Stories

Creating accessible environments for those living with disabilities is often framed as a social issue occurring outside the business community.

I belong to a volunteer group that meets twice a week in our local public library. Our meetings are held on the second floor and the public lift has been broken for an extended period of time.

Come with me on a journey. I want to go to the city to do some shopping. I’m Deaf (I communicate in NZSL) and I’m Blind (I have a guide dog).

I’m blind and use a cane. I was walking between bus stops in central Auckland one day and went to cross an intersection I was not familiar with.

I was driving to a supermarket one day and looking for a vacant mobility carpark. The only carpark free of cars was rudely occupied by a shopping trolley.

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 am a Somali refugee. I am deaf and use my native sign language as well as New Zealand sign language. I have huge difficulty communicating with staff in cafes, supermarkets, dairies, shopping malls and the settlement centre.

I have found many barriers to obtaining employment when I have applied for jobs. Despite having a Master’s degree in Politics and having applied for many positions I find employers focus on my vision impairment rather than acknowledging my education and abilities.

Kiley lives in a rural area approximately an hour away from her nearest city. Visually impaired, she finds her life is very isolated.

Natalie uses a wheelchair for mobility but finds many of the places she wishes to visit are either inaccessible or require a convoluted journey. When she and her husband wished to attend a cat show which was part of the Auckland Easter Show she had to obtain the services of the security guard to take them up in a goods lift.