According to the logic of the framework, outcomes emerge at two levels:

• Implementation outcomes - Changes in the way stakeholders view, think and act in relation to disability responsiveness, which supports change for how disabled people are valued, engaged with and supported to participate fully in society. These changes are described for each stakeholder.
• Life outcomes of disabled people – The implementation outcomes ultimately lead to full participation of disabled people in all areas of life. This will be reflected in official statistics, and in the experience of disabled people. Emerging changes in the life outcomes of disabled people are not time bound. The Disability Strategy does not state that 10 years following its implementation desired life outcomes for disabled people will have emerged. In this context, the outcomes framework is also not time bound but is aspirational, seeking to monitor changes in disabled people’s lives over time.

The outcomes framework assumes the Disability Strategy is driving change. In reality, enhancements to the life outcomes of disabled people are being driven by a number of other factors as well, including low levels of unemployment, human rights initiatives, focused advocacy by disabled people’s membership organisations, and changing societal attitudes and behaviour.

Office for Disability Issues

The Office for Disability Issues’ implementation activities and outcomes involve connecting to agencies that can make a difference to disabled people’s lives, promoting the Disability Strategy, and educating agencies (including central government and wider agencies) about disability responsiveness in the context of the Disability Strategy. By monitoring the level of change in agencies disability responsiveness and its impact on disabled people’s lives the Office can target specific agencies and/or life areas to concentrate its activities on. Consequently, the emergence of outcomes for the Office for Disability Issues is circular.

Central government and other agencies

According to the outcomes framework, central government and other agencies will ultimately effect change for disabled people by, firstly:

• Being aware of their role in implementing the Disability Strategy (not assessed – agencies selected to participate in the review were aware of the Disability Strategy).
• Understanding the context of disability issues, the impacts these have on disabled people and the scope of disabled people’s unmet needs.
• Partnering with disabled people in leading, developing and reporting policies and services.

Each of the above will help agencies to bring a disability perspective to bear in their work, and to develop or alter their policies, processes and services so that they are more responsive to the needs of disabled people and:

Reduce or remove barriers to participation and independence for disabled people. An example of removing barriers to participation is the passing of the New Zealand Sign Language Act (2006), which gives New Zealand sign language equal status to English and Te Reo Māori and also gives the right for New Zealand Sign Language to be used in legal proceedings

Maximise opportunities for the participation and independence for disabled people, through inclusion, integration and the empowerment of disabled people. An example of maximising opportunities for disabled people is the Nominations Service Database to promote the appointment of disabled people to Crown boards and committees, set up by the Office for Disability Issues in November 2006.

Emergence of the implementation outcomes for agencies is not linear but can loop both backwards and forwards. Some understanding of disability issues may trigger activities to address barriers to participation. Further, partnership with disabled people will create greater understanding of disability issues, potentially deepening understanding of how to apply a disability perspective.

Disabled people’s membership organisations

Disabled people’s membership organisations foster this change process through advocating for the rights of disabled people using the social model of disability. Further, they support leadership and promote acknowledgement of disabled people and their contribution.

Disabled people

For disabled people, the more immediate outcomes expected if the Disability Strategy is being effectively implemented are:

• They are aware of their rights opportunities and choices.
• Their aspirations and needs are communicated, heard and understood.
• Their contribution, value and interdependence is acknowledged and affirmed.
• They take leadership, and partnership in agencies decision-making.

These changes, when combined with those occurring for the other stakeholders involved in implementing the Disability Strategy, will contribute to enhanced life outcomes for disabled people and, ultimately, to an inclusive New Zealand.

Families, whānau and other people who provide support

Implementation activity will result in families, whānau and other people who provide support having increased awareness of disabled people’s rights, opportunities and choices. They will communicate their own unique needs, as distinguished from those of the disabled people they support, their contribution is acknowledged and valued, and they have meaningful engagement in agencies’ decision making. This leads to access to appropriate supports so that they can lead full lives and support disabled people to reach their optimum level of participation within their communities. 

Wider society

Outcomes expected for wider society are an increased awareness of disability issues, then an understanding of the need for disability responsiveness, leading to a shift toward more positive attitudes to disabled people and their value and contribution, and, finally, to support for disability responsive initiatives.

Life outcomes for disabled people

The implementation outcomes, described above for the various stakeholders, accumulate and result in disabled people being able to reach their optimum level of participation in all areas of life, in a society that highly values them and continually seeks to enhance their participation. In addition, the diversity within the disabled population is recognised, acknowledged and addressed, in particular for disabled Māori, Pacific peoples, children and women.

Life outcome areas - citizenship, health, education, employment, income, housing, transport and environment, recreation, relationships and value - are not neatly compartmentalised but are interlinked and potentially compounding in their effect on the quality of life for disabled people. For example, access to quality education can result in better employment opportunities, and increased income level may enhance the level of choice across other life areas such as transport and recreation.