Cheryl, who uses a wheelchair, needed to use the toilet when out having lunch with a friend.
Although the café had a disability toilet, access to it was almost impossible. The door was hinged to swing inwards and that left virtually no room to manoeuvre her wheelchair. Cheryl discovered the lock was broken and found it very difficult to transfer from her wheelchair onto the toilet due to the small size of the room.
Accessibility legislation will ensure that the building code is updated and adhered to, including the legal requirements for accessible toilets. Although Cheryl reported her concerns to the staff of the café, accessibility legislation would protect both the wheelchair user as well as the owners of these buildings.
This is my access story, it is one of many. I'm sharing it because I want a law that puts accessibility at the heart of an inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.
What's your story?