Progress report - 2008
Objective 8: Support quality living in the community for disabled people
| Agency | Project | Project Aim | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Health www.moh.govt.nz |
Care and support | To increase the range of options available to older people regarding where they live and receive support, including improving and expanding the home based support services available to them. | Held a series of discussions with District Health Boards (DHBs) and provider representatives on key issues for providing services for older people in the community. A report was provided to the Minister in July 2007 about DHBs progress on initiatives to increase the range of support options available to older people, including improving and expanding home– based services. The report identified further work to be undertaken in 2008/09 on service cover, which will define the minimum range of support services that should be available for older people. In Budget 2008, funding was committed to the implementation of a new needs assessment tool for older people accessing support services. |
| Relapse prevention plans | To increase the use of relapse prevention plans for adults with mental health conditions. | Relapse prevention planning is one of the 10 health targets that are key deliverables in the Ministry of Health Statement of Intent for 2007/08. The percentage of long–term adult clients with relapse prevention plans has increased from 50% in the first quarter of the year, to 75% in the third quarter. |
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| Ministry of Economic Development www.med.govt.nz |
Improve New Zealand Relay Service | To make enhancements to the New Zealand Relay Service. | The Relay Service is being used by one bank and four other major banks are negotiating to use the service. Preparatory work has been done for a video relay service trial. The Relay Service is increasingly used by hearing impaired people as well as Deaf people. Work has been done to promote the availability of the NZ Relay Service to hearing impaired and the introduction of voice carry-over telephones (which are user-friendly for hearing impaired people) has led to a 25% overall increase in relay minutes used. |
| Department of Building and Housing www.dbh.govt.nz.nz |
Guidance on accessible service counters | To produce a booklet that provides information on good design solutions for counters and desks that can be used by people with disabilities. | A guide to accessible reception and service counters was jointly produced with Barrier–Free Trust, and is freely available as a booklet and on-line on the Department’s website: www.dbh.govt.nz |
| Guidance on accessible car parking | To produce an accessible car parking guide to enable disabled people to take part in normal everyday activities. | A guide to accessible car parking spaces was jointly produced with Barrier Free Trust. Copies were distributed to all territorial authorities and are available as a booklet and on the Department’s website. | |
| Review of the Building Code | To include accessibility in the review of the Building Code which sets the legal framework for all key elements of building work. | A comprehensive review of the Building Code as required by section 451 of the Building Act 2004 has been progressed. | |
| Ministry of Transport www.mot.govt.nz |
NZ Transport Strategy | To have in the revised strategy a strong focus on accessibility issues to ensure the access and mobility needs of transport disadvantaged people, including older people and people with disabilities, are met. | The New Zealand Transport Strategy is due to be published in August 2008. A roadshow is planned for Regional Councils and their selected guests to explain and answer any questions regarding the strategy. Feedback on accessibility (and other areas of concern) will be noted, and options for improvement will be explored further in the next update of the strategy, tentatively due to be published in 2010. Work has also started on an action plan with relevant agencies and in consultation with the disability sector. |
| Implementation of Total Mobility Review | The Ministry will continue to work with New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to improve the accessibility of passenger transport. | Continued implementation of the Total Mobility Review recommendations. Total Mobility provides subsidised taxi fares for people who are unable to use public transport due to the nature of their disability. Of the three implementation phases, 10 out of 15 regional councils have now signed up to phase two of the scheme which aims to improve the national consistency, monitoring processes, and quality of assessments of the scheme. | |
| Ministry of Education www.minedu.govt.nz |
Assistive Technology Guidelines | To review the Assistive Technology application process in 2006-2007 to enhance accessibility. | Assistive Technology guidelines were released in October/November 2007. Factsheets and examples were published in February 2008 to support the process. |
| Ministry of Social Development www.msd.govt.nz |
Evaluation of Pathways to Inclusion | To conduct a Pathways to Inclusion evaluation on the five years of implementation to see if the scheme has increased participation of disabled people in employment and in their communities. | The evaluation took place in the 2007/2008 year and found that: • 9,000 disabled people had been placed and supported into employment, compared with a total of 3,000 disabled people at the beginning of the Pathways implementation period • there has been a shift away from segregated work environments (previously referred to as sheltered workshops) and an increase in the number of participants in community participation and employment services • less people were on benefit, particularly after being in the programme for 12 and 24 months • transition service providers for disabled students who have been identified as having high or very high needs under the Ministry of Education’s Ongoing Reviewable Resourcing Scheme have increased from 13 to over 70 • services have improved. More have: • services plans • developed acceptable individual development plans for clients • based their services on individual service users’ goals • staff working one-to-one with service users • service users spending time in integrated settings. |
| Funding for Outcomes and integrated contracts for community based service providers | To change the culture of government contracting with non government organisation social service providers in NZ through collaboration and to move contracts to a results-based reporting framework. | There is one disability service provider working with an integrated contract. The service provider has a single contract with four government funders to provide more opportunities for people with a disability to live independently. An integrated contract with another disability organisation is being discussed. | |
| Office for Senior Citizens (Ministry of Social Development) www.osc.govt.nz |
Positive Ageing Strategy | The Strategy promotes positive ageing and is likely to have a positive affect on older people who are disabled. | Details of the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy 2007–2008 and Action Plan 2008-2010 can be found on the Office for Senior Citizens website. |