Inland Revenue
New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation 2007. Work Plan 2007-2008 and Report on Progress 2006-2007
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
Secondary outcomes
- 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 our Statement of Intent and this strategy will help to improve access to our services for all of our customers, including those people with disabilities.
In the 2007-08 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.
Accessible government
All government agencies are asked to prioritise actions to increase their accessibility to disabled people.
This is about getting the basics right, so that disabled people can access government on the same basis as other people. These actions support realisation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy’s objective 6: foster an aware and responsive public service.
Four critical areas where disabled people interact with government agencies are:
- information – such as brochures, letters, publications, websites
- buildings – such as service centres, corporate offices
- services – such as face to face at a service centre, call centres, information electronically or hard copy
- as an employer – such as job application procedures, job descriptions, accommodations in workplaces, intranets.
Accessible information
Outcome: Disabled people can access publicly available government information on the same basis as non-disabled people. Disabled people know about, access and use government information and services.
Please describe against the suggested action outputs what your agency planned to do in the year ending June 2007, what your actual achievements were, and what you plan to work on for the year ending June 2008. Grey highlighted action outputs are new this year.
1. Online information (internet and intranets)
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Meet Web Guidelines version 2.1 | Yes | Significant improvement based on e-government audit results | Extend compliance to New Zealand Government Web Standards V1.0 |
| 2. Meet New Zealand Government Web Standards and Recommendations V1.0 | n/a | n/a | New standards and recommendations to be prioritised for implementation as early as possible |
| 3. Tested accessibility for disabled people | Already achieved | Already achieved | Ongoing testing |
| 4. Adapted to increase accessibility | Already achieved | Already achieved | Ongoing review |
| 5. Download files accessed as HTML, and not only PDF | Yes | Significant improvement | Conversion of additional documents |
| 6. Plain English used | n/a | Three major sections of content rewritten and customer tested | Ongoing content rewrites and customer testing |
| 7. New Zealand Sign Language used | n/a | n/a | No |
2. Hard copy information
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Plain English used | n/a | Partly achieved | Ongoing content rewrites |
| 2. Available in alternate formats, on request | |||
| a. New Zealand Sign Language | Yes | No | Yes |
| b. Braille | Yes | No | Yes |
| c. Audio | |||
3. Audio/visual resources
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. TV adverts have captions and/or NZSL | No | No | No |
| 2. DVD/video products have captions and/or NZSL | No | No | No |
4. Other information
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Multiple contact points are advertised as well as telephone | Already available | Already available | Already available |
| a. Fax | Already available | Already available | Already available |
| b. Email | Already available | Already available | Already available |
| 2. Please tell us if there are other things that your agency does/or is planning to make its information accessible | We operate a convert on demand service for customers who are unable to access information via the Internet | Detailed usability study of our website www.ird.govt.nz to identify additional opportunities for improvement | |
Accessible buildings
Outcome: Disabled people can visit, work, and move about independently in all government buildings and carry on ordinary activities there, on the same basis as others.
Please describe against the suggested action outputs what your agency planned to do in the year ending June 2007, what your actual achievements were, and what you plan to work on for the year ending June 2008. Grey highlighted action outputs are new this year.
1. Structural elements
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. All buildings and sites meet regulatory access requirements (eg NZS 4121) | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
| 2. Buildings and sites have Building Code compliance | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
| 3. Buildings and sites are audited for accessibility and passed (eg Barrier Free Trust, other accredited accessibility advisor) | Yes | No | Yes |
| 4. Clear walk paths through floors (for staff and visitors) | n/a | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
| 5. Assistive listening devices are in meeting rooms, and functioning checked regularly | n/a | Yes, in some rooms | Yes, in some rooms |
| 6. Elevators announce floors and direction of movement | n/a | Yes, in some buildings | Yes, in some buildings |
| 7. Elevator buttons have Braille labels | n/a | Yes, in some buildings | Yes, in some buildings |
2. Contact with the public
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Reception areas are accessible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Counters used by public are lowered (eg for wheelchair users, people who have a problem standing) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3. Frontline staff are trained in disability responsiveness | Yes, but still considering the form of training | No | Yes |
| 4. Staff are familiar with NZ Relay service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5. Clear and accessible pathways to enter buildings and sites | n/a | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
| 6. Obvious and visible signage to locate entrances and exits | n/a | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
| 7. Accessible car parking available near entrances | n/a | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
3. Workplace management
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Contracts for IT applications require accessibility (for staff and/or public users) (eg EDRMS) | Yes, in part | Yes, in part | Yes, in part |
| 2. Fire safety and evacuation procedures specify the needs of disabled people (staff and visitors) | n/a | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
| 3. Fire alarms have flashing lights to alert hearing impaired/deaf people | n/a | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements | Yes, all buildings meet current legislative requirements |
Accessible services
Outcome: Disabled people can access government services on the same basis as non-disabled people.
Please describe against the suggested action outputs what your agency planned to do in the year ending June 2007, what your actual achievements were, and what you plan to work on for the year ending June 2008. Grey highlighted action outputs are new this year.
1. Policy and practice
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Data on service users can be disaggregated by disabled people | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2. Services are responsive to the needs of disabled people | Yes, as appropriate | Yes, as appropriate | Yes, as appropriate |
| 3. There is a written policy on use and provision of New Zealand Sign Language interpreters for client meetings | Yes | No policy. Sign language interpreters are available when requested. | Yes |
| 4. Staff dealing with service users are trained to understand and be responsive to disabled people’s needs | Yes | No | Yes |
| 5. Staff have knowledge of the NZ Relay service, and how to place and receive calls. | n/a | Yes | Yes |
Being a good employer
Outcome: Government agencies provide equal opportunities in employment for disabled people to be recruited, retained, and promoted on the same basis as non-disabled people.
Please describe against the suggested action outputs what your agency planned to do in the year ending June 2007, what your actual achievements were, and what you plan to work on for the year ending June 2008. Grey highlighted action outputs are new this year.
1. Employment practice
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Human resource EEO policies / procedures specifically recognise disabled people and do not discriminate against them | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Recruitment processes are accessible and responsive (eg vacancies advertised with alternative modes of contact, website accessible, supports provided for interviews where necessary) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3. Human resource staff are familiar with EEO issues for disabled people | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4. Induction training includes awareness of disabled people, as part of a diverse workforce | n/a | n/a | Yes |
| 5. Internal agency communications promote the visibility of disabled staff, as part of a diverse workforce | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 6. Data: the number of disabled people employed (using SSC EEO definition of disability) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 7. Data: the number of disabled people currently employed under Mainstream programme | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 8. Data: the number of staff employed who were previously under the Mainstream programme | n/a | n/a | n/a |
2. Supports for disabled staff
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Assessments of workplace accommodations and/or supports are provided (eg adaptive computer applications, flexible working conditions) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2. Accommodations in the workplace are provided, if needed (eg desk changes, NZSL interpreters, adaptive computer software) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3. Data: the number and type of accommodations provided to staff | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 4. Network of disabled staff supported, if requested | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5. Disabled staff provided with opportunities for career advancement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 6. Disabled staff feel included in their workplace and have the same opportunities as non-disabled staff | n/a | n/a | We are considering specifically adding disability as a category in our Engagement survey data so that we can run reports to help quantify this. |
| 7. Please describe any other supports available to disabled staff |
Inland Revenue Valuing Diversity Fund - This fund offers additional support and is available to any staff member who identifies with one of our EEO target groups (Maori, Pacific people, women, other ethnic minorities, people with disabilities) and who can demonstrate that the development opportunity will enhance their competence and lead to potential future roles within Inland Revenue. |
Inland Revenue Valuing Diversity Fund - This fund offers additional support and is available to any staff member who identifies with one of our EEO target groups (Maori, Pacific people, women, other ethnic minorities, people with disabilities) and who can demonstrate that the development opportunity will enhance their competence and lead to potential future roles within Inland Revenue. |
|
Including a disability perspective
A disability perspective is a viewpoint that considers the needs and aspirations of disabled people and their families/whānau. When you apply a disability perspective to a policy or service you are developing, you need to analyse the impact it will have on disabled people and their family/whānau.
In the past, government policy and programmes have often failed to consider disability perspectives. This has effectively prevented disabled people accessing opportunities and fully participating in society.
Government policy and service development that reflects the realities of disabled people’s lives can enhance their participation and independence. This contributes to a more inclusive society. Cabinet requires all papers, where appropriate, to include a disability perspective.
When is it appropriate to include a disability perspective?
Any initiative that directly or indirectly affects disabled people, both within and outside government. Disabled people are present in all social environments - the home, work and the community – of all ages, and in all population groups, such as Maori, Pacific peoples. This means all legislation, policies, programmes and services will potentially impact on them.
Consultation with the disability sector should be considered, where appropriate. The Office for Disability Issues should also be involved on the same basis as other government agencies.
How do I learn more about what a disability perspective means?
The Office for Disability Issues has produced an online resource that explains Cabinet requirements to include a disability perspective in policy development.
This resource can be accessed on the Office website at:
Policy making and service development
Outcome: Government agencies’ policy development shows analysis of the impact upon disabled people. Disabled people experience an increase in their well-being and ability to participate in society as the result of government policy.
Please describe against the suggested action outputs what your agency planned to do in the year ending June 2007, what your actual achievements were, and what you plan to work on for the year ending June 2008. Grey highlighted action outputs are new this year.
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. New policy and service development specifies the impact on disabled people | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate |
| 2. Quality assurance frameworks include reference to the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the Disability Perspective Toolkit | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate |
| 3. Guides and advice on policy development specify consideration about disabled people as part of a diverse New Zealand population | n/a | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate |
| 4. Agency Cabinet paper template includes a disability perspective section | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate |
| 5. Research and evaluation projects include data collection on disabled people | n/a | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate |
| 6. Consultation on policy and service development includes disability sector organisations | n/a | Yes, where appropriate | Yes, where appropriate |
| 7. Data: the number of disability sector organisations consulted | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 8. Examples of Cabinet papers showing a disability perspective | n/a | ||
| 9. Examples of other policy documents that show a disability perspective | n/a | ||
| 10. Examples of other strategic organisation documents, such as statement of intent, that show a disability perspective | |||
Implementation beyond your agency
Outcome: Government agencies promote action to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy in other agencies within their monitoring and/or reporting responsibility.
Please describe against the suggested action outputs what your agency planned to do in the year ending June 2007, what your actual achievements were, and what you plan to work on for the year ending June 2008. Grey highlighted action outputs are new this year.
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Advice provided to other agencies on implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy (including a disability perspective in development of policy, funding, service provision) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Leading work that makes a difference
This section is for agencies to describe key work that you are leading that makes a difference in the lives of disabled people. This work may be directly relating to disabled people, or it may be for all people but have a strong impact on disabled people.
You should use this template to:
- describe your planned work
- report progress against previously planned work and/or new work undertaken since the last plan.
There are separate sections for you to record any specific activities in support of:
- New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006
- National Health Committee’s 2003 report: To Have an ‘Ordinary’ Life: Community membership for adults with an intellectual disability.
You may like to consider whether you can plan implementation action over several years, with milestone dates that you can report progress against annually. There may be a wider goal that your agency is working towards that several pieces of work may contribute to, and you should refer to this goal in the following template.
1) Review of nominated person’s procedure for disabled people
a) What time period does this work cover?
July 2006 to Dec 2008
b) Please describe this work
- Complete the review of the subject of disabled persons nominating someone to act on their behalf including appropriate consultation
- Develop a plan to implement any recommendations arising from the review and consultation.
c) What difference will this work make to disabled people’s lives?
Disabled people will be able to nominate someone to act on their behalf.
d) What wider goal does this work contribute to? Are there other pieces of work that also contribute to this goal?
(for example, a possible wider goal is for 100% of all new public buildings to be accessible, or all public facilities in urban centres to be accessible)
Make our services more accessible to disabled people.
e) How is progress in achieving this work being measured or to be measured?
2006-07 outcome measures
- 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 evaluation mechanisms.
Progress against 2006-07 outcome measures
Work on this initiative has been delayed and work is planned for the 2007–08 financial year.
2007-09 outcome measures
- Review and plan completed by 31 Dec 2008
- 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 evaluation mechanisms.
f) What objectives in the New Zealand Disability Strategy does this work connect with?
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.
g) What part of your Statement of Intent and/or other strategic documents does this work connect with?
Connects with all aspects of “Our strategic direction” in our Statement of Intent 2007–10.
New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006
This section should be used to describe work of your agency in response to the New Zealand Sign Language Act.
In April 2006, the New Zealand Sign Language Act became law. This legislation recognises New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) as an official language of New Zealand, gives the right to deaf people to use NZSL in legal proceedings, and provides guidelines to government agencies on the use of NZSL and on consultation with the Deaf community.
Section 9 of the NZSL Act 2006 states:
1. A government department should, when exercising its functions and powers, be guided, so far as reasonably practicable, by the following principles:
- the Deaf community should be consulted on matters relating to NZSL (including, for example, the promotion of the use of NZSL)
- NZSL should be used in the promotion to the public of government services and in the provision of information to the public
- government services and information should be made accessible to the Deaf community through the use of appropriate means (including the use of NZSL).
2. Consultation carried out by a government department under subsection (1)(a) is to be effected by the chief executive of the government department consulting, to the extent that is reasonably practicable, with the persons or organisations that the chief executive considers to be representative of the interests of the members of the Deaf community relating to NZSL.
3. The purpose of the principles in subsection (1) is to promote access to government information and services for the Deaf community, but nothing in subsection (1) is to be read as conferring on the Deaf community advantages not enjoyed by other persons.
1) Consultation with deaf people on services
a) What time period does this work cover?
July 2006 to December 2008
b) Please describe this work
- Consult with the Deaf Community about their preferences regarding NZSL and its use in the promotion of our services and the provision of information.
- Consult with the Deaf Community about their preferences for the provision of information and service delivery
- Consult with the Deaf Community about our current services and their usage.
c) What difference will this work make to Deaf people’s lives?
Deaf and hearing impaired people will be better able to access our information and services, through the use of sign language.
d) What wider goal does this work contribute to? Are there other pieces of work that also contribute to this goal?
(for example, a possible wider goal is for 100% of all new public buildings to be accessible, or all public facilities in urban centres to be accessible)
Disabled people can access government services on the same basis as non-disabled people. Disabled people can access publicly available government information on the same basis as non-disabled people. Disabled people know about, access and use government information and services.
e) How is progress in achieving this work being measured or to be measured?
Please describe progress targets and milestone dates for reporting against.
2006–07 outcome measure targets
- 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 and provides timeframes for implementation
- The plan identifies evaluation mechanisms.
2006–07 outcome measure results
Work on this initiative has been delayed and further progress is planned for the 2007–08 financial year.
2007–09 outcome measure targets
- Review and plan completed by 31 December 2008
- 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 and provides timeframes for implementation
- The plan identifies evaluation mechanisms.
f) What objectives in the New Zealand Disability Strategy does this work connect with?
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.
g) What part of your Statement of Intent and/or other strategic documents does this work connect with?
Connects with all aspects of “Our strategic direction” in our Statement of Intent 2007–10.