KiwiNZ: I need a Ramp for my home however due to the interesting and unique way things are funded for disabilities in New Zealand I don't qualify for help. to qualify I need to be disabled to the point where I could not use the Ramp.

My condition is such that due to fusion of the vertebra I am unable to look down when I try to walk up and down steps and cannot see where I am stepping, because of this I fall off the steps a lot. When I am too sore and need to use my wheelchair like now, I am unable to get out of the home myself.
My spine is a at a very high risk of fracture due to the fusion and a simple trip in the steps could fracture my spine leaving me paralysed .

So in order to prevent becoming paralysed I need to be permanently wheelchair bound, a catch 22 and something that will be self professing as I will eventually fall and seriously damage my spine. If this occurs the cost to the Government in medical bills will far exceed the cost of assisting with a ramp, however our interesting health and disabilities assistance does not consider that.

So I have options, stay indoors or go out when I can and risk serious injury. I think I see a rock and a very hard place, the hard place being the concrete at the bottom of our steps.

vavroom: I can only second suggestion of going through Rotary, Lyons or other community groups like that. Church groups (if you're part of a church) have often been keen to help with these kind of things.

While fighting ACC or other government department may get you somewhere, it is not likely to have a prompt solution.

I doubt an MP has any control over changing that.

KiwiNZ:I find it very hard to ask for help, call it stupid pride. But my confidence has taken as big a blow as my physical
capabilities.

The system just gets you down, the battle to get seen in the health system, the battle to get approval for medication, it has taken 3 years just to get a handrail installed.

There is only so much fight one has.