It is essential that council facilities and services, including playgrounds, swimming pools and libraries, are accessible. Inclusive planning and design improve outcomes for everyone and can reduce future costs.

We have started new work looking at how three councils support the participation of disabled people in their communities.

Our work will highlight good practice and, where needed, suggest improvements the three councils can make as they plan for and provide facilities and services. Our findings will also be useful to other councils.

Read more about this work on our website: https://www.oag.parliament.nz/media/2025/designing-for-disabled-people

Information about this work is available in a range of formats that meet diverse accessibility needs.

When Mark Wilson was younger his parents were told he’d never walk or talk. Born with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects around 7,000 New Zealanders, Mark has had to overcome more than most. He’s had to endure high school bullies, and the challenges that come with not being able to write or type.

“Life at high school was less than desirable,” Mark recalls. “The social pressures are tough for any student, let alone one with a disability. I got to a point where I would sit alone and try my best to hide.”

But Mark was bright and had a keen interest in the business world. He finally got a break after meeting Peter Richardson, Head of Business at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, at the end of Year 12 in 2013. 

“When I met Peter he wanted to talk to me – not my parents. That’s the first time I’ve ever had that. Peter just asked me what I wanted to study and found a way to make it happen. I can’t believe how easy he made it!”

After that meeting Mark decided to leave high school a year early and sign up for the NZ Diploma in Business.

It was a good decision, he says – the best he’s ever made. And now, after four and a half years of hard slog, Mark has his NZ Diploma in Business, and is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Management Studies, majoring in finance and strategic management with the University of Waikato, in partnership with Toi Ohomai in Tauranga.

When Mark reflects on the transition from high school to tertiary life, he admits it wasn’t always easy.

“The first week was terrifying. There were times during my study when I couldn’t see the light at the end of tunnel, but I kept going. It helped that the people were friendly, and the disability team at Toi Ohomai really had my back. They provided me with a note taker, test support and made it easy for me to access the campuses. I pretty much made the Bongard campus my second home.”

Michelle Te Moana, Equity Facilitator at Toi Ohomai said she and Mark took time to learn from each other about the demands of the qualification and what would work for Mark.

“Mark came with the intention to treat study like a job and he did just that. He maintained a high work ethic and high grades the whole time.”

With his newfound financial and strategic business knowledge, Mark is keeping busy helping his parents with their business, Aluminium Artistry.

“I’m trying to bring them up to speed with the 21st century. I’ve been putting systems into place to streamline things, goal setting, culture type stuff and basically just wherever I can help. It’s good to be able to repay them a little bit for what they’ve done for me.”

Mark also donates his time to the Trillian Trek (formerly the Variety Bash) – a charity that helps sick, underprivileged and disadvantaged children around New Zealand.  

The goal from here for the tenacious 22 year old is to find a job in his field. 

“I’d like to get a job in finance. I’m just waiting on the confirmation from the University of Waikato now. It will be good to finally hang the degree on the wall.”

Mark wants people to know that having cerebral palsy doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your dreams.

“I’m just like everyone else. Hopefully I’ve shown that people with cerebral palsy can accomplish just as much as anyone can. I’m very determined. I also get a kick out of surprising people. They can’t believe that I can drive, or that I’ve done a degree. It’s all about awareness – someone might see me and think ‘if he can do it, I might give it a go.’”

Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that affects movement and posture. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. 1 in 500 New Zealand babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. There is no known cure.*
*Source: Cerebral Palsy Society NZ

toiohomai.ac.nz

One of New Zealand’s leading disability service and advocacy organisations is calling on disabled people to take part in this month’s Census on-line amid concerns the number of disabled people may be under-reported.

In the 2006 census, one in five people were recorded as having a disability, however CCS Disability Action believes the number may in fact be much higher.

CCS Disability Action Policy and Information Leader Jonathan Tautari said historically, disabled people have been undercounted in New Zealand’s Census.

“While the reasons are complex, the online option will reduce some of the barriers experienced by disabled people when filling out paper forms. We are encouraging disabled people to participate.

“Good decisions, whether they are made by local or central government, require accurate data. To be a part of the story of New Zealand, it is critical that disabled people have the means to provide data that is relevant, accessible, and trustworthy. In order to count, we need to be counted.”

Census data is important and is used in the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, to research the lives of disabled people and for town planning.

Coffee Supreme rallies behind the Autism Intervention Trust with all proceeds going to help fund a unique Holiday programme for children with autism in Wellington.

On Valentines Day, February 14th 2013, independent specialty coffee roaster Coffee Supreme will release a new Estate coffee from Panama with all sale proceeds going to support activities of the Autism Invention Trust in Wellington.

The sales of the coffee – called Panama Finca Candela – will specifically go to support holiday programmes for the children of the Trust in the Wellington region.

The trust is a charitable organisation that provides support to children with autism and their families. The Trust has been set up by parents with first-hand experience of the issues facing children with autism. Though well-organised and diligent, the Trust must routinely work to secure funding to help all the families in their network. The sale of the coffee is an initiative by Coffee Supreme Roaster Justin McArthur to create a sustainable funding stream for the Trust over the coming years.

Panama Finca Candela is sourced from the coffee grower Finca Candela, a small family run farm in the Volcan region to the west of Panama, near the border with Costa Rica. This is excellent coffee territory, with volcanic soils and a fortunate combination of climate and altitude. This is a sweet coffee suited to both espresso and plunger with flavour notes of caramel, hazelnut, and toasted grains. The coffee was cropped in 2012 season.

Coffee Supreme Ltd
An independent specialty coffee roaster supplying cafes all across New Zealand and Australia. Coffee Supreme celebrates its 20th birthday in 2013 and is still wholly owned by its founders Maggie Wells and Chris Dillon. In the past 2 decades Coffee Supreme has established itself as one of the preeminent specialty coffee roasters in Australasia with it’s high quality café blends, full service support, and it’s premium coffee selection for the home market.

Coffee Supreme consciously does not sell its coffee in supermarkets as it seeks to have the highest quality control measures in the industry. Coffee Supreme is famous for its Supreme Blend, a delicious espresso coffee sold in discerning cafes, and was the first New Zealand roasting company to have a female roaster, Maggie Wells. In 2012 Coffee Supreme introduced the first virtual Coffee Specialists, Mr. Woodward, what is believed to be a world first.

Autism Intervention Trust
The Autism Intervention Trust is run by parents and supports children with autism and their families in the Wellington region. Their mission is to support families affected autism in practical and positive ways.
Members of the trust have firsthand experience of autism and what it’s like to care for someone with autism. All have seen the value of effective early intervention and the difference it can make to the long-term quality of life for children and their families. The Trust warmly invites other parents and family members to join them.

The Trust was formed in 2004 by a group of Wellington parents all doing Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) therapy with their children. For the last 5 years we have secured funding to support early intervention therapies.  The Trust’s holiday programme, unique in Wellington, is now in its 4th year.

www.coffeesupreme.com
www.coffeesupremeshop.com
@Supreme1993

www.autisminterventiontrust.org.nz

For further information and to set up interviews please contact:
Justin McArthur
Roasting Manager
Coffee Supreme
justin@coffeesupreme.co.nz
021 493 426

Regional sports clubs will be showcasing disability sports opportunities at the new Manawatu Disability Sports Expo in The Square on Friday February 15.

The expo, organised by Parafed Manawatu in association with the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and Sport Manawatu, will offer the chance for physically disabled people to play, watch and find out how and when they can keep playing their chosen sport.

The expo is open to everyone and the organisers are encouraging the community to come down and have a go.

Sports on show:

Adaptive snow sports instructors from the Central North Island ski fields will be at the expo to demonstrate a range of adaptive ski gear designed to give people of all abilities an opportunity to experience the thrills of snow sports.

The Manawatu wheelchair rugby team will be there with their specialised wheelchairs, and the public will have the chance to meet and challenge a New Zealand wheelchair basketball champ to a game of basketball.

Wheelchair tennis has just started training sessions in the Manawatu and local members are keen to meet anyone wanting to give the sport a try.

Boccia is an international sport for people with Cerebral Palsy. There is a club in Palmerston North who will be showcasing boccia.

Other sports featured include archery, lawn bowls, golf, shooting, equestrian, Riding for the Disabled, table tennis, athletics, swimming, power chair football, cycling, sailing and goal ball.

Come along and try out a new sport, win some spot prizes and enjoy the atmosphere and a BBQ.

The Manawatu Disability Sport Expo will be held in The Square from 4-8pm Friday February 15. If wet, the event will be postponed to February 22.

For further information and to register your interest, please contact:

John: johns@halberg.co.nz or 0231 1904881
Gregory: parafedmanawatu@xtra.co.nz or 0293583300
Helen:  helen.johnson@sportmanawatu.org.nz or 06 357 5349

Parafed Auckland has received a $25,000 funding boost from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) which has enabled it to purchase a range of new equipment for its athletes.

Parafed Auckland is a non-profit organisation which coordinates and organises sports events for people who have physical disabilities.  There are currently 380 disabled athletes involved with Parafed - many of them use a wheelchair for mobility or other mobility aid.

Parafed chairperson Jody Tapa says the organisation’s goal is to encourage disabled people to maintain an active lifestyle.

“Aside from the obvious physical and health benefits, which are many, sport contributes towards the development of social skills and psychological well–being,” says Ms Tapa. “Regular involvement in sporting activities increases people’s overall quality of life.  It is part of a holistic healing process, and can contribute to a brighter future for people with physical disabilities.

“We provide a number of sporting opportunities for Parafed members - from rowing to rugby, cycling to sailing – in fact we currently organise 16 different sports for physically disabled people in the greater Auckland region,” she says. 

“We see some incredible outcomes as a result of the sporting events and training we provide.  Particularly with young people who have recently lost the use of their legs and are learning to adapt mentally and physically to life in a wheelchair.

“Of course, like most non-profit organisations, funding is a major concern. We rely heavily on volunteers and organisations like NZCT to support us.  This grant has enabled us to purchase sports equipment such as a rugby wheelchair, air rifles, oars, an adult’s tricycle, power-chair soccer balls and goals and, as a result, we’ll be able to cater for and help more than 200 members.”

Although Parafed primarily focuses on providing grassroots sporting events, plans are underway to organise a national sporting competition which will be held in 2014.  This would give athletes an opportunity to compete against a broader range of athletes, at a higher level.

“At the moment, unless you are successful enough to compete at the Paralympics, there is no national event our members can work towards,” says Ms Tapa. “We think there’s a gap in the market here, so we’re creating a competition that will motivate and inspire our sportsmen and women to train hard towards their sporting goals.” 

The event, which will be held at Bruce Pulman Park during Easter 2014, will be known as the Opportunity Games.  During its first year, it will be open to all New Zealand disabled athletes.  The following year, Australian athletes will be invited to participate, and in 2016 the competition will be extended to cater for disabled people throughout Oceania.

NZCT Northern Regional Advisory Committee chairman Colin Dale says NZCT is fully supportive of Parafed Auckland and is delighted to be able to help such a worthwhile, valuable organisation.

“NZCT is one of the largest funders of amateur sport in New Zealand,’ says Mr Dale. “We appreciate how important sport is to society – all members – whether abled or disabled.  We want everyone to have access to sport and to be able to participate in a way that helps them grow and develop.

“We wish Parafed Auckland’s members all the best for their upcoming sporting events and look forward to hearing more about the Opportunity Games.”

The decision to keep Salisbury School open is at odds with the New Zealand Disability Strategy’s goal of an inclusive society, says Massey education specialist Dr Jude MacArthur.

A recent judicial review has over-ruled the proposal from Education Minister Hekia Parata to shut Nelson's Salisbury residential school for girls with intellectual disability. The proposal was to replace Salisbury with wrap-around services in the community, with some girls moving in the interim to Halswell Boys College in Christchurch next year.

This week Justice Robert Dobson over-ruled the decision, concluding that it disregarded "the prospect of greater risk of sexual or physical abuse" to the girls if they were sent to a co-ed special needs school.

Mai Chen, lawyer for the school’s board of trustees, in Radio NZ and Breakfast interviews stated there were concerns the young men with an intellectually disability could start predating on the girls if in the same facility.

However, the IHC challenged that, saying that by portraying the Halswell pupils as potential sexual predators Ms Chen was misleading the public and scaremongering. Dr MacArthur, a senior lecturer at Massey’s College of Education, backs the IHC’s stance and says Ms Chen’s comments reflected a poor understanding of Professor Freda Brigg’s research, which showed disabled boys were likely targets for abuse and needed good support to understand their rights and reduce their vulnerability.

“To portray young men with intellectual disabilities as sexually deviant and ‘predating’ on girls is inaccurate, damaging and archaic," Dr MacArthur says. "This just perpetuates negative stereotypes of disabled people and contributes further to their marginalisation in society.

“These harmful myths should be a thing of the past and Ms Chen’s comments are just another sign it really is time to end the segregation of people with disabilities.”

She says just as institutions have closed because they were found to restrict the lives of disabled people, Ms Parata's proposal to close residential schools and develop supports in the community was an important step towards building a more inclusive society.

“Inclusive education involves changing local schools and communities so all children and young people with disabilities learn well and have friends without having to leave their home.

“We shouldn’t be hiding people away, we need to address their needs in the community. If some boys with intellectual disabilities do engage in unacceptable behaviors, as Ms Chen suggests, then we need to ask why is this happening and what can our community do to help this young person."

The New Zealand Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities both identify inclusive education in regular schools as vital in a society that enhances the lives of disabled people.

“Teenagers with disabilities, boys and girls, need good education, good role models, and support from their non-disabled peers and friends.” Role models and support are found in regular schools and communities, and developing supports and enhancing teacher knowledge is the way forward, she says.

“We have seen how inclusion can work in other countries and in many of our own schools, but for all schools to be inclusive there needs to be commitment and a universal valuing of disability and other forms of diversity."

Splash Palace has a new lift for people with disabilities and is inviting users and groups representing people with disabilities to a demonstration on how to use the new equipment.

Invercargill City Council’s Pools Manager, Peter Thompson said that after numerous issues with the two existing disabled lifts, that were both over 12 years old, Council decided to replace them with a modern, semi-mobile unit that can service both the main pool and the spa pool.

Mr Thompson said the cost for the unit was $16,468 (including GST and freight) and was funded through the generous support of the ILT Foundation, the Community Trust of Southland and the Invercargill City Council, which each contributed a third of the cost. The Council’s contribution came from an existing capital renewal budget.

The lift is manufactured by SR Smith, a company out of the United States which has been producing aquatic equipment for over 80 years.

“The new lift also offers several advantages over the previous units, as it provides the ability for a user to operate the lift themselves and a unique seat on the lift is specifically designed to provide the user with the greatest possible safety, comfort and ease of transfer.

“The new unit has a rated lifting capacity of 136kg and it has two control units, one attached to the lift itself and an additional hand control. The hand control is completely waterproof, and allows either the user or an attendant to control the lift operation.”

Mr Thompson said the demonstration for users with disabilities and groups is planned for Tuesday, December 18 at 11am and all interested parties are invited to attend.

Splash Palace has a new lift for people with disabilities and is inviting users and groups representing people with disabilities to a demonstration on how to use the new equipment.

Invercargill City Council’s Pools Manager, Peter Thompson said that after numerous issues with the two existing disabled lifts, that were both over 12 years old, Council decided to replace them with a modern, semi-mobile unit that can service both the main pool and the spa pool.

Mr Thompson said the cost for the unit was $16,468 (including GST and freight) and was funded through the generous support of the ILT Foundation, the Community Trust of Southland and the Invercargill City Council, which each contributed a third of the cost. The Council’s contribution came from an existing capital renewal budget.

The lift is manufactured by SR Smith, a company out of the United States which has been producing aquatic equipment for over 80 years.

“The new lift also offers several advantages over the previous units, as it provides the ability for a user to operate the lift themselves and a unique seat on the lift is specifically designed to provide the user with the greatest possible safety, comfort and ease of transfer.

“The new unit has a rated lifting capacity of 136kg and it has two control units, one attached to the lift itself and an additional hand control. The hand control is completely waterproof, and allows either the user or an attendant to control the lift operation.”

Mr Thompson said the demonstration for users with disabilities and groups is planned for Tuesday, December 18 at 11am and all interested parties are invited to attend.

I am well used to attending formal signings – but the majority of these are between two parties; the Crown and iwi.

This event today, is remarkable for the scale of collaboration it represents, and I want to formally acknowledge all those parties who have put their hand up, to take ownership and drive leadership of the Taranaki Disability Strategy.

I therefore commend the initiative of the mayors of the

• South Taranaki District Council;
• Stratford District Council;
• New Plymouth District Council;
• Chair of the Taranaki Regional Council,
• Chair of Taranaki District Hospital Board,
• Chief Executive of Sport Taranaki
• Regional Commissioner of Work and Income,
• The Taranaki manager of Idea Services,
• Chairperson of the Taranaki Maori Disability Coalition Group,
• Chair of Disabled Persons Assembly Taranaki,
• Manager of Accessible Taranaki,
• Chairperson of Parafed Taranaki and the
• Chair of the Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre Trust.

The partnerships you have established over the last two years are extremely impressive and will make this strategy sustainable and meaningful. It is critical in today’s challenging times for communities and organisations to work together. You will achieve more by joining your resources than trying to do it on your own.

Your strategy is remarkable for another reason. The vision that all of you have signed up to is a brave and challenging one which works on many levels.

Your vision is for every person with impairments to lead a life free of disability.

Now some of you here today may think how that can be?

How can a Disability Strategy have as its primary goal a life free of disability?

It all comes back to how we define disability.

This Strategy uses the definition of disability defined in the NZ Disability Strategy 2001. Disability is defined as when people have more challenging experiences of the environment or attitudes from others, because of impairment.

Disability is therefore experienced when a person experiences physical or attitudinal barriers in living their life. What is certain is that at some point in our life-time we will all experience a reduction in our sensory functions, mobility or mental capacity.

I am really proud to be part of this important signing today to also acknowledge the outstanding efforts that have been made in this region about disability.

In 2011, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery received the inaugural Big 'A' Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award in recognition of its work in becoming more accessible to the disabled.

And this year, WOMAD New Zealand, was also awarded the Arts For All Award. Of its nomination, the judging panel said that “WOMAD gets accessibility in every way and is a benchmark for what other organisations can aspire to”.

That is a fantastic statement of the type of commitment this community is already making to accessibility. But what is even more pleasing is to know that these organisations aren’t just stopping there.

In 2013, for the first time, Deaf festival-goers to WOMAD will be able to pre-book for a sign language interpreter to meet them at stage performances, workshops and cooking demonstrations. In this way the festival organisers are signalling their commitment to challenging themselves to do all they can to increase accessibility, to truly bring WOMAD to the world.

I have drawn on these two examples because I think they demonstrate the type of leading-edge thinking which Taranaki is displaying in its everyday approach to the challenge of a disabling society.

This strategy takes that thinking further with the commitment to four guiding principles:

• Equal opportunity for all
• People are valued for their abilities
• Nothing about us without us
• Community ownership

I really love these four simple statements of faith.

They tell me that in Taranaki, disabled people will be involved in the decision-making process particularly where the outcomes will directly affect them. It indicates that key stakeholders in your community are putting up their hand to achieve the vision of an inclusive society. You are showing the way as a pathfinder for other communities; driving the strategy forward by your collaborative efforts.

I think what is most impressive about the advances you are making in Taranaki is how closely it reflects the leading edge changes that disabled persons and their families are pioneering at a national level.

Enabling Good Lives is a key component of the Disability Action Plan. It sets out the long-term direction for changing how disability support services are provided so that disabled people and families have more choice and control over their lives.

The Enabling Good Lives approach was developed by the disability sector in partnership with government agencies.

It is about building up the capability of disabled people, their families and communities so that support can be provided from the community instead of just relying on specialist disability services. It puts disabled people in the centre of their own development and support.

At the hub of the Enabling Good Lives approach is the intention that whanau and disabled people, can determine for themselves how they want to live, and empowering them to make their own choices about how they are supported. It’s also about getting rid of the funding silos and simplifying the system so people can plan for all aspects of their lives at the same time.

At a national level, Ministers are going to hold government Chief Executives to account for achieving the shared outcomes of the Disability Action Plan.

We want to see practical changes with measurable targets that reach the lives of disabled people and their families/whanau.

Here in Taranaki you have already made important inroads to making the Enabling Good Lives approach resonate throughout your communities.

In this ceremony today, you have signed up to three clear goals:

1. That the Taranaki Community is aware of and understand the issues facing disabled people.
2. Disabled people are seen and valued for their strengths and abilities.
3. People with impairments have equal opportunity to positively engage in our community.

In all these goals, initiatives, and the models we are promoting at a central level, the approach is to ensure that disabled people and whanau are a part of decision-making throughout the entire process – embarking upon their own waka.

In many respects this is a manifestation of Whanau Ora, which seeks to harness the strength of families, empower them to be self-determining, and provide a space where whanau can dream big, and work towards achieving their aspirations.

There is a lot to do. We must ensure that mainstream services are inclusive and accessible to disabled people.

It is about thinking differently; taking on the challenge to be accessible, to support disabled persons and their families to really plan out what a good life means for them.

Taranaki – you can be well proud of what you have achieved – and have committed to achieve.

I wish you all well in making your vision explicit; in achieving your goals; and in supporting disabled persons and their families to live the lives they most want to.

Clare Curran

The New Zealand Labour Party has a proud history of engaging with and empowering the disability community and people with disabilities. The fifth Labour Government in partnership with disabled people and their representative organisations developed the New Zealand Disability Strategy which was launched in 2000 with the vision of a society that values people with disabilities and continually enhances full and equal participation. This was followed with the then Labour Government signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2007 and ratifying it a year later. Many believe that with these two documents the hard work in ensuring equal rights for those who live with disabilities was done.

However recent events such as the debate about funding for Green MP Mojo Mathers to do her elected duties in parliament, the recent threat to funding for Auckland Disability Law and the proposed closer of Residential Schools for students with Special Needs show that the hard work is just beginning.

Increasing difficulties in accessing the health system, ACC and entitlements through sickness, invalids benefits and disability allowances are creating increasing issues for many people in our communities, particularly those with disabilities. As is finding work and assistance into work.

The New Zealand Labour Party continues to be committed to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and while we may be in opposition, we hold the current National led-Government accountable to this very important document. I have recently worked closely with Auckland Disability Law and the wider disability community to ensure that disabled persons continue to have access to justice as per Article 13.

I have been asked today to comment on how the Labour Party will give effect to the Convention and resource Disabled Peoples Organisations. Labour is currently in the process of drafting its’ policy platform for the 2014 election and is using the Convention as a guiding document to ensure that our polices maintain the hard won gains made  in getting disability rights recognised and strengthen these rights as well as taking active steps to further fulfilling our obligations under the Convention. To this end the Labour Party is committed to the philosophy of “Nothing about us without us” and actively engages with representatives from the disability community and organisations. Within the party structure disabled persons are given a voice via the Kirk Sector which is a special interest Sector based on disability issues. As the Spokesperson for Disability Issues I work closely with this sector to keep informed on issues within the wider disability community and representatives from the sector sit on various policy committees including health, social development and local government so are actively consulted and engaged in the decision making process.

I am aware that the Convention Coalition is releasing their monitoring report on the Governments progress on implementing the Convention from the perspective of people with disabilities and disabled persons organisations very soon. After the monitoring report is released I intend to meet with the Convention Coalition to discuss their findings, listen to their recommendations and hear suggestions on how Labour can work alongside them and other disabled persons organisations to further implement the Convention and ensure that as much as possible Labours policies reflect these findings.

Labour is committed to engaging with and consulting the disability sector on areas where current policies fall short of the obligations and commitments enshrined in the Convention as well as ensuring that disabled persons and their various representatives are adequately resourced to allow them to partake in the decision-making process at all levels from community level right through to central government.

The current rebuild of Christchurch not only allows the redevelopment of the city to be more accessible but allows for greater consultation with the disability sector to create a city that allows for those that live with disabilities to be included in the community and partake in cultural life, recreation and sport. Labour will continue to listen to, work with and consult the disability community as we work towards rebuilding a city that is not only accessible by all but can be held up as an example for others to follow.

One of the big policy areas currently in development is the funding of informal careers following on from the Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Ministry of Health and Atkins and others. Labour is committed to reviewing the policies of the various government agencies that provide funding for carers and implementing policy that is in line with the Court of Appeals findings and gives effect to the general principles of the Convention covered in Article 3 which includes the freedom to make ones’ own choice in carer. Labour will work in conjunction with the individuals with disabilities, their family and whanau as well as funding providers so this is done in a timely manner but also in a way that funding for this is sustainable in the long-term. We have called on, to no avail, the National Government to engage in a bi partisan process on this.  We believe this is essential to achieving a long term solution to this issue.

Last year the Government reported back to the United Nations on its progress in implementing the Convention and meeting its’ obligations, it noted that while some progress has been made people with disabilities were still being disadvantaged and continued to have poor outcomes in areas such as health, education and employment. It is interesting to note that these areas of an individual’s life tie in closely with the theme of this conference; your health is your life and education and employment empowers you and opens doors for your future. As an electorate MP I often have constituents come to me with issues regarding access to education for their children with special needs and I am acutely aware of the limited funding for teacher aids. Labour is committed to working with the parents, education providers and other stake holders to ensure the right to education is upheld. This will require a collaborative approach as disability issues touch on many portfolios and I am working closely with my colleagues as well as stakeholders as we work towards ensuring the right to education as covered by article 24.

In order for disabled persons organisations to continue to stand up for the rights of their members and the wider disability community and work in partnership with the state towards an equal society they need to be sufficiently resourced to do so. The current economic climate means that budgets are being tightened while the demand for services and support continues to increase. Currently one in five New Zealanders live with some form of disability and this is likely to increase over the coming years as New Zealand has an ageing population which will mean an increase in age related disabilities including vision impairments. From a policy perspective Labour needs to start planning now how it is going to financially resource the wider disability sector as well as maintain and strengthen the framework established to promote and monitor the Convention.

The obligation that the state has in terms of resourcing disabled peoples organisations is not just limited to financial resources but also to ensuring that the organisations are adequately staffed and that the staff have the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are maintained and protected. One of the things I have noted while interacting with the disability community is that they want to train and they want to work. Labour is a firm believer in Adult and Community Education as it provides access to opportunities for learning and training and allows more individuals a chance to expand their personal knowledge and skill base. The Adult and Community Education programme provides access to courses and opportunities that people with disabilities may have missed out on in the past due to earlier attitudes towards this sector of society and as such Labour remains committed to the programme. We will restore funding to ACE and ensure that second chance learning is once more available to our communities.

The disability community is an invaluable resource that has a lot of very skilled, knowledgeable and passionate people who want to work and also want to use their personal skills and experiences to further advance the rights of others. Labour’s current disability policy platform provides a commitment to the Providing Access to Health Solutions (PATHS) programme and partnering those who are currently on a benefit due to their disability and face barriers to employment but are itching to work with potential employers as well as providing in work support as the transition is made.

There continue to be gaps and shortfalls in the resources available to various sectors within the wider disability community and I have been working to highlight some of these. Our Paralympic team did New Zealand proud at the Paralympics not only coming home with 17 medals but five world records and one Paralympic record. My colleague and sports spokesperson Louisa Wall and I released media statements around the lack of coverage of the Paralympic Games which prevented us from participating in and celebrating the achievements of the inspiring individuals. The lack of coverage also did not allow us to recognise the skills and abilities of these individuals as well as challenge stereotypes and attitudes that still exist about people with disabilities. I have since met with the Paralympics Organisation and have assured them that a Labour Government would not allow such a debacle to happen again in the future. There needed to be coordination between the Sports, Disability and Broadcasting Ministers and expectations on the broadcasters properly laid out and planned for.

This is just the tip of the ice-berg; my office is currently looking into the provision of and funding for audio captioning as well as audio descriptors which will enable a sector of the disability community to further participate in cultural life and leisure as well as increase their access to information. I have also  met with representatives from the vision-impaired community; due to the way that funding is provided to different organisations in the blind community approximately 90,000 vision impaired persons are unrepresented as they are not classified as legally blind. Labour is committed to working with individuals and representatives involving them in the decision making process as we address the gaps and short falls that continue to exist.

The Digital Switch Over provides a real opportunity for the state and commercial operators to further fulfil our obligations under the Convention in particular around access to adaptive technology to allow those who are deaf or blind to be able to partake in culture and leisure provided by a range of programmes on TV and by extending the right to be informed about current events. Earlier this year  the Captioning Working Group stated that New Zealand has the lowest level of captioning in the world. TVNZ Ltd in their Statement of Intent to the 3 years ending 30 June 2014 has allocated $1,950,000 for captioning per year yet only $500,000 for audio descriptions. I have written to Craig Foss as the Minister of Broadcasting to ask why there is such a difference in funding which creates an inequality for those that are visually impaired and blind. I will happily share with you his response.

Another inequality that I am aware of is with regards to the Targeted Assistance Package attached to the Digital Switch Over. Those on the Invalids Benefit can access financial assistance in the months leading to the switch over in their region to purchase and install the set-top box required to receive Freeview.

However, those who are on the Sickness Benefit are ineligible for the Targeted Assistance Package which may mean that when the Digital Switch Over occurs in their region they may be left behind and this is a matter I have also raised with the Minister.

As mentioned above the Digital Switch Over allows a huge opportunity to use adaptive technology to reduce inequalities, some of the Freeview boxes available come with inbuilt captioning and audio descriptive technology however these set-top boxes are more expensive then the basic ones which can be accessed through the Targeted Assistance Package and this creates yet another barrier to full inclusion and participation in society.

Another issue that I am aware of that is important to the visually impaired and blind community is the right afforded to everyone to cast a secret ballot. However many in this community currently rely on others to assist with casting their vote on polling day and are not afforded this basic right. Accessible Voting is a matter that my colleague and Associate Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel and I have been talking about and we are drafting a letter to the Electoral Commissioner asking what action has been taken in the piloting and implementing of e-voting strategies as identified in the 2007 Long Term Strategy for Voting Technology.

There is a lot of cross over in my role as Labour’s Spokesperson for Communications and IT, broadcasting and my role as Spokesperson for Disability Issues. Another issue that I have become aware of around inequalities and barriers that the disability community, and in particular those with vision impairments or are blind face, is accessing websites. I am aware that not only are a number of Government websites not disability friendly or compatible with text to speak programmes but that a number of sites that New Zealanders use every day are inaccessible.

Currently there are guidelines around Government websites but they are only guidelines. There are no requirements on the private sector to provide accessible websites. Labour is committed to improving access to websites to allow people with disabilities to be able to partake in the online community as well as use websites which will assist them to access services. I am aware of the W3C initiative and if required Labour will consider passing regulations to ensure that disabled persons can access the internet.

In the 2011 health policy platform Labour made reference to research by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Picket; in their book; The Spirit Level. Their research increased the understanding that equal societies do better not only socially but economically.  People with disabilities have historically faced a number of inequalities and even the Governments 2011 monitoring report states that those who live with disabilities continue to face inequalities and until these are addressed through a partnership between the state, disabled persons organisations and people living with disabilities and New Zealand as a whole, then these inequalities will continue to remain.

Labour is committed to empowering you and other disabled persons organisations to take charge of your lives and your future.