. A bus service that was on hold until 1 July (just some airport bus I believe). And not much information about other buses, for example how far from the airport the nearest stop is to get into the CBD. Or if I could get there without getting wet should it be raining. I was disappointed to read there are very few options for mobility taxis that accommodate wheelchairs and Powerchairs, especially after 7pm. What’s with that? Other taxis run 24/7 and so do Ubers. Are the regulators at fault making it too difficult to provide such a service? At least 48hrs notice for a booking, they say, and even then it not 100% reliable. You could easily get hung out to dry (if it’s not raining!). The mobility taxi reviews scared me, quite frankly. I reneged and swapped my Powerchair for my smaller, foldable electric chair - which has no where near the functionality of my life-changing Powerchair. This is compared to Christchurch which has a smaller population base and yet offers a number of mobility taxi options all day and most of the night. (Maybe I just have good contacts in Christchurch?) To my mind it's quite unfair that, as a disabled person, I am so restricted. Manaakitanga indeed! This just seems to be the latest “in word” for government and local agencies. We need more than lip-service and platitudes. We need comprehensive accessibility legislation, that allows everyone - no matter the city or town, no matter the time of day or night - equitable access to services including transport. Perhaps I was not reading the right information about Wellington's disability transport services. I would be pleased if someone told me I was wrong. It might convince me to visit again.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Sue preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Sue

Grocery shopping since COVID-19 lockdowns, isolation and social distancing, has become quite traumatic for me, both online and in person at the supermarket. It is a necessity that I now dread doing each week. So much so that anxiety creeps in whenever it's grocery shopping time. Of course, like many households, it is much easier to get the groceries delivered via online shopping, so I do my main shop online each week. But also, like many people who find themselves the main shopper, there are those times when you only need that one item you forgot to order (or wasn't supplied!) or those couple of perishable items (milk, bread, fruit 'n' veggies) that I find myself needing to go through the drama of doing a small shop at the supermarket. Firstly, online home delivered shopping The online buying part is reasonably smooth. Yes, I allow substitutions, as I need all the items on the list! Some of the personal shoppers need more education on what a suitable substitute is, but that would be another whole story. So, I'm told my order will arrive between this time and that, IF they don't go and change the delivery time! Then in rolls the delivery truck. The groceries are placed completely blocking my entrance door, even though I'm signalling to them - from inside, behind a huge ranch slider window - to place the groceries to one side. So yes, the driver can clearly see I'm in a wheelchair and that I'm waving my hands, and yelling to them to please move the groceries and place them on the table and bench I have set up on the deck specifically for deliveries. The driver leaves and I am stuck having to lift the groceries off the ground, one bag at a time, and bring them inside. This is a massive feat for me with my weakness and balance issues. I don't understand why the driver hasn't followed the Delivery Instructions that I’ve painstakingly written for them! I also don't understand why - especially at this current alert/traffic-light/lockdown level, when everyone else is allowed into my home - the supermarket delivery drivers are still not allowed to place the shopping bags in my kitchen for me. Oh, I remember pre-COVID-19, when that little act of kindness was done, and it was greatly appreciated! However, if I need anything else, I'm stuck having to go in person to the supermarket (unless I want to spend another $80, even though I have bought the delivery package!) Secondly, in-person supermarket shopping. So, off I go with my one reusable shopping bag. I only want to buy a couple of things, and if I restrict myself to one bag then I know I can manage carrying that amount. I'm then told, on arrival, I'm not allowed my bag in the shop because of "contamination issues". But my clothes are OK? Are you sure you don't want me to strip before entering? So the reusable bag goes back to my car. I come back, grab a basket, and head into the shop. Social distancing is in place. Two metres away from people. I will obey! Hmmmm. So why do other people reach over me, breathing potential COVID onto me from above? It's like, because I'm in a wheelchair, I am not human? So the 2-metre rule doesn't apply?!!! So rude and unbelievable, but it happens all the time. (I try to run over their toes but usually miss as they are scuttling around so fast!) Bread, milk, and the forgotten or omitted item in hand, I head to the checkout. It's my turn. "Morning," says the checkout person, and I reply a cheerful, "Morning! How's your day going?" No reply. Hmmm. OK. I notice the checkout person doesn't look at me, but is instead glancing at the lady behind me. I roll up to the EFTPOS machine and wait patiently. The checkout person picks up the milk and notices it's leaking, "I will get a replacement for you." "Thanks!" I respond, as she gives me a sideways scowl. OK that's weird. I sit and wait. I place my scanned items back in the basket. The milk arrives. It's scanned and into the basket it goes. "Will that be all?" she asks, looking at the next customer. "Yes," I reply. "Excuse me, will that be all?" she asks the next customer. Louder, I say, "Yes thanks!" The checkout person again scowls at me then asks, "Do you need something?" "No," I say, not so pleased now, "YES! I'd like to pay for my items please." Her rather rude response was, "Well I'm just finishing this order!" My rather abrupt response was, "This is my order, not that person's!" Next she really annoyed me with a condescending, "Well, where is your helper sweetie?" "I DONT HAVE A CAREGIVER. I'M CAPABLE OF DOING MY OWN SHOPPING AND I'D LIKE TO PAY FOR IT AND LEAVE!" Well, she took my money and finished the transaction without another word. "Thanks so much," I say as I turn to roll away, only to find a supervisor and a security guard has appeared! I wheel around them and head towards the exit. The guard then stops me, "You can't take the basket outside." I explained and pointed to my car, saying, "You didn't allow me to bring in my bag, so surely I can take the basket the 20 metres to my car, empty it, then return it?" The answer? "NO!" "OK can I leave the basket here and go grab my bag from the car?" I ask. Another "NO!" from the security guard. So I empty the basket and try to balance the groceries on my lap. It doesn't work. I ask to buy a 20c bag but they won't do an EFTPOS transaction for that amount. I place the basket at the guard's feet, grab one item, and say, "I'll be back for the rest, and if anything goes missing you will be in trouble!" He suggests I leave the shop. "I'm trying to, but you're making it very difficult!" I reply. I return three times to get all the groceries. When I grab the last item I turn to the guard and say (possibly sarcastically - but hey I was fuming), "Thanks so much for all your assistance. I'll be sure to submit some feedback to the store!" Shaking by now, I return to my car and get in - all the while being watched by several sets of eyes - and leave. Never to return to THAT supermarket ever again! Time for change The attitudes of workers at our big supermarket chains need a lot of education. Let me facilitate a workshop on how to serve disabled customers: How to treat us like any other customer That a person in a wheelchair may still talk, think and shop for themselves That small accommodations - like allowing a basket to go to a vehicle, that you can see from inside the shop - can make all the difference! We need companies to stand up and educate their staff to be considerate, inclusive and accepting of all humans! We need government legislation that provides access for all, and a positive change of attitude from everyone.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy My daughter had an Eye Clinic appointment at Greenlane Hospital. She uses a wheelchair and requires a hoist and changing table to use the toilet. I searched the Auckland District Health Board website ...

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Mareah preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Mareah

I tried to apply for a custom wheelchair for my eleven-year-old son through Starship Hospital, via referral to Mobility Solutions. My son currently uses a standard wheelchair from Starship but needs a custom chair with a motor, so he can drive himself when his condition worsens and his wrists and hands become too weak to wheel himself. He is unable to move around safely at school and out in public when this happens, and he misses out on family outings. I want new access laws so that the health system can't deny people access to help when they need it, especially when a person with access needs has been put in a category where they "look OK", or their condition is rare, or it doesn't seem too bad. In our case, my son was denied access to a custom motorised wheelchair because we do not have an accessible home! We need laws that ensure we have accessible transport AND housing options.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan

I experienced an access barrier when I tried to cross the road in Central Wellington. I couldn't cross the road safely without getting my feet soaked. There is an awful crossing near the New World supermarket, with no tactile markers, and the signal pole is miles from the curb cut. So, as a blind person, I have to feel for the tactile signal, jump, and line myself up as best I can with only the signal box to give me an idea of the best angle to safely cross the road. If I get it right, there is a massive puddle that involves climbing over the edge of a garden to avoid. If I get it wrong, I have a choice between standing in fast traffic or navigating a short ledge into a muddy garden bed. Crossing the road in Welly is a 'fun' little game of Russian roulette. Will there be tactile markers on the footpath or will it be a curving corner that directs me into the path of traffic? Will I cross this five lane road, or end up balancing on a silly little road triangle? Will the footpath be completely impassable with roadworks? Who knows? Let's 'play'! EVERY street should be accessible. We don't put up signs saying, "No Disabled People Allowed In This Part Of The City!" So stop putting up infrastructure that says exactly the same thing. Needless to say, walking anywhere in Welly is stressful as heck. And on this particular day, my shoes did end up getting very wet. But at least I survived to tell the tale. We need accessibility legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand that requires accessible public infrastructure ... yes, even in our capital city of Wellington! This must include tactile markers at ALL pedestrian crossings, traffic light crossings and corner curb cuts. The law must require councils to actually check infrastructure for accessibility. Why should I have to report hundreds of individual lapses in access through the Council app, one by one? (Especially when I then receive a phone call at some ungodly hour of the morning regarding every single incident.) I don't mind reporting the odd fault. But if you want a full accessibility audit of the city, then hire me properly, guarantee to fix the access barrier issues, and pay me for my mahi.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Barry preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Barry

I encountered a barrier to access when I was trying to find the correct bus to get me to my destination. I was at the central bus interchange in Dunedin and couldn't confirm the correct bus due to being Deaf and unable to quickly communicate with the bus driver. Another person was about to hop on the bus and he seemed to point elsewhere. I guessed that this was the wrong bus because it seemed the driver was trying to indicate his bus route was going uphill, whereas I wanted to go to the flat land of St Clair Beach. I hopped off the bus and walked to a different part of the interchange to try to find the correct bus - which I eventually did - but it should not be guesswork! The bus drivers, and bus IT and communication systems, need to be clear, instant and correct. Numerous, similar incidents have occurred to me before, usually when I was unable to quickly communicate with a bus driver. I have had bus transport barrier incidents happen in other cities that were more embarrassing than this one in Dunedin. For example, one evening two buses went in completely unexpected directions. I think the hearing passengers knew why, but I didn't until a transport station official finally informed me. Other passengers were looking at me as though I was an idiot or imbecile, when I was just very confused and frustrated by the diversions. It turned out to be a major route closure event, but without any notification or communications that I could access. The new accessibility legislation should make it compulsory for bus IT systems to communicate correct routes, bus stops and route alterations in captions and in New Zealand Sign Language. They should set up Bluetooth technology to enable mobile apps to query bus IT systems.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy

I encounter an access barrier dressing my young child on a daily basis. I have Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which means I can not walk or stand for any length of time. I get out of breath really easily, and mornings are the time I am most symptomatic. I am not eligible for any support to dress and get my four-year-old ready for preschool, even though, if I needed assistance dressing or feeding myself, I would be eligible for it under personal care. The care I do for my child does not count. Like most four-year-olds, my child is not independent. When getting ready in the morning, I give her significant assistance by preparing breakfast, feeding her breakfast, dressing her and giving her medication. Also, like most four-year-olds, she is uncooperative and high energy! I am physically unable to perform all these tasks, which leaves me having to ask her ECE teachers for support. I don’t understand how I am eligible for support for my own personal care, but not for the care of my child, which is my responsibility as a parent. This morning I wasn’t able to give my child her medication. My POTS and essential tremor makes it very difficult to pour out medication doses. Also, I am unable to physically restrain my small child to give her the medication. I was not physically able to brush her teeth well this morning either. These sort of incidents occur on a daily basis. I send my child to preschool without her basic cares completed, and have to ask the teachers there to assist me. This makes me feel inadequate as a parent, as I am unable to physically care for my child. I am, however, very grateful for the support I receive from her child care centre. I want legislation that ensures supports are provided according to need - not just my own needs but also those for whom I have responsibilities.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Deborah preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Deborah

I am a student at Wintec in Hamilton. One of the teaching staff was very abusive. He didn't want a mobility-challenged student in his class.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Gayleen preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Gayleen

I often encounter access barriers when trying to use disabled toilets. This impacts me every time I go out. Read my full incident report ...

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Amy

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.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Teena preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Teena

I raised my three children on my own, while living with very low vision and no family or community help. We were housebound because I had no transportation due to my sight problem. My children have suffered because I could not take them anywhere on my own. This resulted in my children not learning to swim, or playing in sport teams, or even going to friends' houses. I am also housebound because I have no family or anyone to help. My benefit is not enough to use taxis and the bus services in Bell Block, New Plymouth, are terrible. Thank goodness for the internet, at least I can get groceries on line. I would like to see accessibility laws that allow access, for those with disabilities, to the everyday activities and services that most people take for granted. Things like a more subsidised transport system, which might include perhaps three free taxi trips per month. Or maybe a payed helper for parents with disabilities, so they can take their children out. Small things that would make a big difference. My life has been extremely unfulfilling because we live in a society that just doesn't care about people who have no one to support them. I have struggled with access barriers and discrimination my whole life, partly because I was born into a family that wanted nothing to do with a disabled kid. Hopefully legal changes will also cause a positive shift in people's attitudes towards those of us with access needs.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Timothy preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Timothy

I often struggle with venue inaccessibility. An envisaged social engagement with my gym community was recently thwarted as the Council-owned, Tauranga Rowing Club turned out to be inaccessible to wheelchair users. The building is in Memorial Park, Tauranga, a prime waterside public location. The rowing club hall was rented for a gym Social Saturday evening, but I couldn't get in. We need access laws that ensure all community spaces are accessible to everyone.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Rhonda preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Rhonda

I recently went to a public hot pool with a friend. We paid extra to go on the hydroslide, which is one of my most fun things to do in the whole wide world! Since I lost my sight I really enjoy activities that have a smooth and sliding sensation, like cycling, hydrosliding, ice-skating and snowboarding.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Emily preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Emily

I was trying to go swimming. I have fibromyalgia, which means cold water causes a flare up of my pain. So I had gone all the way across town so I could use the warm hydrotherapy pool at QE2 ...

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan I wanted to go ice skating, so I rang a local rink in Wellington. I am blind and would need my support worker to guide me on the ice. I enquired about free or discounted admittance for disability support workers. They said no, support workers have to pay the entrance fee too.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Pamela preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Pamela

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Pamela I experience problems with access barriers as I'm in an electric wheelchair. For example, trying to access public toilets, and having to travel unsafely on the road because the footpath crossings are sometimes too high. We should have laws to fix such basic access needs.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Adriana preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Adriana

I went to visit the Ministry of Education (MOE) head office in Wellington. I assessed the access to MOE's head office from Parliament building, from the perspective of a person using a wheelchair. Accessibility is the ability to actively participate and engage, and in this regard the MOE head office in Wellington FAILS.

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Teena preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Teena

I am legally blind which means I have limited vision. I have been trying to get a job for more than 15 years and I still do not have employment. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Vivian preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Vivian

In my experience working in the building industry, I have noticed an access barrier in the attitude of a developer who builds multi-story buildings and locates all the building’s accessible toilets in the one place – the ground floor. Although NZS 4121 advices that accessible toilets should be included where general toilets are located, this developer argues that he is providing more accessible toilets than are required by the Building Code and has persuaded Council that this is a desirable outcome. Clearly this is not to the advantage of people who need to use accessible toilets, for a range of reasons: Anyone can find themselves needing to go to the toilet urgently – what an additional stress to get the lift to the ground floor People with stomas of different kinds need a toilet and basin located together, they cannot deal with such equipment at the generic hand washing basins If there is a power failure and the lifts stop working, how do you reach an accessible toilet? Extra time is needed while waiting for the lift to and from the ground floor toilet, which is also detrimental in additional costs to the employer. There is no dignity in not being treated the same as everyone else. From a commercial perspective, the non-provision of accessible facilities on upper floors requires tenant businesses to install their own accessible toilets alongside the suite of toilets provided in the base build. It angers me that this additional expense falls on the tenant. Of course the tenant leaves that accessible toilet infrastructure in place when they terminate the lease – thereby increasing the value of the tenancy when it is leased out again - to the benefit of the building developer and owner. I am dealing with such a situation right now: one client is moving into newly renovated premises, where accessible toilets are provided on all floors, whilst another is moving into a building currently being built by the above developer. I want the new accessibility legislation to ensure the enforcement of both the spirit and the letter of access regulations and building codes. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lynda preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lynda

So many webpages are written with light type on a light background. If large text is unreadable to you (it is for me) and white text is placed on the 'on trend' pink background, there may be nothing intelligible on the webpage for blind and low vision people. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Andrew preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Andrew

You can see how seriously Labour takes access for all, by the Hamilton offices they occupy ... #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Wendy preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Wendy

I have been working as a volunteer at Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Tauranga for over eight years. In all that time, CAB has never had a specifically designated mobility carpark. Accessibility laws should be passed to ensure all citizens have equitable access to community services such as ours at CAB. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lyn preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lyn

I have taken all my pets to my local vet practice for the last 30 years. I recently requested that a front door access ramp be provided, but they fobbed me off. The vets told me there is suitable access via the back door of the clinic, and if I call ahead they will arrange for me to enter that way. I am a loyal customer and now I can't get into the building, because I can't get my mobility walker up the three steps to the front door. There is ample room to install a ramp on the property, but they don't seem to be willing. I really want to take this further, but I don't have the confidence to take them on. The new accessibility legislation should set the expectations and provide the support needed for everyone to have access to goods and services, like access to my local vet practice. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Natasha preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Natasha

I was trying to access the public transport system in my local area of East Auckland, so I could independently go to the shops, the doctors and the mall. The closest bus stop to my house is across a busy main road. I am unable to cross the road by myself due to my visual problems and being unable to see three dimensionally. There is no pedestrian crossing available. I couldn't cross the road, so I couldn't catch the bus, so I couldn't go where I needed to go. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Dave preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Dave

I wanted to order lunch, around 11:30 am today, using the delivereasy.co.nz online platform. I found satay burgers easily enough - from Khmer Satay - but there were numerous unlabeled website buttons, and my screen reader could only say "button not sufficiently informative". I missed out on lunch. And they missed out on my money! No one wins that battle. The new access laws should make sure all New Zealand websites and mobile apps comply with the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Debbie preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Debbie

An access barrier for all disabled people is the total lack of money - in the Government's 'Wellbeing Budget 2020' - to make violence prevention and response services accessible and appropriate for disabled people. The new national strategy for family and sexual violence says it is for all people. Yet people with disabilities have been completely left out of the funding allocated in the budget. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Shona preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Shona

I asked a life guard at my local pool about the hoist for disabled people. The life guard completely spoke over my head and ignored me. She treated me like I was stupid, even though I had asked the question. I was told no one knew how to use the hoist, but the life guard said she would love to learn how, "Oh, but the hoist is locked away. And please give us 24 hours notice when you want to come to the pool." I got angry with her. We left. I rang the council, who run the pool, but they did not instill any confidence in me with their comments either. It's not fair. This sort of access barrier is not an isolated incident. It's happened before, and not just at the pool. It's hard to get into so many shops and cafes. Plus you get stared at. I have never been back to my local pool. They scared me. They made me feel less than a person. I want accessibility legislation that will make all life guards get proper training to operate the hoists at pools. They should make the stairs more accessible for the elderly too. I also think there needs to be polices about how much stuff they can put on the floor of shop aisles as I often can't get access because of this. The same with blocked doorways. Not only that, councils need to think about how they build toilets to allow access for people with disabilities, and not put heavy doors on them. Heavy doors are really hard open for powerchair users. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Adriana preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Adriana

I encountered an access barrier when visiting the New Zealand Parliament grounds in Wellington. I wanted to go up and down the parliamentary stairs, but I was prevented from doing so. This made me feel angry as it confirmed to me that our Government is NOT "walking the talk". They are NOT committed to creating an accessible New Zealand for all. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Dave preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Dave

The website mycovidrecord.health.nz, operated by the New Zealand Government Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora, fails to conform with the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as interpreted by my computer screen reader JAWS for Windows. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Loren preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Loren

I was trying to get off the bus at the Christchurch Bus Interchange. I got up from my seat, with my cane extended in front of me, and walked down the aisle to exit through the front door of the bus, as I usually do. The driver physically blocked me with their arm and said “No!” #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Prakashni preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Prakashni

Prakashni speaks out about attitudinal barriers that prevent access to employment and socialising. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Susan

I wanted to buy a bottle of milk before catching the bus home. I am blind, so I went to the service desk at Countdown to request sighted assistance. I was asked to wait, which I did. Ten minutes later ... #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by David preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by David

Listen to David speak about difficulties accessing Colmar Brunton and Opinion World surveys, for blind and low vision people. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lise preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lise

Some RSA clubs do not have enough room in their toilet facilities. Doorways and general access is okay for abled but for not for disabled people. People who need extra travel time, or an elevator to get to another level, often encounter more steps than ramps. For those who would like to enjoy a meal, seating can feel squashed in the dining area. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Nikita preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Nikita

Our family was returning home from a dinner out one evening. My Mum uses an electric wheelchair, so we called a taxi with a lift to take us home. The driver got us in and tied up some strops around the wheelchair. Following that, the driver drove very tightly around the corners. Every corner caused Mum's chair to tip at a 30-45 degree angle, leaving myself and another family member to catch and hold this very heavy electric wheelchair. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Natasha preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Natasha

I encountered an access barrier when I was going around the block in my mobility scooter. I was almost at the end of my journey, near my house, when there was an unexpected construction site. The pathway wasn't accessible! #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Andrea preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Andrea

As a person with low vision, the following are frequent barriers for me and other visually-impaired Kiwis ... #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Hope preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Hope

I encountered an access barrier when I tried to watch a documentary in my high school history class. The documentary was not captioned properly - it had very inaccurate autogenerated captions - and so I could not understand it as I am Deaf. I didn't do very well on the assessment. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Andrew preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Andrew

#AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Dot preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Dot

I went to use the accessible bathroom in the new shopping complex in Frankton, Queenstown. To my horror and absolute frustration ... ! #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Tracy preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Tracy

Mobility Parking for a wheelchair user isn't fun. Here's how it goes for me and many of my peers ... #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lesley preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lesley

I was checking in with Air New Zealand and I couldn’t see the hand-held barcode zapper for my luggage. I had already explained that I am visually impaired, but the attendant said crossly, "Just like you do at the supermarket!" #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Eva preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Eva

Councils don't allow wheelchair accessible carparks in front of schools. They have to be on school land, which is not always possible, and not necessarily the closest carpark. This makes it very difficult to pick my older son up from Nelson Intermediate (his brother is a wheelchair user), or to go to teacher interviews, or other school social events. I end up having to park way down the street. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by John preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by John

I have tried to use a Travelscoot - "the world's lightest foldable electric mobility scooter" - on public transport, such as buses, a number of times. I've had bus drivers refuse to allow my Travelscoot onboard as a mobility device, or to give me any assistance with loading and unloading it. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lesley preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Lesley

I was taking my Mum for a haircut and some grocery shopping at a local shopping mall. I have a Mobility Parking Permit and we managed to find an empty accessible carpark. However, it was very difficult to get out of the car because ... #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Rebekah preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Rebekah

I was in training at a new job and, because I have a neurodiverse disability, I couldn't learn properly in the employer's neurotypical environment. #AccessDeniedDiaries

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Ray preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by Ray

Prior to a recent procedure at Wellington Hospital, I was given small print text paperwork stating all the important things that I should observe when I go into the hospital for my operation. I am blind, so it was impossible for me to read this information!

#AccessDeniedDiaries by River preview image

#AccessDeniedDiaries by River

I love films. I wanted to watch a film with a friend at the Lighthouse Cinema ...

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2022 #AccessDeniedDiaries Competition (closed) preview image

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2022 #AccessDeniedDiaries Competition (closed)

iSee Barriers Project: Report Access Barriers Within Your Community preview image

iSee Barriers Project: Report Access Barriers Within Your Community

Guide Dog Handlers empowered by new tool to report access barriers within their community! For years Guide Dog Handlers have had to simply put up with access barriers within their community ...

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