Branching out of the family home and into your own place can be extremely exciting. While it invokes a feeling of freedom and sense of new found independence, it is also one of the most stressful things we can do in life. So, what happens when you’re unable to find a home in which you can actually get into the front door? Maybe you can get in the front door but are struck by obstacle after obstacle as you cannot access the bathroom, kitchen and maybe even the bedroom. This is something a lot of people with disabilities face when finding a home.

Whether it be private or social housing, many places do not have adequate access for people with physical disabilities. Considering there is a housing crisis in general, this can be a daunting experience for not just the individual, but their families also.

In addition to people not being able to find accessible homes, many people who acquire their disability through accident or injury cannot go back to their original homes. In some instances, these people are forced to stay in places like retirement villages regardless of age or capability, purely for the ability to live independently. Even worse, some people are limited to being in one room in their house for majority of the day because their family had no choice but to opt for something that did not meet their needs.

Accessible homes not only support people with physical disabilities to live independently, it also supports elderly people and many other individuals. Surely there is more that can be done to ensure that more housing is accessible, especially with all the new houses being built, both privately and through housing New Zealand, to keep up with the growing Auckland demands.