How the Iran conflict is impacting disabled communities in Aotearoa - and what we can do about it

As the conflict in the Middle East causes devastation for disabled and non-disabled people in Iran, disability communities are starting to recognise the potential ripple effects here in Aotearoa.

The people who are most impacted by the conflict are those in Iran - particularly disabled communities - and though we may be worried for ourselves, we must also take action for Iranian people. We can advocate to our local MPs or sign and support petitions that call for an end to the conflict, not just because we're starting to feel the impacts ourselves. We do it because injustice is happening elsewhere, and that matters regardless of whether we're personally impacted.

When it comes to daily life in Aotearoa, these are some of the concerns to look out for.

Petrol prices

When taking the bus on a rainy day or having to transfer between two — or three — buses around Auckland just isn’t practical, taking your car or a mobility taxi is the best way to stay safe and dry for many disabled people. But the more you depend on private transport, the more it’s going to cost with the increasing cost of petrol. The latest prices show it’s well over $3 a litre for 91 petrol and this is just another form of disability tax.

We called around a couple taxi companies to see how it’s affecting their business. Bani Kulmethe from Auckland Mobility Transport said its fares are approved by Council and then communicated with clients, but because the fuel prices are increasing so rapidly they aren’t able to keep up with the changing prices to increase fares as per their process. Kulmethe also recognises that it’s not as easy as “slapping on some increased numbers” because they run a specialised service: “putting up the prices is not going to be great for a customer who already mostly runs on funding… So increasing the price would not be ideal.” For now, they will wait and see depending on how the situation changes. “We are hoping the prices will be dropped, we're just biting the bullet at this minute. We are running breakeven at the moment.”

Co-op Taxis Auckland operations manager Shaun Williams says they have not increased their fares in response to the fuel prices and have no plans to increase the fares at this stage. “We are very mindful of the impact that any fare changes can have on our passengers, particularly those who rely on taxi services regularly, including members of the disabled community. Our priority is to keep transport accessible and affordable, and we carefully consider a range of factors before making any pricing decisions.” For now, Co-op Taxis Auckland would rather “absorb short-term cost increases where possible rather than passing them directly on to our customers.”

Global supply chains disrupted

It’s predicted that should the Iran conflict continue long-term, that global supply chains could be significantly impacted. While we might be able to live without our favourite brand of coffee beans to wake up in the morning, medicines and medical devices are a non-negotiable for getting up and living for many in our communities. Pharmac has asked suppliers to notify the agency early of any supply risks, so it can act sooner and support ongoing access to medicines and medical devices. You can contact Pharmac directly via email at enquiry@pharmac.co.nz if you’re having difficulty getting certain medications.

Support workers’ ability to travel between clients

As disabled people, some of the best supports that help us live our best lives are other people. This may come in the form of friends, whānau and agency support workers. While petrol prices may impact us directly getting from A to B, the increasing costs of fuel will also impact support workers getting to work and supporting us. It’s not really a WFH kind of job. Support workers often use their own cars to travel between those they care for but are currently reimbursed 63.5 cents per kilometre, which is well below the recommended IRD rate of $1.17. If our support workers were not just reimbursed the appropriate amount but also compensated for rising fuel costs, their ability to do their jobs would be less costly. The Government has the ability to increase the reimbursement rate of fuel for support workers; this seems like an obvious solution.

Impact on mental health

If you’ve been feeling heavy about the state of the world, that is a logical, sensible and valid reaction to being overloaded with news of war. Witnessing murder and destruction day in and day out can take its toll on your mental health. It can be easy to fall into doom-scrolling and rumination. At the same time, being able to turn away from your screen is a privilege that can’t be taken for granted - particularly if your only contact with community is online. There are two extremes: ruminating to the point of overwhelm or being ignorant to others’ suffering. It’s important to strive for a middle ground that allows you to still advocate and stay informed without sacrificing your wellbeing.