In March 2002 approval was given by Cabinet to establish an Office for Disability Issues, to be located within the Ministry of Social Development. One of the Office's primary functions is to become the lead agency for the monitoring and implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

The Office was formally established on 1 July 2002. In addition to it being the lead agency for the Strategy, it will provide policy advice on disability issues, including strategic and cross-sectoral disability policy, and provide support for the Minister for Disability Issues.

The Office will build the profile of the disability issues portfolio, and co-ordinate disability issues across government. It will also lead work on equity of access to, and coherence of, services and support for people with disabilities. This work was initiated by Government at the time of the launch of the Strategy. Cabinet approval for the continuation of this work is now being sought. It will include considerable input from relevant agencies and key players in the disability sector.

All Cabinet papers, and departmental policy development, are now required to reflect a disability perspective where appropriate. The Office is developing a disability framework for departments to use when applying a disability perspective to their work.

Responsibility for reporting

Last year the first report on progress in implementing the Strategy was presented by the Disability Issues Directorate of the Ministry of Health. With the establishment of the Office, responsibility for compiling the report has been included in the Office's work programme.

The Disability Issues Directorate has been renamed the Disability Services Directorate. This change reflects its concentration on the funding and provision of disability services, as opposed to the Office's more strategic, cross-sectoral focus.