Bites: June and July 2002

News

Invercargill to host National Assembly, 11-13 Oct

DPA Invercargill will host this year's DPA National Assembly and Conference on the weekend of Friday 11 October to Sunday 13 October 2002.

That means people should start planning now to attend and make their bookings, says DPA chief executive, Gary Williams.

The National Assembly had been scheduled for late October in Christchurch but a change in circumstances meant a switch to another venue was required.

Invercargill DPA members put their hands up to express their willingness to organise the National Assembly in their city, and there was no contest.

The recent DPA annual general meeting in Dunedin attracted a lot of participants from around the country, Gary says. I did some comparisons of airfares between Dunedin and Invercargill and there's only $30 difference. If people were willing to go to Dunedin then another $30 isn't really an issue to get to Invercargill. Besides, if people book early they'll get better deals.

Power and politics on the agenda

Hot topic for DPA members attending this year's salubrious National Assembly at the deluxe Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill, will be the theme, Power is a Political Force.

Programme details for the national gathering are still being assembled, but we can promise you a real Southland welcome to Invercargill from celebrity Mayor Tim Shadbolt, and a toast to the south during the conference dinner from "Spirit of Southland" personality, Gerry Ford.

Organiser, Ann Boyles and her team, comprising DPA stalwarts Dot Wilson, Mary Burn, Lorraine Voice, Brendan Murray and Peter Miller, are getting the programme sorted, expect you to enjoy genuine southern hospitality and be at home in a lovely venue. The venue is really nice. It's lovely. It's flat access and close to everything.

As for the programme, Ann says: We're trying to keep it simple. The message is, 'hey let's get out there and do it!'

If you need more details at this stage, contact the National Secretariat email: gen@dpa.org.nz.

Profile

NAG got Beverley into DPA

Whakatane woman, Beverley Grammer, 22, was a member of a local advocacy lobby, calling itself the Negotiating Access Group (otherwise called NAG), before she started going along to DPA to help out.

I just got interested in the local DPA and came along and ended up becoming the president at the next AGM, as you do! she says.

NAG advocated for appropriate physical access around the Eastern Bay, including Whakatane, Opotiki and Kawerau. It had a good relationship with the local council but became less active — because there was no sense doing what DPA was doing as well, she says.

We had some really good relationships with the council but it was definitely a duplication of what DPA was doing.

Now, Beverley has been local DPA president there for two years and the little Eastern Bay DPA assembly has about 15 members — quite a mixture of people from different areas of disability and organisations. There are people from Grey Power, CCS, and people representing the post-polio organisation.

As for Beverley, she was born with spinal muscular atrophy. It's just a muscle weakness.

Also now a member of DPA's national executive committee, Beverley's key interest is in fostering leadership among young people with disabilities — mentoring youth with disabilities so that they can take an active role in their communities.

To that end Beverley is helping with the organisation of the Youth Camp DPA has planned for January next year at Hamner Springs and sitting on the interview panel to find a co-ordinator for that event.

Beverley is also hoping to establish more use of Internet chat among people with disabilities, especially young people. It's something her members are keen on. They're wanting to start a youth network of youth with disabilities — hopefully to connect with each other through the Internet, through email, in chat rooms .

We're looking at starting some kind of network where people can stay in touch with each other. People can discuss issues with anyone, without having to go anywhere. It's great. She intends suggesting it to the NEC as something to be considered.

Eastern Bay members have themselves been staying in touch through bi-monthly forums they have been hosting, the most recent on mental health issues.

Meanwhile, Beverley is also putting energy into her business. She's been self-employed doing work in print and design for the past five years after training through the Auckland Institute of Technology. She does web design for Internet sites as well as the publishing work.

More recently, as Presentation Solutions, Beverley has been providing training to corporates and businesses about disability awareness. Clients have included WINZ and the needs assessment service, NASC. All up, Beverley has run workshops for a total of 56 people so far.

Feedback from the half-day workshops has been very positive. I guess more and more people are becoming interested. The response to having an actual person with a disability doing the training has been really positive. They like to hear the scenario come alive with a personal perspective.

People generally seem to be quite interested and more aware of disability issues and how to act appropriately.

Is the training helping break down the barriers? Yes, definitely, says Beverley.

Last Word from President, Bill Wrightson

Things are looking up for people with disabilities, Bill Wrightson says.

There are a lot of good things happening. The doors are being opened after 10 years of having them slammed in our faces.
The deaf relay system is about to happen. After seven years they are actually going to do something about it.
The Disability Strategy is starting to have an impact. Government departments are now having to look around to get people to help them fulfil their commitments under the strategy.
Robyn Hunt has been made a Human Rights Commissioner.
DPA is going to be a leading participant in the year-long review of Total Mobility. Having been on the outer, we are now in as one of the players.
And we are having regular six-weekly meetings with the Disability Issues Minister.

DPA Diary 2002

June

20 June DPA meets with Ruth Dyson

30 June End of DPA's financial year

July

6 July NEC meeting, Wellington, including meeting with Ruth Dyson

31 July Regional financial statements to National Secretariat

August

1 August DPA meets with Ruth Dyson

16 August Close call for nominations and remits

September

DPA Bites published

NEC elections

12 September DPA meets with Ruth Dyson

12 September NEC meeting via audio-conference

October

8 October Close NEC elections

11-13 October National Assembly and Conference, Invercargill

31 October All Regional AGMs held by this date

December

DPA Bites published

7-8 December NEC meeting, Wellington

12 December DPA meets with Ruth Dyson

24 December DPA National Secretariat closes

DPA Diary 2003

January

Youth Leadership Development Camp, Hamner Springs

6 January DPA National Secretariat opens

More July Bites:

Want to know more?

If you need more information from the DPA National Secretariat on any item in Bites simply phone / ITTY us on (04) 801-9100, fax your request to (04) 801-9565, send it email: gen@dpa.org.nz, or to DPA (New Zealand) Inc, PO Box 27-524, Wellington or check our website www.dpa.org.nz

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