(New Zealand Disability Strategy Objective 7: Create long-term support systems centred on the individual)

Disabled people need to have ready access to the specialised supports that will help them to make choices and participate as fully as possible in society. The supports need to provide the kind of help which allows people to get on with their lives and to participate as much as they would like to in learning, working, relationships, civic life and the community.

The factors making a major contribution to this are enhancing choice, self-determination and control; improving access; improving services; and ensuring the disability support workforce can provide good quality care.

These factors are in accordance with the directions provided by the August 2007 report of the Review of Long-term Disability Supports, led by the Office for Disability Issues; the 2008 report of the Social Services Select Committee’s inquiry into the quality of care and service provision for disabled people; and the February 2009 Government response to the Select Committee’s report. Government agencies are undertaking actions in accordance with these directions.