This appendix provides a brief description of key disability sector organis-ations. The organisations are grouped according to the following categories:

• umbrella groups, representing a collection of organisations with common interests;
• consumer and advocacy groups;
• service provider groups;
• groups representing the interests of parents and families; and
• education and employment specialist groups.

There is some degree of overlap between consumer and advocacy groups, and service provider groups. Groups which both undertake consumer support and advocacy activities, and provide services, have been placed within the category that reflects their primary function.

Umbrella groups

ASENZ- Association of Supported Employment of New Zealand

ASENZ is an umbrella group of approximately 90 supported employment providers and many consumers. It has a board of 10 members, a Chief Executive Officer and an administration staff. The organisation collects employment-related data, circulates regular newsletters, and lobbies Government on issues concerning employment for people with disabilities. It holds an annual confer-ence for its members and other interested parties.

Chief Executive Officers Group of Disability Providers

This Wellington-based group meets quarterly to discuss issues of significance to the disability sector. In the past, the Minister for Disability Issues and senior government officials have regularly attended the meetings.

The CEO group currently comprises:

• Age Concern New Zealand, Garth Taylor, CEO;
• Alzheimers New Zealand, Elizabeth Chesterman, CEO;
• Deaf Association of New Zealand, Jennifer Brain, CEO;
• IHC New Zealand, Jan Dowland, CEO;
• Mental Health Commission, Bob Henare, Acting Chair;
• Muscular Dystrophy Association, Peter Kennedy-Good, CE;
• National Foundation for the Deaf, Marianne Schumacher, Executive Manager;
• NZCCS, Rob Williams, CEO;
• Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, Jane Holden, CEO;
• Stroke Foundation of New Zealand, Brian O’Grady, CEO; and
• Workbridge New Zealand, Ruth Harrison, CEO.

DPA - Assembly of People with Disabilities

DPA is an umbrella organisation representing people with disabilities. Membership includes people with physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, neurological and age-related disabilities as well as a range of disability organisations. A total of 1,100 individual members and 300 organisations belong to DPA. Twenty-five regional assemblies throughout New Zealand provide links to their local communities.

DPA’s philosophy is that people with disabilities must have the right and the opportunity to influence and shape policy at all levels, enjoy equality and full participation, make informed choices on issues, enjoy dignity and respect as a person, and live as they choose with the appropriate supports. The organisation’s role is to provide information, promote, encourage and educate society about the full participation of people with disabilities (including Māori), actively lobby government and service providers, advocate for people with disabilities, and foster links with international disability organisations.

Platform Incorporated

Platform Incorporated is the New Zealand association of support services and community development in mental health. It is a national umbrella group of approximately 80 NGOs which provide or support community-based solutions to improve mental health services. Platform employs three staff, two based in Wellington and one in Auckland. Members elect regional representatives to a National Committee which meets bi-monthly. Platform’s role is to represent the views of the NGO mental health sector to the Mental Health Commission, ministries and government, and disseminate information to and from members about developments in the mental health area. Platform contracts on a fee for service basis to government departments and other agencies.

VASS - New Zealand Federation of Vocational and Support Services

VASS is the national umbrella group for vocational service providers. There are approximately 200 organisations in New Zealand providing vocational services to approximately 10,000 people with significant disabilities. Many of these service providers are members of the New Zealand Federation of Vocational and Support Services. VASS offers education, training and peer support for providers of services. Regular forums provide opportunities for members to debate issues, assist with the preparation of strategies and keep them informed about the latest issues and trends.

Consumer and advocacy groups

Age Concern New Zealand

Age Concern New Zealand is an independent, charitable, not-for-profit organisation, with the mission of working together to promote quality of life for older people. Through its 29 local councils, Age Concern New Zealand links with 500 agencies and groups working with older people in New Zealand. Age Concern makes represent-ations to Government and its agencies, and consults with the community sector and general public on ageing issues.

Age Concern New Zealand, including its local councils, receives funding from the Lottery Services Distribution Committee (formerly Lottery Aged), mainly for salary and other administration costs. It also receives funding through the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services to provide co-ordination of local Age Concern elder abuse and neglect prevention services.

The organisation has contracts with the Ministry of Health for the provision of an Accredited Visiting Service to older people without family support; to develop information resources and programmes covering issues affecting older people, their families and carers; to promote positive ageing and reduce depression for the 40s plus group; and to provide advocacy and policy advice on older people’s issues.

Alzheimers New Zealand

Alzheimers New Zealand is a national organisation comprising 22 local groups that provide support and advocacy for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their carers. The national office is located in Christchurch and its resource centre has developed a variety of printed resource material. The local groups, some of which use the name ADARDS (Alzheimer’s Disease And Related Disorders Society), each run their own services which may include field workers, support groups, telephone support, public education, and newsletters. A few also provide "befrienders", a sitter service, or day care.

Arthritis New Zealand

Arthritis New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation whose main aim is to enable a better quality of life for people affected by arthritis. The organisation works in the areas of education, public awareness, direct support, lobbying and funding research. It has over 45,000 individual client contacts and nearly 93,000 group client contacts each year.

Arthritis New Zealand has a national office in Wellington, 18 divisional offices and 35 Arthritis Educators, who offer advice, information and guidance on services and special equipment. Arthritis Educators regularly run self-management courses around the country. These courses are designed to give people the skills needed to take a more active part in their arthritis care, together with a healthcare team.

Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Inc (ABCNZ)

The Association is a voluntary, consumer advocacy organisation that aims to remove barriers and improve the participation of blind and vision impaired people in the community. The ABCNZ’s mission statement is "Blind people speaking for ourselves".

This organisation has a National Administrator and a governing body called the National Executive, which comprises a maximum of nine Association members. There are 16 branches around the country that give feedback to the governing body on national issues, work on local issues and provide peer support for local members. Total membership is approximately 1,400. All people registered with the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind are eligible to join the ABCNZ. There is also an Associate Membership category.

Autism New Zealand Inc.

Autism New Zealand is an incorporated society with charitable status. It has over 3,500 members comprising people with an autistic spectrum disorder, parents and caregivers, schools, professionals and other service workers with an interest in autistic spectrum disorders.

The national office is located in Christchurch and there is a national executive of six. At the national level, the Chief Executive Officer and one full-time volunteer run this organisation. Some of the 14 branches around the country employ a part-time co-ordinator/Field Officer to organise local activities such as holiday programmes, music therapy, social skills programmes, regular meeting with guest speakers, and pre-school support.

The organisation’s key activities are providing a quarterly newsletter, gathering and distributing of information, organising seminars and conferences, providing specific training programmes for parents and professionals, raising awareness of autistic spectrum disorders, and liaising with other agencies on behalf of parents.

Brain Injury Association NZ

The Brain Injury Association NZ is a non-profit organisation that receives some government funding to provide information and support to people with brain injury as well as advocacy and support for families/whānau. Other funding is sourced from philanthropic sources, Lottery Welfare and public donation. There are 12 branches around New Zealand with seven Stewart Centres, which offer structured day activities as part of the social rehabilitation process, primarily funded on a fee-for-service basis.

Deaf Association of New Zealand

The main aim of the Deaf Association is to achieve full access and participation of the deaf in Aotearoa New Zealand. It has 11 offices and one outreach service. The organisation is unique in that its governing body is ruled by elected deaf members from the deaf community. Field officers, social workers and other staff are employed to provide a wide range of services, including advocacy, interpreting, peer support, and social activities to the deaf community.

Head Injury Association of New Zealand

This society provides basic information for people who are newly introduced to brain injury, by the injury or illness of a friend or relative. It links industry professionals and local support groups. Through its website, it encourages people in recovery from head injury to talk to each other by email and to be advocates for their own needs.

The Head Injury Society has a national executive of eight and its national office is located in Wellington. There are branches around the country that provide advocacy education and peer support for its members, their families and friends.

Multiple Sclerosis Society - MS Society

The MS Society was formed in 1968. It has a national office in Wellington and 18 MS Societies in regions throughout New Zealand. The organisation supports people with MS, their partners, friends, families, workmates and employers, health professionals, and the interested public. It also provides funding for MS research and takes a keen interest in public and professional education and advocacy issues. Fundraising campaigns are held four times a year to increase public awareness about MS and raise funds for services.

National Foundation for the Deaf Incorporated - NFD Inc

There are an estimated 450,000 New Zealanders affected by deaf-ness or hearing impairments, making them the largest disability group in New Zealand. The Foundation provides information, education and advocacy services, manages projects of national relevance, and runs an annual public awareness campaign called Deaf Awareness Week. NFD is a member group based organisation, representing national community groups, professional groups and a research group, who are all actively engaged in the deaf and/or hearing-impaired sector.

Parkinsonism Society of New Zealand

The Parkinsonism Society is a community-based, non-profit organisation reliant on funding from grants, bequests and donations. There are 18 regional divisions supported by a national office in Wellington. The society offers members information on Parkinsons Disease through a national magazine, books and audio-visual material, local meetings and education programmes. It also runs activities such as exercise classes and speech therapy, advice on health and welfare assistance, and home visits from field officers. In addition, it provides information and educational services to health professionals and the general public.

Service provider groups

IHC

IHC is the largest provider of services for people with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand. Its national office is located in Wellington and it has 41 branches around the country. It supports around 3,000 people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The organis-ation has a strong governance structure, made up of volunteers, the majority of whom are parents of people with intellectual disabilities.

IHC advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and their families at a national and local level. It also has a service arm that provides vocational services and a variety of accommodation options, which include group homes and supported living. In addition, it supports children with intellectual disabilities and their families through respite care, holiday and sibling programmes and after-school care.

Mental Health Foundation

The role of the Mental Health Foundation is to promote mental health issues and provide services to health and allied professionals, as well as the general public. It is governed by a 12-member board and has a national office in Auckland, with regional offices in Wellington and Christchurch.

The organisation obtains funding from a range of government contracts, donations and grants. This funding is used to run a national information service, training and education programmes on mental health promotion, and work in partnership with other agencies involved in mental health and youth suicide prevention. The Mental Health Foundation has a national role in advocacy and policy development affecting mental health issues.

New Zealand CCS

New Zealand CCS is one of the oldest and largest organisations providing a range of professional services to people with physical impairments. It has 16 branches and offices around the country that provide education, vocational support, life skills, advocacy, pro-motion of services and support, accommodation and peer support services for its clients and their families. Government contracts fund 60% of the organisation’s services and 40% are funded through donations and membership fees. Its membership includes people with physical disabilities, their families and the general public.

Richmond Fellowship New Zealand

Richmond Fellowship New Zealand offers a wide range of community services throughout New Zealand and the Pacific. Its mission is to be the agency of choice in the provision of community rehabilitation and support services for people who suffer mental and emotional difficulties.

The Fellowship’s core business is intensive community support and specialisation in the support and management of people with multiple and complex disorders. It contracts to hospitals, government and non-government organisations to provide high-level specialist services. It is the largest community health provider in New Zealand, catering for approximately 2,000 people in towns and cities throughout the country.

Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind - RNZFB

The RNZFB has over 12,000 blind and vision-impaired members. Its national office is in Auckland and it has a further 17 offices around the country where professionally trained staff provide services for its members. The Foundation’s mission is to remove the barriers faced by blind and sight impaired people, promote participation of blind and sight impaired people in all aspects of life, and help ensure the incidence of preventable blindness is minimised.

The organisation is funded primarily from public donations ($14m per annum) with some funding from government ($5m) to provide services to its members. These services include rehabilitation; vocational, adaptive technology, and techniques of daily living skills; peer support for youth; orientation and mobility; recreation; advocacy; and library services. It also offers its members talking books and guide dog services, which are completely donor funded.

Stroke Foundation NZ

Stroke Foundation NZ has over 100 clubs with 40 field officers throughout the country. It provides information, education, care, support and rehabilitation to families, and support workers to enable its members to regain the best quality of life they can.

The Foundation has taken the initiative to develop a comprehensive model of stroke services (CMoSS) which involves three strategies and 21 integrated projects to address the issues of stroke prevention, clinical practice improvement and community-based long-term support. This model is proceeding with the support of the Ministry of Health.

Groups representing the interests of parents and families

Parent to Parent

Parent to Parent has a national office and 11 branches around the country. The organisation has a network of regional groups and trained volunteer Support Parents who provide information and emotional support to families who have a child with a disability, special need or health impairment. It is affiliated to similar groups around the world and maintains close links with other organisations and professionals who work in related fields.

Parents of Vision Impaired NZ Inc - PVI

PVI is a non-profit organisation of, by and for parents committed to providing support to the parents of children who have vision impair-ments. Its national office is in Auckland and there is an executive of 10 members that governs the organisation.

PVI encourages and supports a New Zealand-wide network of parents. It publishes a regular newsletter and a quarterly magazine, Vision, which provide information about international and national issues relating to children with vision impairments, such as education, medical intervention and welfare.

Education and employment specialist groups

ACHIEVE

ACHIEVE is a network established to ensure equal opportunity and access to tertiary education and training for people with disability. It advocates and lobbies for people in or moving into post-secondary education who have physical, sensory, intellectual or learning disability, mental health needs, long-term medical conditions or injury.

On behalf of its members, ACHIEVE advocates to government and networks within the education sector. It provides information, holds annual forums for students with disabilities, as well as providers and professionals of post-secondary education, and operates peer networks for students with disabilities. ACHIEVE aims to ensure equality of post-secondary education is provided to all students.

Equal Employment Opportunities Trust - EEO Trust

The EEO Trust is a membership-based organisation, which has public, private and voluntary sector workplaces as members. Its operations are managed by a small team based in Auckland and it is governed by a board of public and private sector trustees. The EEO Trust is resourced through membership donations, government funding and sponsorship.

Since its inception in 1992, the EEO Trust has helped employers of choice achieve success through valuing diversity. The EEO Employers Group (established in 1997) now has over 300 members. Members receive benefits including profile, logo usage, regular advice and information, discounts and partnership opportunities. Job seekers are encouraged when looking for a job to look for the EEO Employers Group logo.

The EEO Trust uses research, information, influence and partner-ship to achieve its goals. It maintains a specific focus on disability and produced People, Disability and Work, a series of 11 booklets relating to disability and employment. It recently produced Tools for Tapping into Talent, free training modules for recruitment consultants that are available on its website, at http://www.eeotrust.org.nz.

The EEO Trust is committed to promoting the business and social benefits of accessing the talents of diverse groups for New Zealand workplaces, including the talents of people with disabilities.

Workbridge

This organisation is funded by government to provide an employ-ment placement service for people with disabilities and has 22 offices around the country. Workbridge assists job-seekers to set goals and develop career plans, identify training needs and job options, and it actively joins with job-seekers in finding job opportunities. Workbridge also administers three Support Funds on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development’s Work and Income service: Job Support, Training Support and Self Start.

For further information contact the Office for Disability Issues.