Meetings in 2006
There were four meetings of the Disability Advisory Council in 2006. A summary of discussion at the meetings is available on this page:
March (2 and 3)
Members present: Mike Gourley, Maggie Bailey, Dick Earle, Claire Freeman, John Forman, Tina French, Victoria Roberts, Graham Stairmand, Cheryl Wallace, Carolyn Weston, Tanu Toso, Maaka Tibble, and Christine Zander.
- Progress with the Office’s work programme was discussed.
- Council members discuss the issues register, and how these issues could be aligned with the New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation. The Office would match the issues with the Disability Strategy and revised the issue register.
- The Families Commission presented on their role and function. Council members discussed issues with parenting and respite care for families as experienced by disabled people. It was noted that disabled people face extra problems as parents and family members that need to be recognised in the work of the Families Commission.
- The Office presented on:
- progress with negotiations on the United Nations convention on the rights of disabled people
- current issues with the review of long-term disability supports, and noted the formation of a new project team in the Office to lead policy development
- options for the review of progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
- The Department of Labour presented on work in preparation for the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act 1960, and the role of labour inspectors in monitoring employers of disabled people and minimum wage commitments. The Ministry of Social Development highlighted its work with vocational services providers through its implementation of Pathways to Inclusion. Council members noted that clear and ongoing communication with disabled people on changes with vocational services was important.
June (29 and 30)
Members present: Mike Gourley, Maggie Bailey, Dick Earle, Claire Freeman, Tina French, Graham Stairmand, Cheryl Wallace, Carolyn Weston, Mote Liava’a, Maaka Tibble, and Christine Zander.
- Progress with the Office’s work programme was discussed.
- The Office presented on:
- New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation plans for 2006/07, and how the revised planning template focusing on key action by departments has worked. An analysis of the plans will be presented at the next Council meeting
- developments with the review of progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy
- Development of the issues register was discussed. The Office reported that it in the process of revising the register and would be able to discuss progress at the next meeting.
- Feedback was sought from the Council on the review of long-term disability supports’ draft outcomes framework.
- Terms of reference for the review of the Council was discussed. Council members raised issues in how the review could best be undertaken, and the involvement of appointing organisations.
September (14 and 15)
Members present: Marion Wellington, Mereana Hermara, Murray Peat, Mike Gourley, Dick Earle, Tina French, Graham Stairmand, Cheryl Wallace, Timote Liava’a, Kim Robinson, and Christine Zander.
- Progress with the Office’s work programme was discussed.
- Council members noted further matters to be added to their issues register, including the need for hearing loops in buildings to be checked regularly.
- Ways to improve the communication with the disability sector about what the Council does was discussed. Information on the Office website would be updated, and meeting summaries would be included in the Office email updates.
- The need to have as much of the information provided for Council meetings in plain English was emphasised. Council members also talked about how meetings should be conducted to enable everyone present to participate fairly.
- The Office presented on projects within its review of long-term disability supports:
- navigating information and advice
- supports for family caregivers
- outcomes framework development.
- The Ministry of Transport presented on its work to assess the level of accessibility of public transport services.
- Progress with the United Nations convention on the rights of disabled people was discussed.
- The Ministry of Social Development presented information from the Social Report 2006.
November (9 and 10)
Members present: Marion Wellington, Mereana Hermara, Murray Peat, Mike Gourley, Christine Zander, Cheryl Wallace, Dick Earle, Kim Robinson, Timote Liva’ava, Tina French, Graham Stairmand, and Lose Tu’I’ile’ila.
- Progress with the Office’s work programme was discussed. Council members commented on: the importance of extending the New Zealand Disability Strategy responsiveness to local government; the need to get all government departments to make their information accessible; and the problem of negative employer attitudes to hiring disabled people and what government is doing about this issue.
- The Office for Senior Citizens presented to the Council on the Positive Ageing Strategy and key issues for older people needing action by government.
- The Chief Electoral Office presented to the Council on their current public consultation looking at ways to improve the accessibility of voting in the general elections. Council members were interested in finding out from the Chief Electoral Office on plans for electronic voting – this will be an item at a future Council meeting.
- The Office presented draft terms of reference for the review of the Council. Feedback from members will be incorporated into the final terms of reference.
- The emerging issues register was discussed. This records issues which Council members have noted as likely to impact on disabled people's lives, and action being taken in response to these. The register is to be a standing item for future Council meetings. The Office will report on action being taken on issues, and Council members will be able to present new issues for follow-up.
- The Office presented on its new nominations service. This initiative aim to increase the visibility of qualified disabled people on government boards and committees, and promote leadership by disabled people.
- The Ministry of Social Development presented on current and future policy changes to work focussed support provided by the Work and Income service.
- The Office updated the Council on progress with the review of long-term disability supports, and implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. A more active role for the Council in the Disability Strategy process was discussed.