Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
New Zealand Disability Strategy Implementation 2007. Work Plan 2007-2008 and Report on Progress 2006-2007
Introduction
The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology’s (MoRST) strategy is science and technology transforming New Zealanders’ lives. We have identified four Strategic Priorities for achieving this overall goal. They are:
- Sharpening the agenda for science;
- Engaging New Zealanders with science and technology;
- Improving business performance through research and development; and
- Creating a world-class science system for New Zealand.
Given the significant contribution science and technology make to developing and exploiting new ideas, they will be key drivers of economic transformation, particularly growing internationally competitive firms. Science and technology, however, are not just about economic performance. Science and technology are a core part of New Zealanders national identity; we see ourselves as innovators and quick to apply new technology. The research we do in New Zealand also significantly contributes to improving the social and health outcomes of New Zealand families.
MoRST will continue to prioritise disability research through its annual funding contract with the HRC. The HRC will use the funding to:
- Specifically prioritise and fund research that is of high relevance and benefit to people with disability.
- Administer a Disability Research Placement Programme which places disability research students with top research teams in the health research sector. The purpose of the programme is to promote research opportunities and careers in disability research within the community generally and for people with disability specifically.
The Ministry will look to ensure the Government’s research investment supports the underpinning knowledge needed to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy. We will also work consciously to ensure that our work environment continues to support 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.
Achievement story
During 2006/07 we worked with an agency to provide work experience for a disabled person. This was a new opportunity for us to facilitate this and it provided not only good development for the person but also for the manager in charge of them. For the disabled person, it was a fantastic chance to experience new surroundings and to interact with different people. While the manager had underestimated how much support and direction would be required and how much of their time they would need to allocate to this person, the positive from that was that they really had to manage themselves and their time well as well as improve their interpersonal skills and patience.
We also made a lot of progress on our web accessibility this year and have had good feedback from the general public on the user-friendliness of this system. We await further feedback from the Office of Disability Issues in terms of gaining an understanding of the user-friendliness from a disabled perspective.
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 | Move website into new Content Management System (CMS) to improve online accessibility to impaired users. | Website now in EPiServer CMS which outputs compliant HTML | |
| 2. Meet Web Standards version 1.0 | Accessibility standards used as benchmark for assessing CMS software for new intranet. | Review Wayfinder website for accessibility; Make any changes outlined in latest ODI assessment to achieve compliance with Standards v1.0. | |
| 3. Tested accessibility for disabled people | Website assessment scheduled by the Office for Disability Issues. | Assessment completed, some results and rating delivered to us, fed into ongoing HTML accessibility work. | Will receive the complete results from the assessment for further analysis and work. |
| 4. Adapted to increase accessibility | As above | As above | |
| 5. Download files accessed as HTML, and not only PDF | Convert as many PDFs to HTML as possible; Work HTML compatible version into hardcopy design process | Some work completed on converting PDF documents to accessible HTML format on website; Providing a Word version to be converted to HTML is now a part of the internal Publishing Policy | Complete work on converting PDF documents to HTML on website |
| 6. Plain English used | Review website content for readability; Review website information architecture for usability | Ad hoc reviews took place; Testing Stylewriter software to reduce sentence length and ease converting text to web style; Ongoing work on developing Style Guide based on Plain English | Full content and information architecture review using Stylewriter software and expert assistance and techniques; Use of style review software in teams responsible for Web content |
| 7. New Zealand Sign Language used | We don’t currently have any thing in a video format on our website, so this hasn’t been required. |
2. Hard copy information
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Plain English used | Undertake training on writing in plain English. | Course based around writing in plain English completed. | Investigate need for further writing courses based on plain English principles. |
| 2. Available in alternate formats, on request | |||
| a. New Zealand Sign Language | We didn’t produce any DVD or video products – the resources required to do this in a small agency far outweigh the measurable demand for this – but we will continue to monitor this. | ||
| b. Braille | Again, the resources required to produce Braille copies of all our publications currently appear to out-weigh the measurable demand for this. | ||
| c. Audio | Again, the resources required to produce audio copies of all our publications currently appear to out-weigh the measurable demand for this. | ||
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 | We don’t advertise on TV, so this is not applicable. | We don’t advertise on TV, so this is not applicable. | We do not plan to advertise on TV in the coming year. |
| 2. DVD/video products have captions and/or NZSL | We do not currently produce or provide DVD/Video products, so this is not applicable. | We do not currently produce or provide DVD/Video products, so this is not applicable. | We have no plans to produce or provide DVD/Video products in the coming year. |
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 | All publications produced to provide multiple contact points. | Publications produced in the past year have provided postal and physical addresses, along with website details. Our website lists all forms of contact, including phone, fax and email. | We will produce a ‘boiler plate’ for publications, ensuring that all contact details are included in every publication. |
| a. Fax | As above. | Achieved in approximately 50% of our publications. | As above. |
| b. Email | As above. | As above. | As above. |
| 2. Please tell us if there are other things that your agency does/or is planning to make its information accessible | |||
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 – as per building code. | This does not change as is standard requirement. | Multi-tenanted premises so is standard requirement met as per the building code. |
| 2. Buildings and sites have Building Code compliance | Yes – building has had since we took residence. | This does not change as is standard requirement. | Multi-tenanted premises so is standard requirement met as per the building code. |
| 3. Buildings and sites are audited for accessibility and passed (eg Barrier Free Trust, other accredited accessibility advisor) | The building is audited as part of its Warrant of Fitness – as confirmed by the property manager of RBNZ. | This does not change as is standard requirement. | Multi-tenanted premises so is standard requirement met as per the building code. |
| 4. Clear walk paths through floors (for staff and visitors) | Yes – both tenant and building responsibility and checked daily for access. | This does not change as is standard requirement. | Multi-tenanted premises so is standard requirement met as per the building code. |
| 5. Assistive listening devices are in meeting rooms, and functioning checked regularly | Not that we are aware of. | No achievements set for 06/07. | Assess the demand for this and then look into potential listening devices for our meeting rooms and see if able to install and then set up regular checks. |
| 6. Elevators announce floors and direction of movement | No they don’t. | There was nothing planned for 06/07. | This would be quite a major implementation for a multi-tenanted building and RBNZ would need to agree to do. If we were to move tenancy into our own premises – we would most definitely implement. |
| 7. Elevator buttons have Braille labels | No they don’t. | There was nothing planned for 06/07. | This would be quite a major implementation for a multi-tenanted building and RBNZ would need to agree to do. If we were to move tenancy into our own premises – we would most definitely implement. |
2. Contact with the public
| Action outputs | Planned 2006-2007 | Actual achieved 2006-2007 | Planned for 2007-2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Reception areas are accessible | Yes both reception areas, ground floor of the RBNZ and also our reception on Level 10 are accessible. | Due to both areas being accessible from start of tenancy nothing was planned for 06/07. | What we have in place is sufficient – all reception areas are accessible. |
| 2. Counters used by public are lowered (eg for wheelchair users, people who have a problem standing) | Both reception areas have lowered areas of their desks. | Both reception areas have lowered areas of their desks so nothing was planned for 06/07. | Due to what we currently have for both reception areas, nothing needs to be planned for 07/08. |
| 3. Frontline staff are trained in disability responsiveness | No – but clarification of this training would be useful so that we can look to implement. | Our Frontline Administrators will be provided with the link to the online tool kit. Future inductions of Frontline Administrators will automatically include this. | |
| 4. Staff are familiar with NZ Relay service | Yes – Reception staff are trained. | Nothing planned as staff are familiar. | Ongoing use of and training if required. |
| 5. Clear and accessible pathways to enter buildings and sites | Always – so nothing planned. | Nothing was planned so no achievements to note due to compliance already with RBNZ. | If there is any work being done or obstructions – the property manager always contacts each floor and all staff are notified. |
| 6. Obvious and visible signage to locate entrances and exits | Yes – as per the building code – nothing planned as already in place. | As per the building code – it is standard. | Multi-tenanted premises so is standard requirement met as per the building code. |
| 7. Accessible car parking available near entrances | Yes - already in place. | Nothing was planned so no achievements to note due to compliance already with RBNZ. | Multi-tenanted premises so is standard requirement of the building and they currently provide a drop off point at the front doors and also a short term parking space for visitors. |
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) | The SSC sets all terms and conditions for most of the IT contracts, however MoRST is planning to implement EDRMS in 07/08. | ||
| 2. Fire safety and evacuation procedures specify the needs of disabled people (staff and visitors) | No plans as noted. | Nothing was planned so no achievements to note due to compliance already with RBNZ. | We are looking at introducing signage at reception that indicates a register should anyone need assistance in case of an emergency. |
| 3. Fire alarms have flashing lights to alert hearing impaired/deaf people | No plans as noted. | Nothing was planned so no achievements to note due to compliance already with RBNZ. | All Fire Alarms are audible and RBNZ does not currently plan to introduce flashing lights for alert. MoRST however, in the instance that they change their tenancy – will take this into consideration. |
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 | As a non service providing agency - this does not apply. | ||
| 2. Services are responsive to the needs of disabled people | As above. | ||
| 3. There is a written policy on use and provision of New Zealand Sign Language interpreters for client meetings | If this service is required we will organise it to be available. Assess the needs for a written policy. | ||
| 4. Staff dealing with service users are trained to understand and be responsive to disabled people’s needs | As above. | ||
| 5. Staff have knowledge of the NZ Relay service, and how to place and receive calls. | This is in place already. |
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. Assessments of workplace accommodations and/or supports are provided (eg adaptive computer applications, flexible working conditions) | Already in place. | All full and part time staff are provided with Work Station Assessments and requirements are met after formal assessment. | |
| 2. Accommodations in the workplace are provided, if needed (eg desk changes, NZSL interpreters, adaptive computer software) | Already in place. | Upon recommendation from the assessor. | |
| 3. Data: the number and type of accommodations provided to staff | As of January 2007 we are trialling a system to collect this information. | ||
| 4. Network of disabled staff supported, if requested | NA | NA | Has not been applicable, but would definitely be supported if required. |
| 5. Disabled staff provided with opportunities for career advancement | Already in place. | ||
| 6. Disabled staff feel included in their workplace and have the same opportunities as non-disabled staff | While we only have 2 people who have identified themselves as disabled, there are opportunities to survey this (such as the Best Places to Work Survey and the Pay & Employment Equity Review). With the small number we have we will speak with them informally to assess this output. | ||
| 7. Please describe any other supports available to disabled staff | |||