6 Sept 2000: Co-Chairs: Robyn Hunt And Jan Scown

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

(Robyn) Many people, hearing about the New Zealand Disability Strategy consultation, will say 'So what? It doesn't apply to me'. But it does: 1 in 5 New Zealanders have a disability. So if you don't have a disability you probably know someone who has, or someone whose family member has. And as each of us gets older the probability of our experiencing disability gets greater.

And so, each of us needs to think about how our society impacts upon people with a disability, and how we can ensure that it does not put needless (and often unintentional) barriers in the way of people with disabilities, and their families/whānau. People with disabilities aspire to the same range of lifestyles as other New Zealanders. But so often our society puts these lifestyles beyond the reach of most people with a disability, and our families and whānau.

Why Do We Need a Disability Strategy for New Zealand?

(Jan) You might ask 'Why do we need a Disability Strategy for New Zealand? The simple answer is that without one people with disabilities, and their families/whānau, are, on the whole, achieving less desirable lives than are New Zealanders in general. For example (mainly based on figures published March 1996):

In terms of income: 60% of adults with a disability report a gross personal income of less than $15,000, compared to 45% of the general population reporting the same and the statistics are even worse for women with a disability - 71% report a gross personal income of less than $15,000 people with a disability are 3 times as likely as New Zealanders in general to be on a government benefit.

In terms of employment: 37% of adults with a disability, living in households, are employed compared to 66% of adult New Zealanders in general in the year ended June 1999 the largest category of complaints to the Human Rights Commission were about discrimination because of disability and half of these recent disability-based complaints to the Human Rights Commission were related to employment.

In terms of housing: 25% of adults with severe limitations live in residential care, not including group homes, rather than ordinary households 11% of people 65 years old plus live in residential facilities across all age groups, 1 in 20 people with disabilities live in residential facilities.

In terms of personal relationships: 62% of those adults living in households have partners, compared to 66% of the general population only 13% of those adults living in residential facilities have partners.

In terms of support received: 30 % report an unmet need 44% of Māori with disabilities report an unmet need (often because of a lack of services considered appropriate) 65% of all help given was reported as coming from family members.

In terms of education: people with disabilities have fewer educational qualifications basic literacy is a problem for many people with a disability.

In terms of participation in public life: there is a lack of access to public amenities: information, transport, public buildings, marae, sports grounds, concert halls, etc.

In terms of intervention and (re)habilitation: disability may be seen as an inevitable part of aging, and opportunities to remain able and independent through rehabilitation, correction of health problems, and provision of support services may not be accessed.

These are just some examples. They do not include the impact of a disabled family member on the other members of the family, or the impact of the additional cost of disability on personal or family income. Or the many other issues associated with disability.

(Robyn) New Zealanders like to think we live in an egalitarian society. Clearly we have a way to go if New Zealand's disabled citizens are to enjoy the same standard of living as New Zealanders in general. The Sector Reference Group, established as one part of the consultation process which will result in the New Zealand Strategy, believes this disparity can be best approached from a Human Rights perspective.

Internationally there is a growing recognition that disability is a human rights issue, and there's a strong movement developing for a United Nations Convention on the rights of people with disability, to stand alongside the conventions for women, children and indigenous people.

The Consultation Process

The discussion document that is being launched today is not a perfect document. Don't waste your breath telling us that. Rather we hope you will tell us how it can be improved, what we have missed out, and suggest new and innovative ways to ensure that people with disability have the same opportunities for a good life as every other New Zealander.

The Strategy should be a living document, which can be developed and changed over time. Good data, collected regularly, is necessary so that we can all see the progress we are, or are not, making to fulfil the vision that the Strategy should be all about - we have described this as: 'a fully inclusive society, where our capacity to contribute and participate in every aspect of life is continually being extended and enhanced' but you may be able to suggest a better vision. The title of the discussion document is also an attempt to describe the vision- 'making a world of difference', a world where difference is appreciated, accommodated and celebrated.

(Jan) The next part is up to you. Make use of the scheduled workshops, hui and fono, as well as the focus groups. Facilitate your own group meetings (there is a facilitation kit available to help you with this) and make both personal and group submissions. Information is available on the World Wide Web at www.NZ Disability Strategy.govt.nz, or from Judith Mercer at the Ministry of Health. Consultation closes 1 November 2000.