the new zealand disability strategy making a world of difference whakanui oranga

THENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYMAKINGAWORLDOFDIFFERENCEWHAKANUIORANGAMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUESAPRIL2001PUBLISHEDINAPRIL2001BYTHEMINISTRYOFHEALTHPOBOX5013,WELLINGTON,NEWZEALANDISBN0478243588BOOKISBN0478243596INTERNETTHISDOCUMENTISAVAILABLEONWEBSITEHTTP/WWWODIGOVTNZTHISDOCUMENTISAVAILABLEINLARGEFONT,BRAILLE,AUDIOTAPEORINANEASYTOREADVERSIONONREQUESTFROMOFFICEFORDISABILITYISSUESMINISTRYOFSOCIALDEVELOPMENTPOBOX12136WELLINGTONEMAILODIMSDGOVTNZFOREWORDFROMTHEMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUESENGIWI,ENGREO,ENGKARANGATANGAMAHAONGHAUEWH,TNEITEMIHIATUKIAKOUTOUKTOATNKOUTOU,TNKOUTOU,TNKOUTOUKATOATIHEIMAURIORATOALLPEOPLE,ALLVOICES,ALLTHEMANYRELATIONSFROMTHEFOURWINDS,IGREETYOUALLONEINFIVENEWZEALANDERSHASALONGTERMIMPAIRMENTMANYAREUNABLETOREACHTHEIRPOTENTIALORPARTICIPATEFULLYINTHECOMMUNITYBECAUSEOFBARRIERSTHEYFACEDOINGTHINGSTHATMOSTNEWZEALANDERSTAKEFORGRANTEDTHEBARRIERSRANGEFROMTHEPURELYPHYSICAL,SUCHASACCESSTOFACILITIES,TOTHEATTITUDINAL,DUETOPOORAWARENESSOFDISABILITYISSUESTHEAIMOFTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYMAKINGAWORLDOFDIFFERENCEWHAKANUIORANGAISTOELIMINATETHESEBARRIERSWHEREVERTHEYEXISTTHESTRATEGYWILLGUIDEGOVERNMENTACTIONTOPROMOTEAMOREINCLUSIVESOCIETYITISANENDURINGFRAMEWORKWHICHWILLENSURETHATGOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTSANDOTHERGOVERNMENTAGENCIESCONSIDERDISABLEDPEOPLEBEFOREMAKINGDECISIONSITWILLSITALONGSIDEOTHERGOVERNMENTPROGRAMMESSUCHASTHEPOSITIVEAGEINGSTRATEGY,THENEWZEALANDHEALTHSTRATEGYANDTHEREEVALUATIONOFHUMANRIGHTSPROTECTIONSINNEWZEALANDTHEGOVERNMENTWILLTAKETHELEADBUTWEWILLALSOBEDOINGEVERYTHINGWECANTOINFLUENCETHEATTITUDESANDBEHAVIOUROFSOCIETYASAWHOLEALLNEWZEALANDERSNEEDTOCONSIDERISSUESFORDISABLEDPEOPLEANDTHEIRASPIRATIONSASINDIVIDUALSWEMUSTALSOCONSIDERTHEFAMILIESANDWHNAUOFDISABLEDPEOPLE,ANDOTHERSWHOSUPPORTTHEMTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYHASBEENDEVELOPEDWITHEXTENSIVEINPUTFROMTHEDISABILITYSECTORDURINGTHECONSULTATIONPERIOD,700SUBMISSIONSWERERECEIVED,INCLUDINGFEEDBACKFROM68MEETINGSAROUNDTHECOUNTRYASUMMARYOFCONSULTATIONFINDINGSISAVAILABLEFROMTHEMINISTRYOFHEALTHTHANKYOUTOALLTHOSEWHOATTENDEDMEETINGS,MADESUBMISSIONSANDPROMOTEDTHESTRATEGYINPARTICULAR,IWANTTOTHANKTHEMEMBERSOFTHESECTORREFERENCEGROUP,WHOSETIRELESSWORKHASPLAYEDAMAJORPARTINITSSUCCESSFULDEVELOPMENTTHEGOVERNMENTISCOMMITTEDTOTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYEACHYEARGOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTSWILLDEVELOPWORKPLANSWHICHSETOUTSPECIFICSTEPSTOIMPLEMENTTHESTRATEGYTHESEPLANSWILLBEMONITOREDANNUALLY,ANDAREVIEWOFOVERALLPROGRESSWILLOCCURAFTERFIVEANDTENYEARSIHAVEAPPRECIATEDTHEOPPORTUNITYTOBEMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUESDURINGONEOFTHEMOSTEXCITINGPERIODSOFDEVELOPMENTALWORKONDISABILITYISSUESINTHEFIVEYEARSSINCEIWASLABOURSDISABILITYSPOKESPERSON,THEREHASBEENANEXPONENTIALCHANGEOFATTITUDE,INCLUDINGCHANGESINLANGUAGEANDUNDERSTANDINGIAMGRATEFULTOALLTHOSEWHOHELPEDBRINGMEUPTOSPEEDDURINGTHISCHALLENGINGTIMEIALSOWANTTOACKNOWLEDGEMYCOLLEAGUERUTHDYSON,THEFIRSTMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUES,WHOHASRAISEDTHEPROFILEOFDISABILITYISSUESBOTHINSIDEANDOUTSIDEGOVERNMENTANDWHOLAIDTHESTRONGFOUNDATIONSONWHICHTHESTRATEGYISBUILTIAMKEENTOSHEPHERDTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYTHROUGHTHENEXTSTAGEOFIMPLEMENTATION,INANACTIVEANDCOLLABORATIVEWAYWITHDISABLEDPEOPLEWORKINGTOGETHER,IAMCONFIDENTTHATWECAN,INDEED,MAKEAWORLDOFDIFFERENCEHONLIANNEDALZIELMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUESACKNOWLEDGEMENTSTHEDEVELOPMENTOFTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYHASINVOLVEDVALUEDINPUTFROMAWIDERANGEOFINDIVIDUALS,GROUPSANDORGANISATIONSTHEADVICEANDASSISTANCEFROMTHEFOLLOWINGCONTRIBUTORSISPARTICULARLYACKNOWLEDGEDNEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYSECTORREFERENCEGROUPDISABLEDPERSONSASSEMBLYNEWZEALANDINC,ESPECIALLYTHOSELOCALREPRESENTATIVESWHOHOSTEDCONSULTATIONMEETINGSWORKSHOP,HUI,FONOANDFOCUSGROUPPARTICIPANTSANDEVERYONEWHOMADEASUBMISSIONONTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYDISCUSSIONDOCUMENTTHEAUCKLANDDISABILITYPROVIDERSNETWORKORGANISATIONSTHATHELPEDWITHACCESSIBLEVERSIONSOFTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYDISCUSSIONDOCUMENT,ESPECIALLYTHEROYALNEWZEALANDFOUNDATIONFORTHEBLINDANDIHCNEWZEALANDSIGNLANGUAGEINTERPRETERSWHOPROVIDEDTHEIRSERVICESATCONSULTATIONMEETINGSACKNOWLEDGINGTHESPECIALRELATIONSHIPBETWEENMORIANDTHECROWNUNDERTHETREATYOFWAITANGITHETREATYOFWAITANGIISNEWZEALANDSFOUNDINGDOCUMENTANDTHEGOVERNMENTISCOMMITTEDTOFULFILLINGITSOBLIGATIONSASATREATYPARTNERTHISSPECIALRELATIONSHIPISONGOINGANDISBASEDONTHEUNDERLYINGPREMISETHATMORISHOULDCONTINUETOLIVEINAOTEAROAASMORICENTRALTOTHETREATYRELATIONSHIPANDIMPLEMENTATIONOFTREATYPRINCIPLESISACOMMONUNDERSTANDINGTHATMORIWILLHAVEANIMPORTANTROLEINDEVELOPINGANDIMPLEMENTINGDISABILITYSTRATEGIESFORMORIANDTHATTHECROWNANDMORIWILLRELATETOEACHOTHERINGOODFAITHWITHMUTUALRESPECT,COOPERATIONANDTRUSTMORISHOULDBEABLETODEFINEANDPROVIDEFORTHEIROWNPRIORITIESFORPARTICIPATIONANDBEENCOURAGEDTODEVELOPTHECAPACITYFORDELIVERYOFSERVICESTOTHEIRCOMMUNITIESTHISNEEDSTOBEBALANCEDBYTHECROWNSDUTYTOGOVERNONBEHALFOFTHETOTALPOPULATIONTODATE,THERELATIONSHIPBETWEENMORIANDTHECROWNINTHEDISABILITYSECTORHASBEENBASEDONTHREEKEYPRINCIPLESPARTICIPATIONATALLLEVELSPARTNERSHIPINSERVICEDELIVERYPROTECTIONANDIMPROVEMENTOFMORIWELLBEINGCONTENTSFOREWORDFROMTHEMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUES3ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS5SUMMARY7INTRODUCTION9VISIONOFANONDISABLINGSOCIETY11BARRIERS12DELIVERINGTHESTRATEGY14THEGOVERNMENTSOBJECTIVES15ACTIONS17OBJECTIVE1ENCOURAGEANDEDUCATEFORANONDISABLINGSOCIETY17OBJECTIVE2ENSURERIGHTSFORDISABLEDPEOPLE18OBJECTIVE3PROVIDETHEBESTEDUCATIONFORDISABLEDPEOPLE19OBJECTIVE4PROVIDEOPPORTUNITIESINEMPLOYMENTANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENTFORDISABLEDPEOPLE20OBJECTIVE5FOSTERLEADERSHIPBYDISABLEDPEOPLE22OBJECTIVE6FOSTERANAWAREANDRESPONSIVEPUBLICSERVICE23OBJECTIVE7CREATELONGTERMSUPPORTSYSTEMSCENTREDONTHEINDIVIDUAL24OBJECTIVE8SUPPORTQUALITYLIVINGINTHECOMMUNITYFORDISABLEDPEOPLE25OBJECTIVE9SUPPORTLIFESTYLECHOICES,RECREATIONANDCULTUREFORDISABLEDPEOPLE26OBJECTIVE10COLLECTANDUSERELEVANTINFORMATIONABOUTDISABLEDPEOPLEANDDISABILITYISSUES27OBJECTIVE11PROMOTEPARTICIPATIONOFDISABLEDMORI28OBJECTIVE12PROMOTEPARTICIPATIONOFDISABLEDPACIFICPEOPLES29OBJECTIVE13ENABLEDISABLEDCHILDRENANDYOUTHTOLEADFULLANDACTIVELIVES30OBJECTIVE14PROMOTEPARTICIPATIONOFDISABLEDWOMENINORDERTOIMPROVETHEIRQUALITYOFLIFE31OBJECTIVE15VALUEFAMILIES,WHNAUANDPEOPLEPROVIDINGONGOINGSUPPORT32APPENDIXMEMBERSHIPOFTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYSECTORREFERENCEGROUP33SUMMARYTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYPRESENTSALONGTERMPLANFORCHANGINGNEWZEALANDFROMADISABLINGTOANINCLUSIVESOCIETYITHASBEENDEVELOPEDINCONSULTATIONWITHDISABLEDPEOPLEANDTHEWIDERDISABILITYSECTOR,ANDREFLECTSMANYINDIVIDUALSEXPERIENCESOFDISABILITYDISABILITYISNOTSOMETHINGINDIVIDUALSHAVEWHATINDIVIDUALSHAVEAREIMPAIRMENTSTHEYMAYBEPHYSICAL,SENSORY,NEUROLOGICAL,PSYCHIATRIC,INTELLECTUALOROTHERIMPAIRMENTSDISABILITYISTHEPROCESSWHICHHAPPENSWHENONEGROUPOFPEOPLECREATEBARRIERSBYDESIGNINGAWORLDONLYFORTHEIRWAYOFLIVING,TAKINGNOACCOUNTOFTHEIMPAIRMENTSOTHERPEOPLEHAVEALONGWITHOTHERNEWZEALANDERS,DISABLEDPEOPLEASPIRETOAGOODLIFEHOWEVER,THEYALSOFACEHUGEBARRIERSTOACHIEVINGTHELIFETHATSOMANYTAKEFORGRANTEDTHESEBARRIERSARECREATEDWHENWEBUILDASOCIETYTHATTAKESNOACCOUNTOFTHEIMPAIRMENTSOTHERPEOPLEHAVEOURSOCIETYISBUILTINAWAYTHATASSUMESWECANALLSEESIGNS,READDIRECTIONS,HEARANNOUNCEMENTS,REACHBUTTONS,HAVETHESTRENGTHTOOPENHEAVYDOORSANDHAVESTABLEMOODSANDPERCEPTIONSUNDERPINNINGTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYISAVISIONOFAFULLYINCLUSIVESOCIETYNEWZEALANDWILLBEINCLUSIVEWHENPEOPLEWITHIMPAIRMENTSCANSAYTHEYLIVEINASOCIETYTHATHIGHLYVALUESOURLIVESANDCONTINUALLYENHANCESOURFULLPARTICIPATIONACHIEVINGTHISVISIONWILLINVOLVEENSURINGTHATDISABLEDPEOPLEHAVEAMEANINGFULPARTNERSHIPWITHGOVERNMENT,COMMUNITIESANDSUPPORTAGENCIES,BASEDONRESPECTANDEQUALITYDISABLEDPEOPLEWILLBEINTEGRATEDINTOCOMMUNITYLIFEONTHEIROWNTERMS,THEIRABILITIESWILLBEVALUED,THEIRDIVERSITYANDINTERDEPENDENCEWILLBERECOGNISED,ANDTHEIRHUMANRIGHTSWILLBEPROTECTEDACHIEVINGTHISVISIONWILLALSOINVOLVERECOGNISINGTHEPRINCIPLESOFTHETREATYOFWAITANGITOADVANCENEWZEALANDTOWARDSAFULLYINCLUSIVESOCIETY,THESTRATEGYINCLUDESFIFTEENOBJECTIVES,UNDERPINNEDBYDETAILEDACTIONSTHEOBJECTIVESARETO1ENCOURAGEANDEDUCATEFORANONDISABLINGSOCIETY2ENSURERIGHTSFORDISABLEDPEOPLE3PROVIDETHEBESTEDUCATIONFORDISABLEDPEOPLE4PROVIDEOPPORTUNITIESINEMPLOYMENTANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENTFORDISABLEDPEOPLE5FOSTERLEADERSHIPBYDISABLEDPEOPLE6FOSTERANAWAREANDRESPONSIVEPUBLICSERVICE7CREATELONGTERMSUPPORTSYSTEMSCENTREDONTHEINDIVIDUAL8SUPPORTQUALITYLIVINGINTHECOMMUNITYFORDISABLEDPEOPLE9SUPPORTLIFESTYLECHOICES,RECREATIONANDCULTUREFORDISABLEDPEOPLE10COLLECTANDUSERELEVANTINFORMATIONABOUTDISABLEDPEOPLEANDDISABILITYISSUES11PROMOTEPARTICIPATIONOFDISABLEDMORI12PROMOTEPARTICIPATIONOFDISABLEDPACIFICPEOPLES13ENABLEDISABLEDCHILDRENANDYOUTHTOLEADFULLANDACTIVELIVES14PROMOTEPARTICIPATIONOFDISABLEDWOMENINORDERTOIMPROVETHEIRQUALITYOFLIFE15VALUEFAMILIES,WHNAUANDPEOPLEPROVIDINGONGOINGSUPPORTKEYGOVERNMENTDEPARTMENTSWILLPRODUCEANIMPLEMENTATIONWORKPLANFORTHE2001/02YEARSHOWINGWHATTHEYAREDOINGTOWARDSIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHESTRATEGYTHISANNUALPLANNINGPROCESSWILLTHENBEROLLEDOUTTOOTHERDEPARTMENTSIN2002/03THEMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUESWILLREPORTTOPARLIAMENTANNUALLYONPROGRESSINIMPLEMENTINGTHESTRATEGYANDFULLREVIEWSOFPROGRESSWILLBECONDUCTEDAFTERFIVEANDTENYEARSINTRODUCTIONDISABILITYISINSOCIETY,NOTINMEIHAVETHERIGHTTODIGNITY,TODEVELOPMYPOTENTIAL,TOUSEMYQUALITIESANDSKILLSCONSULTATIONCOMMENTSWELIVEINADISABLINGSOCIETYTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYPRESENTSAPLANFORCHANGINGTHISDISABILITYISNOTSOMETHINGINDIVIDUALSHAVEWHATINDIVIDUALSHAVEAREIMPAIRMENTSTHEYMAYBEPHYSICAL,SENSORY,NEUROLOGICAL,PSYCHIATRIC,INTELLECTUALOROTHERIMPAIRMENTSDISABILITYISTHEPROCESSWHICHHAPPENSWHENONEGROUPOFPEOPLECREATEBARRIERSBYDESIGNINGAWORLDONLYFORTHEIRWAYOFLIVING,TAKINGNOACCOUNTOFTHEIMPAIRMENTSOTHERPEOPLEHAVEOURSOCIETYISBUILTINAWAYTHATASSUMESTHATWECANALLMOVEQUICKLYFROMONESIDEOFTHEROADTOTHEOTHERTHATWECANALLSEESIGNS,READDIRECTIONS,HEARANNOUNCEMENTS,REACHBUTTONS,HAVETHESTRENGTHTOOPENHEAVYDOORSANDHAVESTABLEMOODSANDPERCEPTIONSALTHOUGHNEWZEALANDHASSTANDARDSFORACCESSIBILITY,SCHOOLS,WORKPLACES,SUPERMARKETS,BANKS,MOVIETHEATRES,MARAE,CHURCHESANDHOUSESARE,INTHEMAIN,DESIGNEDANDBUILTBYNONDISABLEDPEOPLEFORNONDISABLEDUSERSTHISISOURHISTORYOFDISABILITYINNEWZEALANDDISABILITYRELATESTOTHEINTERACTIONBETWEENTHEPERSONWITHTHEIMPAIRMENTANDTHEENVIRONMENTITHASALOTTODOWITHDISCRIMINATION,ANDHASALOTINCOMMONWITHOTHERATTITUDESANDBEHAVIOURSSUCHASRACISMANDSEXISMTHATARENOTACCEPTABLEINOURSOCIETYPEOPLEANDGROUPSOFPEOPLESHOULDNOTBEJUDGEDBYONEPARTICULARASPECTOFTHEIRLIVESWHETHERITSTHEIRRACE,GENDER,AGEORIMPAIRMENTINDIVIDUALBELIEFSANDASSUMPTIONS,ASWELLASTHEPRACTICESOFINSTITUTIONS,MEANTHATMANYDISABLEDPEOPLEARENOTABLETOACCESSTHINGSTHATMANYNONDISABLEDPEOPLETAKEFORGRANTEDTHEDESIRETOBREAKDOWNTHEBARRIERSTHATCAUSEDISABILITYISALSOCLOSELYLINKEDTOIDEASABOUTTHEHUMANRIGHTSOFPEOPLEWITHIMPAIRMENTSWITHOUTHUMANRIGHTSWECANNOTLIVEASFULLHUMANBEINGSHUMANRIGHTSINCLUDEPOLITICAL,CIVIL,SOCIAL,CULTURALANDECONOMICRIGHTSHUMANRIGHTSAREDESCRIBEDBYINTERNATIONALINSTRUMENTSSUCHASTHEUNIVERSALDECLARATIONONHUMANRIGHTSANDCORETREATIESSUCHASTHEINTERNATIONALCOVENANTONCIVILANDPOLITICALRIGHTS,CONVENTIONONTHEELIMINATIONOFALLFORMSOFDISCRIMINATIONAGAINSTWOMENCEDAWANDTHECONVENTIONONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDUNCROCINNEWZEALANDWEHAVELEGISLATIONSUCHASTHEBILLOFRIGHTSACT,THEHUMANRIGHTSACTANDTHEPRIVACYACTINTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYDISCUSSIONDOCUMENT,THETERMPEOPLEEXPERIENCINGDISABILITYWASUSEDTHROUGHOUTTHEDOCUMENTTHEREWASAMIXEDREACTIONTOTHISTERMSOMEPEOPLELIKEDITANDTHOUGHTITWASAGOODWAYOFEXPRESSINGTHATDISABILITYISSOMETHINGTHATHAPPENSTOPEOPLEWHOHAVEIMPAIRMENTSOTHERPEOPLETHOUGHTITWASOVERCOMPLICATEDTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYSECTORREFERENCEGROUPHASRECOMMENDEDTHATTHISFINALSTRATEGYSHOULDUSETHETERMDISABLEDPEOPLETOREFERTOTHEPEOPLEATTHEHEARTOFTHISSTRATEGYVISIONOFANONDISABLINGSOCIETYALONGWITHOTHERNEWZEALANDERS,DISABLEDPEOPLEASPIRETOAGOODLIFETHEVISIONOFTHISSTRATEGYISAFULLYINCLUSIVESOCIETYNEWZEALANDWILLBEINCLUSIVEWHENPEOPLEWITHIMPAIRMENTSCANSAYTHEYLIVEINASOCIETYTHATHIGHLYVALUESOURLIVESANDCONTINUALLYENHANCESOURFULLPARTICIPATIONTHISWILLHAPPENINACOUNTRYWHEREDISABLEDPEOPLEHAVEAMEANINGFULPARTNERSHIPWITHGOVERNMENT,COMMUNITIESANDSUPPORTAGENCIES,BASEDONRESPECTANDEQUALITYWEHAVEMOVEDFORWARDFROMEXCLUSION,TOLERANCEANDACCOMMODATIONOFDISABLEDPEOPLETOAFULLYINCLUSIVEANDMUTUALLYSUPPORTIVESOCIETYDISABLEDPEOPLEAREINTEGRATEDINTOCOMMUNITYLIFEONTHEIROWNTERMSTHISMEANSTHATEQUALOPPORTUNITIESAREASSUREDBUTINDIVIDUALCHOICESAREAVAILABLEANDRESPECTEDTHEABILITIESOFDISABLEDPEOPLEAREVALUEDANDNOTQUESTIONEDINTERDEPENDENCEISRECOGNISEDANDVALUED,ESPECIALLYTHEIMPORTANTRELATIONSHIPSBETWEENDISABLEDPEOPLEANDTHEIRFAMILIES,FRIENDS,WHNAUANDOTHERPEOPLEWHOPROVIDESUPPORTHUMANRIGHTSAREPROTECTEDASAFUNDAMENTALCORNERSTONEOFGOVERNMENTPOLICYANDPRACTICETHEDIVERSITYOFDISABLEDPEOPLE,INCLUDINGTHEIRCULTURALBACKGROUNDS,ISRECOGNISED,ANDTHEREISFLEXIBILITYTOSUPPORTTHEIRDIFFERINGASPIRATIONSANDGOALSDISABLEDPEOPLEARETREATEDEQUITABLY,REGARDLESSOFGENDER,AGE,CULTURALBACKGROUND,TYPEOFIMPAIRMENTORWHENANDHOWTHEIMPAIRMENTWASACQUIREDCOMMUNITYBASEDSERVICESENSURETHATDISABLEDPEOPLEARESUPPORTEDTOLIVEINTHEIROWNCOMMUNITIES,ANDINSTITUTIONALISATIONISELIMINATEDTHEIDEATHATSOCIETYIMPOSESMANYOFTHEDISABLINGBARRIERSFACEDBYPEOPLEWITHIMPAIRMENTSISWIDELYUNDERSTOODAND,THEREFORE,LEGISLATION,POLICYANDOTHERACTIVITIESENHANCERATHERTHANDISABLETHELIVESOFPEOPLEWITHIMPAIRMENTSTHEPRINCIPLESOFTHETREATYOFWAITANGIARERECOGNISEDBARRIERSMOREOFTENTHANNOT,BARRIERSAREMADEOUTOFPEOPLESIGNORANCETOWARDSSOMETHINGDIFFERENTCONSULTATIONCOMMENTONEINFIVEPEOPLEINNEWZEALANDREPORTSHAVINGALONGTERMIMPAIRMENTBECAUSEEVERYONECOMESFROMDIFFERENTBACKGROUNDS,HOLDSDIFFERENTBELIEFSANDHASDIFFERENTNEEDS,THEREISAGREATDIVERSITYOFPEOPLEWHOHAVEIMPAIRMENTSTHEKEYCOMMONFACTORAMONGPEOPLEWITHIMPAIRMENTSISTHATTHEYFACEMANYLIFELONGBARRIERSTOTHEIRFULLPARTICIPATIONINNEWZEALANDSOCIETYATTITUDESHAVEBEENIDENTIFIED,THROUGHCONSULTATION,ASTHEMAJORBARRIERTHATOPERATESATALLLEVELSOFDAILYLIFEINTHEGENERALPOPULATIONATTITUDESANDIGNORANCEMAKETHEIRPRESENCEFELTASSTIGMA,PREJUDICEANDDISCRIMINATIONINTHEYEARTOJUNE1999,DISABILITYDISCRIMINATIONWASTHELARGESTCATEGORYOFCOMPLAINTSTOTHEHUMANRIGHTSCOMMISSIONSTIGMA,PREJUDICEANDDISCRIMINATIONAFFECTOURBEHAVIOURSSOMETIMESTHECOMBINATIONOFATTITUDESANDBEHAVIOURSCANSEEMTOCREATEALMOSTINSURMOUNTABLEBARRIERS,FOREXAMPLE,WHOLESYSTEMSORORGANISATIONSCANBECOMEABARRIERMUCHINTHEWAYTHATINSTITUTIONALISEDRACISMOPERATESWHENIMACHILDFORDISABLEDCHILDREN,ITISHARDTOGETTHEBESTSTARTTOTHEIRLIFEAHEADCHILDRENSNEEDSCANPUTBIGDEMANDS,INCLUDINGFINANCIALPRESSURE,ONTHEIRFAMILIESANDWHNAUWHENIMAYOUTHDISABLEDPEOPLEAREMUCHLESSLIKELYTOHAVEEDUCATIONALQUALIFICATIONSTHANNONDISABLEDPEOPLEWHENIMANADULTDISABLEDPEOPLEAREMUCHLESSLIKELYTOBEEMPLOYEDFORINSTANCE,THEUNEMPLOYMENTRATEFORPEOPLEWITHONGOINGMENTALILLNESSISVERYHIGHHALFOFRECENTCOMPLAINTSTOTHEHUMANRIGHTSCOMMISSIONINREGARDTODISABILITYRELATEDTOEMPLOYMENTTHEPUBLICSERVICEEMPLOYSAFARLOWERPROPORTIONOFDISABLEDPEOPLETHANEXISTINTHEGENERALWORKINGAGEPOPULATION,DESPITEEQUALEMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITYPOLICIESDISABLEDPEOPLEOFTENHAVEREDUCEDHOUSINGOPTIONSTHROUGHPOVERTYORFACTORSSUCHASDISCRIMINATIONWHENNEIGHBOURSOBJECTTOSUPPORTEDHOUSESBEINGESTABLISHEDINTHEIRAREAWHENIMOLDEROLDERPEOPLEEXPERIENCEDIFFICULTIESWHENTHEIRPROBLEMSARESEENASANINEVITABLEPARTOFAGEINGFACEDWITHTHISATTITUDE,THEYMAYMISSTHEOPPORTUNITYTOREMAINABLEANDINDEPENDENTTHROUGHREHABILITATION,CORRECTIONOFHEALTHPROBLEMSORPROVISIONOFSUPPORTSERVICESFOROLDERDISABLEDPEOPLE,ONEOFTHEBIGGESTPROBLEMSCANBEBEINGDENIEDTHEOPPORTUNITYTOREMAININTHEIRFAMILIARSURROUNDINGSANDAGEINPLACEEVENINTHEIROWNHOMES,SOMECANFEELISOLATEDANDINSECUREIFTHEYHAVELIMITEDCONTACTWITHFAMILIES,FRIENDSANDTHEIRCOMMUNITYMYWHOLELIFEDESPITENEWZEALANDHAVINGSTRONGSTANDARDSFORPHYSICALACCESSIBILITY,ACCESSTOPUBLICFACILITIESANDOTHERBUILDINGSSUCHASMARAEISPOORONTOPOFTHAT,MOSTPUBLICTRANSPORTISNOTINDEPENDENTLYACCESSIBLE,ANDCARMODIFICATIONSAREEXPENSIVEPEOPLEINHIGHERSOCIOECONOMICAREASAREMORELIKELYTOACCESSANDRECEIVESUPPORTSERVICESTHANPEOPLEINLOWSOCIOECONOMICAREASREFLECTINGTHISSITUATION,MORIASWELLASPACIFICPEOPLESARETYPICALLYLOWUSERSOFSUPPORTSERVICESFORTYFOURPERCENTOFMORIWITHALONGTERMIMPAIRMENTREPORTTHATTHEYHAVEANUNMETNEEDFORSOMEKINDOFSERVICEORASSISTANCETWENTYNINEPERCENTOFNONMORIWITHALONGTERMIMPAIRMENTREPORTANUNMETNEEDTHEMAJORITYOFSUPPORTFOREVERYDAYACTIVITIESCOMESFROMFAMILIESPOORLITERACYISAPROBLEMFORMANYANDISACAUSEOFCOMMUNICATIONBARRIERSTHISPROBLEMEXTENDSTOBRAILLEANDSIGNLANGUAGELITERACYDISABLEDPEOPLE,ESPECIALLYTHOSEWITHPSYCHIATRICORINTELLECTUALIMPAIRMENTS,AREOFTENSHUTOUTOFSOCIALNETWORKSANDFULLPARTICIPATIONINCOMMUNITYACTIVITIES,BECAUSEPEOPLEAREIGNORANTORFEARFULOFBEHAVIOURTHEYPERCEIVEASDIFFERENTASAGROUP,DISABLEDPEOPLEARELIKELYTOHAVELOWERINCOMESANDFEWERFINANCIALANDFAMILYRESOURCESTHANTHEGENERALPOPULATIONTHISECONOMICDISADVANTAGEISCOMPOUNDEDBYTHEFINANCIALCOSTOFDISABILITYTHEEARNINGPOTENTIALOFFAMILIESWITHDISABLEDCHILDRENCANBECURTAILEDBYTHEIRNEEDTOPROVIDESUPPORTFORTHEIRCHILDRENORLIVEANDWORKINAREASWHERETHEYCANACCESSFAMILYORPROFESSIONALSUPPORTDISABLEDWOMENAREMORELIKELYTOHAVELOWINCOMESTHANMENORNONDISABLEDWOMENSEVENTYONEPERCENTOFWOMENWITHLONGTERMIMPAIRMENTSREPORTANANNUALPERSONALINCOMEOFLESSTHAN15,000DISABLEDPEOPLEAREALMOSTTHREETIMESASLIKELYTOGETINCOMEFROMAGOVERNMENTBENEFITTHANNONDISABLEDPEOPLEEXCLUDINGSUPERANNUATIONFROMTHISCALCULATIONALTHOUGHTHEGOVERNMENTPROVIDESARANGEOFSERVICES,THEEXPERIENCEOFACCESSINGTHESESERVICESCANBEVERYDISABLINGBECAUSESOMETIMESTHEYARENOTFLEXIBLEENOUGHTOMEETINDIVIDUALNEEDSTOGETABENEFIT,APIECEOFEQUIPMENT,ORMAYBESOMEHELPATHOMEYOUMIGHTHAVETOTELLYOURSTORYTOTHREEORFOURDIFFERENTPEOPLEJUSTTOGETWHATYOUNEEDATTHATPARTICULARTIMENEXTYEARTHOSETHREEORFOURPEOPLEMAYHAVEMOVEDON,WITHANEWLOTOFASSESSORSINTHEIRPLACETHESEKINDOFARRANGEMENTSANDTURNOVEROFSTAFFAREDISABLINGBECAUSETHEPERSON,THEIRFAMILIESANDWHNAUSPENDALOTOFTIMEFIGHTINGTHESYSTEM,INORDERTOGETACCESSTOTHESAMEOPPORTUNITIESOTHERNEWZEALANDERSHAVETHEGOVERNMENTNEEDSTOHELPOPENTHEWAYINTOCOMMUNITYLIFEFORDISABLEDPEOPLEBYREMOVINGTHEBARRIERSTOTHEIRPARTICIPATIONDELIVERINGTHESTRATEGYUNDERTHENEWZEALANDPUBLICHEALTHANDDISABILITYACT2000,THEMINISTERFORDISABILITYISSUESISREQUIREDTOHAVEANEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGYTHEGOVERNMENTRECOGNISESTHATALOTOFWORKISREQUIREDTOREMOVETHEBARRIERSTOPARTICIPATIONFACEDBYDISABLEDPEOPLEANDCREATEAFULLYINCLUSIVESOCIETYASPARTOFTHENEWZEALANDDISABILITYSTRATEGY,15OBJECTIVESANDDETAILEDACTIONSTOACHIEVETHISHAVEBEENDEVELOPEDGOVERNMENTD