6 Sept 2000: Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister For Disability Issues

Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 11am, Wednesday, 6 September 2000.

Tena koutou katoa. Greetings. Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate the launch of this historic document.

This is a very proud moment for me. I am proud to be part of a government which is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities. I am proud to be the first Minister for Disability Issues in this country. And I am especially proud to be here today launching the discussion document for the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

People with disabilities want a good life, just like people without disabilities. However many are unable to reach their potential or participate fully in their communities because of the barriers they face doing the things most New Zealanders take for granted.

These barriers relate to attitudes, education, employment, access to services, socioeconomic status and other factors which affect people's goals and aspirations.

The aim of the New Zealand Disability Strategy is to remove these barriers wherever they exist.

Making a World of Difference: Whakanui Oranga, the discussion document being launched today, is the first step towards that end. It opens the public debate on the development of the disability strategy. It fulfils a key Labour pre-election promise. And it marks a turning point in the relationship between the government and people with disabilities.

Underlying the document is a vision I know we all share. It's the vision of a society based on human rights, empowerment and participation of all its people. A society which values and celebrates diversity. A society which measures its worth by how well it cares for its most vulnerable citizens.

My special thanks goes to the people who have worked so hard to prepare Making a World of Difference - the 15 members of the reference group, ably led by Jan and Robyn, and the Ministry of Health officials who have been working alongside them, particularly the disability strategy project manager, Kevin Allan.

Reaching consensus on a public document is never easy. No doubt there have been some interesting discussions along the way. But the final result is a testimony to your hard work, enthusiasm for the task, and ability to work cooperatively towards a common goal. It's a great sign for the future.

I would also like to thank the individuals and groups in the disability sector whose work has contributed to Making a World of Difference and who have promoted the development of the New Zealand Disability Strategy – including those who generously shared their experiences and allowed us to use them in the 'stories' which appear in the discussion document.

Many are unable to be here in person. But I know they are with us in spirit. In fact, all around the country, people have tuned in to the internet to listen to an audio-broadcast of this launch. The wonders of modern technology!

Speaking of which, I am delighted to say that we have set up a separate website for the disability strategy. On it, you can access electronic copies of the discussion document, the submission document, the schedule of consultation meetings, newsletters, media releases and an information pack for running your own discussion group.

Most importantly, the site has been specially designed to be accessible to all Web users. It is high time we recognised that many people with disabilities can’t participate fully in their communities because they can't get the information they need in the form they need it. It may be information about changes to legislation, government policy or access to services.

This is one of the areas that will be addressed by the disability strategy. But there's no reason why we can't start now.

In fact, I issue the following challenge to all government departments and agencies today:

• to look at the accessibility of the public information they provide from the point of view of people with disabilities;
• to consider alternative formats such as audio, large print, and sign language wherever possible; and
• to ensure their web sites are able to be accessed and easily navigated by people with disabilities, using the free tools and guidelines available on the internet.

Back to the discussion document. The next stage is to give New Zealanders around the country the chance to say what they want to see in a national disability strategy. Using the discussion document as the basis, we are convening 41 workshops between late September and late October, from Kaitaia in the north to Invercargill in the south.

Some of the workshops are for people with disabilities only, to assure them of a strong voice in developing the strategy. Others are open to the public, including families, carers and service providers.

There will also be a number of hui and fono in the main centres, in recognition of the special needs and perspective of Māori and Pacific peoples with disabilities.

And if people want to set up their own discussion groups for whatever reason, help is available from the Ministry of Health to do so.

Following the consultation, the reference group and the Ministry will work together on the final version of the strategy. It will go to Cabinet for approval early next year.

This is a crucial step. It means the actions outlined in the strategy will be binding on all government agencies and departments. It also ensures buy-in from every sector - not just those where the connections are already well established such as health, social services and education, but also those like transport, housing, transport, the environment, culture. All affect the lives of people with disabilities and their ability to participate. All will be covered by the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

By next year, for the first time, Government will have a national, comprehensive and coordinated approach to people with disabilities which addresses issues across agencies, policies, services and legislation. It's going to make a big difference. In fact, it's going to make a world of difference.

The primary focus will be on what government agencies and other publicly-funded organisations need to do to remove the barriers faced by people with disabilities. We will take the lead. But we will also be doing all we can to influence the attitudes and behaviour of society as a whole.

Disability not only affects the individuals concerned. It has an impact on the people who love and care for them. For this reason, the key role of families, whānau and carers, and their rights and responsibilities, are acknowledged in the discussion document. The final strategy will help ensure that all carers get appropriate support, both through quality home and community based services, and the opportunity to take a break from the constant duties of caring.

As Karen has pointed out, the disability strategy will sit alongside other government programmes, such as the Positive Ageing Strategy, the Human Rights Review, the New Zealand Health Strategy and the Closing the Gaps programme aimed at removing disparities between Māori and Pacific people and other New Zealanders. Together these strategies will show us the way forward to a fairer, more inclusive society.

How will we know when we've succeeded? We'll know:

• when people with disabilities have the same opportunities as other New Zealanders;
• when the contribution of people with disabilities is visible and valued; and
• when people with disabilities reach and can sustain their optimum level of participation within their communities.

I look forward to working with you all to turn this vision into reality. Together, I am sure we can make a world of difference.