Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST)

Introduction

The Major Outcome we want is science and technology transforming

New Zealanders’ lives. We have identified four Strategic Priorities for achieving our overall goal. They are:

1. Sharpening the agenda for science;
2. Embedding science and technology in New Zealanders’ lives;
3. Improving business performance through research and development; and
4. A world-class science system for New Zealand.

We see these four areas as critical if research, science and technology (RS&T) is to fulfil its potential to support the Government’s objective of economic transformation, families – young and old, and national identity.

Through RS&T we can go a long way in transforming New Zealand ’s economy, in enhancing the quality of life of all New Zealanders and in ensuring we are sustaining the country’s unique environment. It is only by providing the right environment for creative and innovative research that New Zealand can continue to attract and retain the talent we need to move to a knowledge society.

MoRST look at opportunities to improve the wellbeing of all New Zealanders, including disabled people and their families. This fact is most explicitly illustrated by our support of research to promote health outcomes for disabled people. Improvements in, and promotion of, research, science and technology have the potential to greatly improve the way of life of many disabled people.

In developing policies for research, science and technology, the Ministry will continue to promote the consideration of the needs of disabled people. The Ministry will look to ensure the Government’s research investment supports the underpinning knowledge needed to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

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. - we attempt to produce easy to understand documents, in plain language.			Yes
Agency makes available alternative forms of contact (ie phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc)		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 (eg NZS 4121)		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
	Reception areas accessible	Yes
	Counters lowered for wheelchair users	Yes
	Telephone staff familiar with using NZ Relay service1	Yes
	Other accommodations - our building is currently undergoing an upgrade to it’s entrance, which will allow easier access.	Yes

Accessible government services	Achieved / available	Planned this year	N/A
Service policies and procedures include reference to disability issues (eg policies on the use of New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters)			Yes
Information / data on services provided to disabled people is recorded			Yes
Service staff receive disability responsiveness training			Yes
When contracting for new or up-graded IT applications and environments, contracts include a requirement to ensure accessibility by disabled users	Yes

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 (eg vacancies advertised to the widest possible audience, vacancies list alternative forms of contact – phone, fax, email, etc)		Yes
Human Resource staff familiar with EEO issues for disabled people (eg staff receive disability responsiveness training, staff familiar with the Disability Perspective Tool Kit2, etc)		Yes
Disabled staff are supported
	Individual assessments of workplace accommodations or support are provided (eg work station assessments)	Yes
	Accommodations provided to disabled staff (eg work station adaptations, special equipment, New Zealand Sign Language interpreters, etc are provided)	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)			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’3.	Yes
Information on agency’s responsiveness to the disabled public
	Information and data on agency’s contact with the disabled public is recorded (eg consultation with disabled groups)			Yes
	Information / data on agency’s disabled client group recorded			Yes

* only one employee has self-identified as disabled.

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1. For information on NZ Relay service
2. The Disability Perspective Tool Kit is available on the Office for Disability Issues’ website
3. Information on the State Service Commission’s Mainstream Programme