Inland Revenue Department
New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation Work Plan. 1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007
Introduction
Inland Revenue contributes to the new Government Priorities through our primary and intermediate outcomes.
Primary outcome
- Improving the economic and social well being of New Zealanders
- Revenue is available to fund government programmes through people meeting payment obligations of their own accord
- People receive payments they are entitled to, enabling them to participate in society
Our roles include collecting the revenue that the government uses to fund its various programmes, and administering some of the government’s social support programmes.
Our general approach to achieving our outcomes is:
- ensuring that people are aware of their obligations and entitlements
- making it easy for people to meet their obligations or receive their entitlements of their own accord.
We focus on delivering the service that best meets our customers’ needs. We want to make it easy for people to access our information, which we provide online, through our call centres and face-to-face. This gives our customers greater choice in how and when they interact with us.
In designing our services, we ensure that customer needs are considered and addressed either through a generic service or one specifically tailored to meet needs.
Our business-as-usual activities and the specific initiatives outlined in this strategy will help to improve access to our services for all of our customers, including those people with disabilities.
In the 2006-07 year, we will continue to review our service delivery to disabled people and develop plans to implement improvements in the way services are provided to disabled people concentrating specifically on:
- the implications of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006
- review of nominated persons procedure for disabled people
- website access and e-enablement.
Level 1 Activities: Universal responsiveness to disability issues
| Accessible government information | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency’s websites | ||||
| Meet e-government Web-Guidelines 2.1 | Yes | |||
| Tested for accessibility for disabled people | Yes | |||
| Adapted to increase accessibility to disabled people | Yes | |||
| Downloadable files available in HTML, not only PDF | Yes | |||
| Other publications and public information available in alternative formats. | Yes | |||
| Agency makes available alternative forms of contact. | Yes | |||
| Accessible government buildings and sites | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All agency’s buildings and sites meet statutory and regulatory access requirements | Yes | |||
| Agency’s buildings and sites have Building Code compliance certification | Yes | |||
| Agency’s buildings and sites audited for accessibility by Barrier Free NZ Trust | Yes | |||
| Agency’s buildings and sites accessible. | ||||
| Frontline staff receive training in disability responsiveness | Yes, but still considering the form of training |
|||
| Reception areas accessible | Yes | |||
| Counters lowered for wheelchair users | Yes | |||
| Telephone staff familiar with using NZ Relay service1 | Yes | |||
| Other accommodations (please list) | Yes | |||
| Accessible government services | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service policies and procedures include reference to disability issues | Yes | ||
| Information / data on services provided to disabled people is recorded | N/A | ||
| Service staff receive disability responsiveness training | Yes, but still considering the form of training |
||
| When contracting for new or up-graded IT applications and environments, contracts include a requirement to ensure accessibility by disabled users | Yes, in part |
| Responsive government employment practices | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Resource policies and procedures include EEO issues for disabled people | Yes | |||
| Recruitment and selection of vacancies responsive to disabled people | Yes | |||
| Human Resource staff familiar with EEO issues for disabled people | Yes | |||
| Disabled staff are supported | ||||
| Individual assessments of workplace accommodations or support are provided | Yes | |||
| Accommodations provided to disabled staff | Yes | |||
| Disabled staff provided with opportunities for career advancement | Yes | |||
| Agency supports a disabled staff network group | Yes | |||
| Internal agency newsletters promote the positive presence of disabled staff people | Yes | |||
| Other support provided to disabled staff (please list) Valuing diversity fund | Yes | |||
| Information and data on disabled people is collected | Achieved / available | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information on agency’s responsiveness to disabled staff people | ||||
| Number of disabled people employed (we recommend you use the State Service Commission’s EEO disability information) | Yes | |||
| Data on disability related accommodations, adaptive equipment, etc, provided by your agency | Yes | |||
| Number of disabled people employed under the State Service Commission’s ‘Mainstream programme’2. | Yes | |||
| Information on agency’s responsiveness to the disabled public | ||||
| Information and data on agency’s contact with the disabled public is recorded | Yes | |||
| Information / data on agency’s disabled client group recorded | N/A | |||
Level 2 Activities: Disability perspective included in ordinay work
| Disability responsiveness training and resources | Planned this year | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| Disability responsiveness training offered to all staff | Yes, but still considering the form of training |
|
| Promotion of the Disability Perspective Tool Kit3 within your agency | Yes |
| Disability perspective included in ordinary work | Planned this year | N/A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key documents to incorporate a disability perspective | |||
|
Yes, where appropriate |
||
|
Yes, where appropriate |
||
|
Yes, where appropriate |
||
|
Yes, where appropriate |
||
|
Yes, where appropriate |
||
|
|||
| Implementing the NZ Disability Strategy beyond your agency | Planned this year | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| Agencies, Crown Entities, boards, reference groups, etc, that your agency is responsible for are encouraged to consider disabled people and disability issues | N/A |
1. New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006
Description
By June 2007 we will have:
- Consulted with the Deaf Community about their preferences regarding NZSL and its use in the promotion of our services and the provision of information.
- Consulted with the Deaf Community about their preferences for the provision of information and service delivery.
- Consulted with the Deaf Community about our current services and their usage.
Desired outcome
As part of our commitment to the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006, during 2006-07, we will review our obligations and identify opportunities under this Act.
Outcome measures and timeframes
- Review and plan completed by 30 June 2007.
- Consultation took place around the impact of the NZ Sign Language Act 2006.
- Recommendations have been made around the findings of the consultation.
- The plan identifies priorities and provides timeframes for implementation.
- The plan identifies evaluation mechanisms.
Links to NZ Disability Strategy objective and action
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service.
Action 6.5: Make all information and communication methods offered to the general public available in formats appropriate to the different needs of disabled people.
2. Review of nominated person’s procedure for Disabled People
Description
By 30 June 2007 we will have:
- Completed the review of the subject of disabled persons nominating someone to act on their behalf including appropriate consultation.
- Developed a plan to implement any recommendations arising from the review and the consultation.
Desired outcome
During 2006-07, we will complete our review of the nominated person’s procedure from the viewpoint of disabled people.
Outcome measures and timeframes
- Review and plan completed by 30 June 2007.
- Consultation, where appropriate, has taken place regarding the nominated person’s procedure.
- Recommendations have been made around the findings of the consultation.
- The plan identifies priorities and provides timeframes for implementation of recommendations arising from the review.
- The plan identifies evaluation mechanisms.
Links to NZ Disability Strategy objective and action
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service.
Action 6.3: Ensure that all government agencies treat disabled people with dignity and respect.
Action 6.5: Make all information and communication methods offered to the general public available in formats appropriate to the different needs of disabled people.
3. Website access and e-enablement
Description
By 30 June 2007 we will have:
- Reviewed the systems that are in place to ensure that design and enhancement of web-based services continues to comply with accessibility standards in the government website guidelines thereby giving equitable access to e-services.
- Investigated the possible use of new technologies for web-based services to increase the accessibility of information and services for disabled people.
Desired outcome
During 2006-07, we will continue the enhancements to Inland Revenue’s website which is increasingly being used to access information and submit applications and returns.
Considerable progress has already been made in making this more accessible but work continues to ensure that progress on increasing accessibility and usability continues. This will enhance services available to disabled users of our services and all other users of our services.
Outcome measures and timeframes
- Review and plan completed by 30 June 2007.
- Plan identifies priorities and provides timeframes for any recommendations arising from the review.
- Plan identifies evaluation mechanisms.
Links to NZ Disability Strategy objective and action
Objective 6: Foster an aware and responsive public service.
Action 6.5: Make all information and communication methods offered to the general public available in formats appropriate to the different needs of disabled people.
1. For information on NZ Relay service
2. Information on the State Service Commission’s Mainstream Programme
3. The Disability Perspective Tool Kit is available on the Office for Disability Issues’ website