Since the New Zealand Disability Strategy was first published in 2001, there have been many changes in the way disabled people live their lives. We are steadily moving closer to our goal of disabled people enjoying the same opportunities, choices, rights and responsibilities as other people living in New Zealand. Some key achievements include:

• New Zealand signed the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 30 March 2007. This Convention was agreed over four years. Disabled people were part of New Zealand’s official delegation.  New Zealand modelled a partnership approach with disabled people being involved throughout the whole negotiation process.
• Closure of the last institution. In October 2006 the last of the institutions for people with physical and intellectual disabilities was closed. This is a big milestone for New Zealand as disabled people live in the community like other New Zealanders.
• The Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act was repealed in 2007, giving disabled people access to the same employment conditions, rights and entitlements as other New Zealanders.
• The New Zealand Sign Language Act (the Act) became law in April 2006, and recognises the language and culture of the Deaf community. The Act gives Deaf people a right to use New Zealand Sign Language in legal proceedings. It also sets out principles to guide government departments in consulting the Deaf community on matters relating to New Zealand Sign Language. This gives Deaf people better access to the justice system and other government processes.
• In 2007, New Zealand was presented with the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award. This award is presented to a member nation of the United Nations that makes significant progress toward the goal of full participation of disabled people. New Zealand was chosen because of our progress in “raising national and international consciousness about the needs and aspirations of disabled people and enhancing their full acceptance in society”.