This report covers initiatives and progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy, by ten key public service departments, for the nine months from 1 October 2001 to 30 June 2002. It shows good progress in some areas, and limited progress in others.

Contributing departments have responded well to the Strategy's challenge to change attitudes, policies, practices and legislation. Though many of these changes are not complete, work is continuing towards building a more inclusive society.

All departments have focused on infrastructure issues such as human resources, physical access, communications, consultation, staff training and information. A number of departments have demonstrated improved consultation processes by ensuring that people with disabilities have places on various advisory and reference groups which give input into policy development. In addition, departments are working together on cross-sectoral initiatives.

A key initiative that has occurred in the current reporting timeframe is the establishment of the Office for Disability Issues. The Office is tasked with co-ordinating implementation of, and monitoring of progress on, the Strategy - as well as providing policy advice for departments and support for the Minister for Disability Issues.

Future reports on progress will be more comprehensive and will cover a full calendar year. All government departments have prepared work plans for implementation of the Strategy in the year ending 30 June 2003. Progress on these work plans will be reported in next year's report on implementation.

For future reports, a more systematic picture of progress will emerge from the formal monitoring process, which is to be developed by the Office for Disability Issues in conjunction with the disability sector.