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People with a disability need to be given more consideration in city planning and development schemes, the Manukau City Council has been told.
A forum held yesterday invited guests to voice their concerns about the problems disabled people face due to urban designs, which include road works, pathways and shopping centres.
People who were wheelchair-bound, blind or have a hearing impairment told of difficulties including cracked pavements, small picnic tables and lack of access to toilets in parks around the city.
Manukau resident Tanu Toso, who was paralysed in an accident in 1998, said he wanted more thought to go into urban designs to better cater for disabled people.
"It's little things like just having a flush doorway and not a lip - just a flat, smooth surface for the wheelchair to go over.
"Urban design right now is based around cars.
"Roads are wider, making the footpaths narrower, meaning there's less space for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and even parents walking their kids to school."
The disabled wanted to be consulted on design issues as projects were developed and not at the end when all that was needed were consents.
There was also a call for greater awareness of the issues within Manukau City Council's call centre, which dealt with issues such as roading, environmental problems and signage.
Mr Toso, the chairperson for Pasifika Prevention Aukilana, acknowledged that the forum was a good way to let policy-makers hear first-hand from those affected by their policies.
But improvement of access for the disabled was still needed around the wider Auckland region, he said.
"The most viable place to live in for a disabled person is Manukau, because it's flat," Mr Toso said.
"Look at trains. Given that they [policy-makers] spent so much money on the Britomart station, you'd think they'd have better facilities for disabled people.
"But I have to stop at Newmarket and get a ride in."
