Progress report - 2008
Objective 1: Encourage and educate for a non-disabling society
| Agency | Project | Project Aim | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Social Development www.msd.govt.nz |
Employers Disability Network | To develop an Employers’ Disability Network to support employers’ understanding of disabled people, help more people into work and improve services to disabled customers. | The Ministry of Social Development has supported the establishment of the Employers Disability Network by providing a project manager, and secretariat support to the steering group overseeing the project. The steering group includes: Accident Compensation Corporation; Business New Zealand; Department of Labour; Disabled Persons Assembly; Equal Employment Opportunity Trust; Ministry of Social Development; New Zealand Chambers of Commerce; New Zealand Council of Trade Unions; Office for Disability Issues [Chair]; State Services Commission and Workbridge. Initial networking events have been held for employers in Auckland, hosted by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and in Wellington, hosted by Business New Zealand. |
| Ministry of Health www.moh.govt.nz |
Multi-agency Plan | To help address the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. | A group comprised of Like Minds, Mental Health Commission, Human Rights Commission, Office for Disability Issues, Health and Disability Commission, Mental Health Foundation, and the Regional Consumer Networks met three monthly. A terms of reference and work plan for the next three years was developed. |
| Ministry of Education www.minedu.govt.nz |
Vision to support students with special needs | To ensure all education providers have the capacity and capability to effectively support students with special education needs. | Provided a range of special education services to over 30,000 children and families, and support and services to schools, early childhood education centres, parents and whānau. |
| Sign Language (NZSL) Act Implementation Plan | To progress implementation of the Ministry’s five year plan (developed in 2005) for the New Zealand Sign Language Act focusing on four key areas: • communication and awareness • workforce development • access to learning through NZSL • other issues related to principles of the NZSL Act. |
Communication and Awareness • policy guidelines for use by Ministry staff when developing information or communications are being prepared and will include the use of accessible formats, including NZSL, for Deaf and hearing impaired audiences • a Family Book containing information and resources on educational issues has been produced by Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand (DEANZ) and the National Audiology Centre (NAC) for distribution to all family/whanau of Deaf and hearing impaired children • involvement in Deaf Awareness Week and funded Deaf Education Centres to produce resources. Workforce Development • offered scholarships to encourage fluent Te Reo speakers to train as tri-lingual NZSL/English/Te Reo interpreters • conducted specialist teacher review to ensure specialist teachers are well trained and engaged in continuing professional learning. Access to learning through NZSL • increased training programmes availability and accessibility (eg – distance learning packages and video conferencing learning opportunities) • progressed work to make NZSL available as a curriculum subject. A NZSL webpage is part of www.tki.org.nz (learning languages kete) • established a Deaf resource centre at a tertiary institute. |
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| Contact with disability sector | To have regular consultation with the disability sector and to ensure consumers (parents and students) are represented. | Held Deaf education forums and regular consultation with IHC and CCS Disability Action. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) consumer groups consulted on ASD Guideline work. Relationship established with DEANZ regarding service provision (national plan). Working with DEANZ and wider deaf education sector on a strategic plan for deaf education. Deaf education sector representatives involved in mainstream curriculum development. Ongoing consultation and engagement with the Blind and Low Vision sector through a joint ministry and Blind and Low Vision Network New Zealand working group. Deaf Education sector contract has been let which provides for organisations with an interest in Deaf education to meet twice a year to share information and discuss relevant issues with Ministry officials. |
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| ACC www.acc.co.nz |
Memorandum of Understanding with the Deaf Association of New Zealand | To develop a Memorandum of Understanding to improve access by Deaf people to Sign Language interpreters and other relevant services. | The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 26 May 2008. |