I lost my job as a Barista because the owners of the business moved away and their café became a sushi shop. This was upsetting and frustrating, I became very angry.
I could not decide what other types of work I would be able to do. It is not easy for people with an intellectual disability to gain employment. I did some voluntary work at an opportunity shop for a while before I decided I would retrain and enrolled for a course called MSL. I have started my second year on this course which helps people to find a job. Unfortunately I have not been offered any interviews.
I have realised that the biggest issues affecting disabled people are other people’s attitudes and a failure to see that employing a disabled person would be a positive move for their business.
I would like to see an accessibility act introduced which ensures that disabled people are treated equally in the employment sector, that business owners are encouraged to employ people with a wide variety of disabilities, and we are helped to train for these positions.
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?