Support is delivered, either directly by departments or by providers by specific contracting arrangements, from within the funding available.

Objective 3: Provide the Best Education for Disabled People

Objective 3 has eight actions, all aimed at improving education so that all children, youth and adult learners will have equal opportunities to learn and develop in their local, regular educational centres.

For the 2001-02 year only the Ministry of Education was working to implement this objective. In the 2002-03 year work on implementing this objective was also reported by the Education Review Office and the National Library.

The Ministry of Education now includes the former Specialist Education Services, and describes this change as having brought together a broad range of experience and skills, from policy through to direct service provision, united by a focus on learning and achievement for children and young people.

The Education Review Office is the government department that reports publicly on the quality of education in all New Zealand schools and early childhood services, including private schools, kura kaupapa Māori (Māori language immersion schools), special schools and nga kohanga reo (Māori language early childhood groups).

The National Library has seven business areas, one of which is School Services. It supports the development of school libraries by offering information and advice on aspects of school library management and development, and offers a wide range of curriculum-related resources to assist primary and secondary teachers, home schoolers and trainee teachers. It is a provider of over 27,000 audio book titles to local authority libraries, education organisations and disability services.

Actions

3.1 Ensure that no child is denied access to their local regular school because of their impairment.

No specific activity to implement this action was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

3.2 Support the development of effective communication by providing access to education in New Zealand Sign Language, communication technologies and human aids

In 2002-03 work began on an action plan for students with sensory disabilities, aiming to improve services to children and young people with sensory impairment. A joint stocktake of services by the Ministries of Education and Health has been completed, identifying issues around and gaps in the current provision of services. A number of pieces of work required to improve services have been identified as a result of this stocktake, including different streams of work. One of these workstreams is the Ministries of Health and Education jointly working on issues relating to access to and support with assistive equipment. Another is funding the development of a professional development module to upskill school-based staff, as part of a review of and research into the education and development of sensory specialist teachers. These will become priority projects in 2003-04, and will be done under the umbrella of the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the Special Education Policy Framework.

3.3 Ensure that teachers and other educators understand the learning needs of disabled people

In June 2003 the Ministry of Education published 'Best Evidence Syntheses' - a guide to evidence-based research to inform future policy development. These syntheses will also assist education policy analysts to ensure they meet the requirement for all social development Cabinet papers to include a disability perspective.

In the 2001-02 progress report the Ministry of Education reported that it was scoping a project to research effective therapy for students with physical disabilities. The research phase of this project was completed in the 2002-03 year. The final phase of this project, the writing up of the research findings and the recommendations, is due for completion in January 2004.

Throughout the 2002-03 year, the Ministry of Education has continued the action research into effective services for children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This has included guidance from a group representing disabled people and input from the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Education has also evaluated the Early Bird Parenting programme, which is aimed at building the capacity of parents of young children with ASD. As a result of this evaluation, further work will be done in 2003-04 to look at issues of access to and uptake of this programme, particularly for Māori, Pacific and Korean families.

3.4 Ensuring that disabled students' families, teachers and other educators have equitable access to the resources available to meet their needs

The National Library reviewed the collection of educational resources held by its Print Disabilities Unit. These resources are provided to print-disabled children and young adults in schools and special needs units. As a result of this review, the current collection coverage and service have been established and will be increased as funding permits. An increase in the need for resources for preschool, year one to three age group, and for young adults was identified by this review, as was the fact that compact disc was the preferred format.

New arrangements for the provision of accessible format materials to tertiary students who have vision impairments have been developed. These will come into effect from 1 January 2004. As a transitional measure, the Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Commission contracted the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind to continue providing accessible-format materials to students studying at tertiary education institutions during 2003. This was done to ensure there was no gap in the provision of these services, and to give tertiary education institutions the opportunity to plan how they will provide these services from 2004.

3.5 Facilitate opportunities for disabled students to make contact with their disabled peers in other schools

No specific activity to implement this action was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

3.6 Improve schools' responsiveness to and accountability for the needs of disabled students; and

3.7 Promote appropriate and effective inclusive educational settings that will meet individual educational needs

The Education Review Office has been implementing these action points, using its standard review methodology, to find out the extent to which education provided in schools meets the needs of disabled students. The outcome of this review, and its evaluation, was published in June 2003 as a national report entitled 'The New Zealand Disability Strategy in Schools'. This is available on the Education Review Office's website www.ero.govt.nz and summarises the issues found nationally. Issues identified in specific schools were reported to Boards of Trustees as appropriate.

Group Special Education, a division of the Ministry of Education, contracts services from a range of providers to meet the needs of disabled children and young people. Examples of these contracts include the Vision Education Agency and Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand. To ensure transparency in the role of these contracted providers in the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, funding/purchase agreements have been altered to include a new clause that reflects the New Zealand Disability Strategy, including these action points. Contract reporting is required to show evidence of how this is being achieved.

3.8 Improving post-compulsory education options for disabled people

The Ministry of Education has developed a Tertiary Education Strategy to reflect the needs and aspirations of disabled people, to guide policy and operational outcomes. This was done in consultation with people from disability groups and organisations, including the student disability organisation ACHIEVE.

Objective 4: Provide Opportunities in Employment and Economic Development for Disabled People

In 2001 the Government launched 'Pathways to Inclusion', the Government policy regarding vocational services funded and managed by Work and Income, which is part of the Ministry of Social Development. This policy, which elaborates on an aspect of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, signalled a new direction in vocational services with the aim of increasing the participation of disabled people in employment. The fundamental principle is that disabled people have the same rights to participate in their communities as other citizens, particularly through employment opportunities.

The key objectives of Pathways are increasing participation in employment and increasing participation in communities. Within Pathways there are seven specific strategies to achieve these objectives. One of these strategies is to change legislation, including the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act so that all people who work must be paid the minimum wage or seek individual exemptions through a labour market inspector. In order to facilitate these seven strategies, funding is being increased by $11 million over a five-year time frame, from $60 million to $71 million per annum.

Much of the work in 2002-03 in implementing objective 4 of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, 'provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people', was focused on the action points that correspond with the actions of 'Pathways to Inclusion'. The Ministry of Social Development (including Work and Income) and the Department of Labour continued to lead this work in the 2002-03 year.

The Office for Disability Issues is encouraging the involvement of the Ministry of Education in implementing this objective, particularly at secondary and tertiary level education and training. Significantly more action by the Ministry of Social Development to implement this objective is also planned to occur in 2003-04.

Actions: Planning and training for entering employment

4.1 Provide education and training opportunities to increase the individual capacity of disabled people to move into employment; and

4.2 Enable disabled people to lead the development of their own training and employment goals, and to participate in the development of support options to achieve those goals

The Ministry of Social Development has been piloting five demonstration projects to explore and evaluate innovative ways for recipients of the Sickness Benefit and Invalids Benefit to enter and retain open paid employment. These five projects are collectively called 'employABLE: Ngā Pūkenga Hei Whai Mahi'. Four projects are community based. These continued throughout the 2002-03 year, and are scheduled to finish in June 2004. The fifth project, a one-year project delivered by Work and Income, was in its final stages at the end of the 2002-03 year and is also being evaluated.

Each of the four community projects will work with approximately 100 participants over the time of the pilot. These community-based projects, targeted to disabled people receiving the Invalids Benefit and long-term Sickness Benefit, were at the half-way point by June 2003 so only early indications of success can be estimated. Of these projects, one is achieving very promising results to date, assisting over 40% of its participants (young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis) into employment or tertiary study or both. Two more projects are still developing and showing some promise, and the fourth project is struggling to deliver its intended model. These projects are being fully evaluated and a final evaluation, including an indication of cost effectiveness, will be available in October 2004.

The fifth project being delivered by Work and Income worked with approximately 50 people receiving the Sickness Benefit, assisting them into employment. The evaluation of the project will provide an indication of the level of value added by the project. The experience of running this project has also provided a great deal of useful information for Work and Income about effective ways to assist disabled people to gain and retain employment.

The Ministry of Social Development reported that in 2002-03 increased employment opportunities for disabled people were created through increased funding to some providers for specific employment outcomes. The Ministry of Social Development also reported the distribution of a Quality Fund to assist providers to improve vocational service delivery to disabled people. This was done to encourage strategic planning in order to ensure organisations align with the Pathways to Inclusion policy, and to build the capacity of organisations and strengthen their quality of service to disabled people. Work and Income contracted the Standards and Monitoring Service to audit both employment and community participation providers on aspects of quality. A separate contract to carry out financial management process reviews on all vocational providers was undertaken by McCallum Petterson.

4.3 Educate employers about the abilities of disabled people; and

4.4 Provide information about career options, ways to generate income, and assistance available for disabled people; and

4.5 Investigate longer-term incentives to increase training, employment and development opportunities for disabled people

No specific activity to implement these actions was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

4.6 Ensure a smooth transition from school to work.

The Ministry of Social Development's Work and Income is implementing the Pathways to Inclusion policy, which includes a specific focus on transition. In implementing both this action of the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the Pathways to Inclusion policy, Work and Income contacted all of its contracted vocational service providers, and invited those currently providing transition services to a workshop in November 2002. An outcome of the workshop was some draft service provision specifications. Work and Income then began funding pilot programmes focused on the transition from school to work, and will be further developing this area of service in 2003-04.

4.7 Investigate the requirements of the International Labour Organisation Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, with a view to ratification

No specific activity to implement this action was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

Actions: Employment and economic development

4.8 Encourage the development of a range of employment options recognising the diverse needs of disabled people

See activity reported under actions 4.1 and 4.2.

4.9 Ensure disabled people have the same employment conditions, rights and entitlements as everyone else has, including minimum wage provisions for work of comparable productivity

The Labour Market Policy Group of the Department of Labour is providing policy support for the implementation of changes to vocational services, the aim of which is to reduce disparities and improve the labour market participation of disabled people. A series of reports was provided to the Government in 2002-03 reflecting this work. The Labour Market Policy Group continued to provide legislative policy support for the passage of the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act (DPEP) Act, with a package of four papers on the DPEP Act and associated reforms submitted to the Minister in March 2003. Discussions began between the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development in relation to providers who currently charge a fee paid by Disability Allowance.

In 2002-03 the Employment Relations Service of the Department of Labour began developing fact sheets and related information regarding minimum wage exemptions for disabled people. A disability consultant was asked to review this material.

4.10 Make communication services, resources and flexible workplace options available; and

4.11 Operate equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies in the public sector; and

4.12 Investigate a legislative framework for equal employment opportunities across the public and private sectors; and

4.13 Ensure disabled people have access to economic development initiatives; and

4.14 Encourage staff and service organisations (for example unions) to appoint or elect disabled people as delegates and members of their executives; and

4.15 Ensure that the needs of disabled people are taken into account in developing more flexible income support benefits, to make access to work and training easier

No specific activity to implement these actions was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

4.16 Review income support provisions to ensure they provide an adequate standard of living

The Ministry of Social Development, the Department of Labour and Inland Revenue provided a suite of reports to Cabinet in May 2003. This suite of reports covered issues relating to:

• financial security for people in receipt of the Invalids Benefit while in sheltered employment
• employment support arrangements following the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act
• the current income tax exemption for people in sheltered employment
• a proposal to review the use of the Disability Allowance to pay for access to vocational services.

Objective 8: Support Quality Living in the Community for Disabled People

This objective's seven actions are focused on housing and transport. The second report on progress in implementing this objective had a report from the Ministry of Health. In this third report, the Ministries of Economic Development, Housing and Transport have joined the Ministry of Health in implementing this action.

Actions: Living in the community

8.1 Increase opportunities for disabled people to live in the community with choice of affordable, quality housing

The Ministry of Health reported on progress with the Kimberley Project, designed to relocate 379 people with intellectual disabilities currently living at the Kimberley Centre in Levin, into Community Residential Services. The Ministry of Health's Disability Services Directorate leads the project. Other major stakeholders include:

• Life Unlimited (transition team)
• MidCentral District Health Board
• Housing New Zealand Corporation (HNZC)
• Kimberley Parents' and Friends' Association (KPFA)
• Muaupoko Tribal Authority
• consumer representatives
• other providers

The ongoing desired outcome of the Kimberley Project is that all people currently living at the Kimberley Centre will exit life in an institution to live in the community, and that the last major institution in New Zealand for people with an intellectual disability will be closed. The discharge schedule for people to leave Kimberley Centre is almost 12 months behind. However, between April and June 2003 the first seven people left Kimberley, moving to a variety of locations within the North Island (these seven people and their families chose vacancies in existing services). The Ministry of Health anticipates that an acceleration of the transition process will be possible, and closure will be within months of the original date of June 2005.

The Ministry of Health reports that consumer satisfaction and outcomes are critical components of the quality management system necessary to support quality living in the community. A research project, entitled 'Independent Research and Examination of the Outcomes of the Resettlement of Residents from Kimberley Centre', has been funded by the Ministry of Health and is under the auspices of the Donald Beasley Institute. The preliminary report is due for publication around December 2003.

8.2 Support disabled people living in rural areas to remain in their own communities by improving their access to services

No specific activity to implement this action was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

8.3 Support the development of independent communication for disabled people

The Ministry of Economic Development continued to work in 2002-03 to develop a Telephone Relay Service. It has produced a draft Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Service Description which details what the TRS would need to provide to meet the telephone communication needs of Deaf, hearing-impaired and speech-impaired people. The Ministry has been working jointly with the Ministries of Social Development and Health and the Office for Disability Issues to produce the draft TRS Service Description. A reference group comprising representatives of the disability sector, convened by the Ministry, has also provided input into the draft TRS Service Description.

8.4 Ensure disabled people are able to access appropriate health services within their community

In response to the Government's clear direction to reduce inequalities in health, the Ministry of Health developed an Intervention Framework to assist the health and disability sector in the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to improve health and reduce health inequalities. The draft framework was developed in 2002-03, and will be finalised by the end of 2003.

As part of the work programme to implement the Intervention Framework, the Ministry of Health contracted with Public Health Consultancy (Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago) to provide eight workshops for Ministry of Health and District Health Board staff. Their aim was to raise awareness of the concepts of health inequalities (which include health inequalities for disabled people) and highlight actions staff can take to address inequalities through service provision, policy and funding decision making. Follow-up teleconferences were held with Ministry of Health staff and staff of the Nelson-Marlborough, Canterbury, West Coast, Otago and Southland District Health Boards.

In a separate project, the Ministry of Health requested District Health Boards to provide a report on disabled people's access to health-funded services and their compliance with the Disability Strategy in the funding and provision of services for disabled people. This reporting was not satisfactory due to variations in responses and a lack of response from some District Health Boards. The Ministry of Health has now distributed guidelines around reporting criteria, and the report will be completed in the 2003-04 financial year.

A standard for the Home andCommunity Support Sector was developed in 2002-03, under the framework of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001. ACC led this work with input from the Ministry of Health. The standard was published on 17 April 2003, and aims to determine minimum quality and safety requirements for all providers of home support services excluding mental health services. It is intended that the introduction of such a standard will improve the consistency of home services and the accountability of workers to service providers. It will be used voluntarily until such time as the Minister of Health approves the extension of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act legislation to cover home support services.

The Ministry of Health reported that all BreastScreen Aotearoa providers that provide screening and assessment services to BreastScreen Aotearoa, were required to undertake a review of all services and facilities to ensure the programme was both appropriate and accessible for disabled women. The services and facilities were reviewed and the information was collated as part of an ongoing quality monitoring and audit process. The results showed that disabled women are not able to use appropriate breast screen services within their regions. As a result the National Policy and Quality Standards were revised to contain references to ensure both facilities and processes are in place to optimise access for disabled women. In 2003-04 ongoing audits will be undertaken to monitor the effectiveness and appropriateness of these revisions. This information has also provided the basis for a review and upgrade of five of the existing screening mobile units, and changes in the design of the two new mobile units currently being built.

The Department of Corrections reported that in 2002-03 it developed a set of health and disability service specifications to meet New Zealand and international obligations and standards. The specifications require that inmates with intellectual, physical and other impairments, including sensory impairment, be provided with appropriate care, facilities and support, and receive health and disability services to the level and standards that exist in the community. They also require environmental support services to be provided to promote independence for disabled inmates, and where possible improve their level of mobility and support to access education, vocational training and employment.

The Department of Corrections reported that a screening pilot at Christchurch Prison was completed in the 2002-03 year, the evaluation of which will underpin the planning for national implementation. Health centres are being developed to a standard to ensure they accommodate disabled inmates. Work is being undertaken with the Ministry of Health, which has written to all needs assessment and service co-ordination agencies pointing out that they are required to provide needs assessments to all people domiciled in their region, including prison inmates. This also applies to all regional intellectual disability care agencies under the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Bill.

Actions: Moving around the community

8.5 Require all new scheduled public transport to be accessible in order to phase out inaccessible public transport

The Ministry of Transport reported that as part of its work in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy, it has contributed to the development of the International Civil Aviation Organisation practice guidelines. These are available on request from the Ministry of Transport.

Action is occurring in local government to improve access to public transport. For example, some Territorial Local Authorities are introducing policies around replacement fleets to ensure that replacements meet access requirements for disabled people. In another example of the implementation of this objective, the Christchurch City Council has introduced the use of a Global Positioning System that makes audible and visual announcements about bus timetables and arrivals. The Office for Disability Issues will be working to include information from Territorial Local Authorities in the fourth report on progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

8.6 Encourage the development of accessible routes to connect buildings, public spaces and transport systems

The Ministry of Economic Development is leading the government review of the Building Act 1991. In the course of this consultation the concepts of universal access and accessible journeys have been raised by the public, particularly the disability sector, and the Office for Disability Issues.

8.7 Develop nationally consistent access to passenger services where there is no accessible public transport

The Ministry of Transport commenced an assessment of opportunities to further implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy within transport. This included commissioning a report, by an expert in the disability field, on the impact of the New Zealand Disability Strategy on transport infrastructure and services, and the role of the Ministry of Transport in effective implementation of the Strategy. This report is available on request.

The Ministry of Transport also reported contributing to a review of the Total Mobility Scheme, which Transfund has scheduled for completion by June 2004. As part of this review, Transfund conducted a survey of users, administrators and transport operators involved in the Total Mobility scheme in early 2003. The Total Mobility scheme provides a subsidised transport service comprising discounted taxi vouchers (50% of the normal taxi fare in most regions) and funding assistance for the purchase and installation of wheelchair hoists in taxi vans. The goal of the scheme is to increase the mobility of people with serious mobility constraints. This review is part of a broader review Transfund is doing of its passenger transport schemes, targeting 'transport disadvantaged' groups such as school children, older people and disabled people, with a view to improving the national consistency, portability and security of these schemes. Further information on this is available from www.transfund.govt.nz/patronage.html.

Objective 9: Support Lifestyle Choices, Recreation and Culture for Disabled People

In the second report on progress the Ministry of Justice reported on the implementation of this objective. In this third report, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Department of Conservation joins the Ministry of Justice in reporting on work to support lifestyle choices, recreation and culture.

Actions

9.1 Support disabled people in making their own choices about their relationships, sexuality and reproductive potential

The Ministry of Justice work on the proposed regulatory framework for the provision and ethical approval of assisted human reproduction procedures and research was developed into draft legislation and presented to a Select Committee in 2002-03. The Select Committee report back, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, is scheduled for 13 February 2004.

It is of interest to note that the issue of disabled people making their own choices about relationships, sexuality and reproduction is becoming the subject of wider public interest and discussion. The development of sexuality policies by some residential support service providers for disabled people, such as IHC, has contributed to this discussion. Disabled people and advocacy organisations have instigated and led some of the discussion. The proposed legislative reforms regarding prostitution have also contributed to the discussion about the rights of disabled people to make their own choices.

9.2 Provide opportunities for disabled people to create, perform and develop their own arts, and to access arts activities

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage administers government funding for a large number of Crown entities. These include Creative New Zealand, the New Zealand Film Commission, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Te Papa, the Broadcasting Standards Authority, NZ on Air, Radio New Zealand International, TVNZ (in relation to the charter), Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), and the Aotearoa Māori Performing Arts Society, to name a few.

In 2002-03 the Ministry for Culture and Heritage advised all of these Crown entities of the need to reflect the New Zealand Disability Strategy in their work, in particular objective 4 'to provide opportunities in employment and economic development' and objective 6 'fostering an aware and responsive public service'. All Crown entities received a letter of expectation from their Minister requiring them to report on progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

The Office for Disability Issues will be working with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage to extend the focus to the implementation of objective 9 in the 2003-04 year. One of these Crown entities, Sport and Recreation New Zealand, has already done so, and has submitted an implementation plan for 2003-04.

9.3 Educate arts administrators/organisations and other recreational and sporting organisations about disability issues and inclusion

No specific activity to implement this action was reported by government agencies for the 2002-03 year.

9.4 Support the development of arts, recreational and sports projects, including those run by and for disabled people

The Department of Conservation has created a schedule of tracks accessible by disabled people. A track asset category called 'Short Walk for the Disabled' has been developed and used to identify tracks that are suitable for people with physical disabilities. By July 2003, 22 tracks had been identified as meeting these criteria. The promotion of tracks and facilities has been incorporated into the Department of Conservation's 2003-04 implementation plan, as part of a project to raise the profile of the Department with the disabled community.

In order to determine the criteria to prioritise future upgrading of tracks for disabled access, the Department of Conservation is seeking input from disabled people into the coming public consultation process about future recreational opportunities. This has also been incorporated into the Department's 2003-04 New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation plan.