Barriers

"I’ve noticed that mobility parks seem to be shrinking 🅿️ in some mall carparks, or they’re designed with a ‘dual’ access area, meaning you can only access the park from one side. Sure, you could back into the park, but then it’s difficult to get a wheelchair ♿ out of the boot. 

My daughter uses a wheelchair ♿ and relied on the bus 🚌 to get to university 🎓. One day, two consecutive bus drivers in Christchurch didn’t stop to pick her up. This wasn’t the first time it had happened, but it was the first time two drivers in a row passed her by. I had to pick her up 🚗, and since then, she doesn’t use public transport anymore. 

I am a powerchair user. There are many times I’ve been denied transport. I can understand when a bus is too full - maybe there’s a lot of people, maybe there’s already two wheelchairs on there, or two prams. It’s annoying, but that happens sometimes, and that’s not within their control. But when it’s factors that are within the control of either the drivers or the bus company, that’s when it gets ridiculous. 🫤 

I was on my way to a friend’s house when I encountered a roadworks truck blocking the footpath. This not only obstructed the path but also made it impossible to access a safe crossing and part of the bus stop. For context, I have low vision and use a white cane. 🚶‍♂️👩‍🦯

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.