Bites: February / March 2003
You can change the world, say youth leaders at camp
Disabled people can force change - simply by introducing lots of small changes.
That was the theme that emerged from the DPAorganised youth leadership 11-day camp held at Hanmer Springs during the summer, according to chief organiser, Nathan Bond, 31, of Petone.
"There was a theme that emerged and that was 'you can change the world!'", Nathan told DPA Bites. "By making lots and lots of small changes you can end up having a major change. Lots of small things add up to one big thing."
Some 15 young people with a range of disabilities attended the camp from 5 January to 14 January 2003 for workshops and a wide range of exciting adventure activities.
Workshops included topics on leadership, selfadvocacy, self-esteem, assertiveness, language, working in teams, running a meeting, the history of disability in New Zealand, DPA and policy, DPA's youth policy, email, the Internet, a youth with disabilities website, DPA and human rights, a media day, the Treaty of Waitangi, the New Zealand political environment, and sustaining leadership skills.
Participants got to visit a marae and hugely enjoyed the adventure activities that included jet boating on the Hanmer River, cruise-bike riding, orienteering, horse-riding, river-bashing in eightwheel Argonauts, going to the hot pools, visiting a maze and an outdoor centre.
"It all went quite well. Everyone got on. They just gelled, obviously enjoyed the recreation, and really found that they learnt a lot from going to the workshops," Nathan said. "There were some really talented people there and it was good to get to know them."
Those attending had disabilities that included cerebral palsy, autism, visual impairments, and a couple used wheel chairs. At the thermal pools the party created quite a lot of interest among people who had never seen the technology of a pool hoist in action, Nathan said.
The support people on the camp did exceptionally well. One young woman had spinal muscular atrophy. "She went jet boating and managed to go on a bike ride, and go horse-riding."
"The people who were providing the support for people, they really went the extra mile. I got three teacher assistants from Kimi Ora School for the Physically Disabled in Wellington, and they really had a good time. They went the extra mile to get some of these people involved in the camp. They and the recreation co-ordinator really did a good job."
As for Nathan, he is a member of Wellington DPA, and he spent the period from September to January 2002 organising the camp. He was very glad everything went well. "While it's not necessarily fun chasing up people and organising little things, it's a good thing to have done. I learnt a lot."
Though he has chronic back and neck pain and fibromyalgia syndrome that causes a lot of pain in his legs, he hopes to organise another youth leadership camp in two years time, and to start building the networks for that, including sponsorship arrangements.
This 2003 camp was funded mainly by the Rehabilitation Welfare Trust. Unfortunately, Nathan says information about the camp took a long time to filter through the disability community, especially within the larger organisations, and some people who would have liked to attend didn't have the information early enough to be able to make that decision in time.
Participants in the camp came from Auckland, Hamilton, Whakatane, Dunedin, Nelson, Christchurch, Ashburton and Lower Hutt. They were: Beverley Grammer, Natalie Brunzel, Emma Cochrane, Peter Bradley, Stacey Roche, Josiah Hickey, Wendy Chiang, Leanne McCraw, Arveen Singh, Arohan Thompson, Adam Shatford, Jacob Heard, Roberta Soper, James Hawkes, and Nina Tavite.
Many have since thanked Nathan and said how much they enjoyed and learnt from the experience.
Transport
DPA believes that transport is a basic right of all people. Recognising this, government must ensure that all forms of transport and its infrastructure, both in the community and nationally, must be fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Transfund review of Total Mobility
Transfund New Zealand is asking Total Mobility users wishing to participate in its review to contact their local disability support agency.
The Total Mobility scheme is under review by Transfund on behalf of the government and Transfund is consulting with Total Mobility scheme users, van and taxi drivers who provide transport under the scheme, and the support agencies and regional councils that administer it.
"We want to find out how well the scheme is working from the point of view of all of these groups - whether there are any problems with the scheme, and whether it should be changed in any way," says Transfund spokesperson, David Cope.
The Total Mobility scheme provides increased mobility for people with serious mobility constraints and aims to encourage participation in society, personal independence, reduce pressure on caregivers, and encourage people to live at home for longer than would otherwise be possible.
At the moment the government is concerned that Total Mobility services be consistent around the country and sustainable. Even though Transfund New Zealand provides financial assistance to regional councils to help run the Total Mobility scheme, the scheme is basically run on a regional basis.
Transfund was to start the review by sending out survey forms in early February, initially to Total Mobility support agencies. "We will ask each agency to circulate a number of forms to selected users in their region of the country. "
Transfund says it need help from users in undertaking the survey, that it is a valuable way for users to have a say in the way the scheme operates and to influence future decision-making at a regional level - to improve what is a vital transport service.
Housing discrimination
Some housing developers are apparently discriminating against people with disabilities. NEC member, David Corner, has reported that discrimination by housing developers in new residential housing estates is restricting opportunities for disabled people to live in these estates. The advocacy group, People First, for which David is a founding member, is wanting to take up this issue and has asked for support from DPA.
DPA National Secretariat Diary 2003
| March | |
| 20 | DPA meets with Disability Issues Minister |
| 25 | CEO meets with the Office of Disability Issues |
| 31 | Lotteries applications from regions due at Secretariat |
| April - Bites published | |
| 11 | Lotteries Board requires applications |
| 18 | Good Friday |
| 21 | Easter Monday |
| 25 | ANZAC Day |
| 30 | CEO meets with Office of Disability Issues |
| May | |
| 8 | DPA meets with Disability Issues Minister |
| 17-18 | NEC meets in Wellington |
| 28 | CEO meets with Office of Disability Issues |
| June DPA Bites published | |
| 2 | Queens Birthday |
| 19 | DPA meets with Disability Issues Minister |
| 25 | CEO meets with Office of Disability Issues |
| July | |
| 30 | CEO meets with Office of Disability Issues |
| 31 | DPA meets with Disability Issues Minister Regional financial statements to National Secretariat |
| November | |
| 21 | NEC meets in Whakatane |
| 22 | AGM, Whakatane |
Profile
Grassroots will be heard, says Chris Ford
Ensuring that the views and concerns of the "grassroots" members of DPA are listened to will be the task of newly elected DPA National Executive Committee member, Chris Ford, 32, of Dunedin.
"I want to see that the NEC listens to the voices of the grassroots and incorporates those views into the philosophies and policies it decides upon," Chris says.
Chris, who first joined DPA in Dunedin as a 20 year old, has had a long association with the organisation. He hopes to contribute to the growth and development of DPA while on the NEC, and "absolutely" sees value in belonging to the organisation.
"I have done a lot of work with DPA down the years. I have been a member on and off for about decade as I first joined in 1991."
He was on the district executive from 1991 to 1994, which included a stint as vice-president.
Chris, who has cerebral palsy, was also at the forefront of moves in 1999 to bring DPA Dunedin and Districts out of recess. "I was hearing people asking 'where is DPA?'" he says. "I kept hearing this sentiment being repeated."
At the time Chris was a member of the Consumers' Advocacy Group (CAG) associated with CCS Otago. "CAG facilitated the process of putting DPA back together again, locally. It took a while to get everything back on track after being in recess for such a long time."
Now Chris is on the seven-member committee for the local Assembly in the role of secretary, working alongside president, Patsy Wakefield, and other members, including Donna-Rose McKay, Thornton Peck, Melissa Lethaby, Dave Allen and Paula Waby.
Though he has a record of leadership within the DPA movement and as a (now past) member of CCS, it was only with encouragement from
Invercargill DPA member, Dot Wilson, that Chris was persuaded to stand for DPA's national executive. "I was very pleased to end up on the NEC but Dot Wilson had a lot to do with that," Chris says.
"She likes to work on the 'getting behind people principle', encouraging people to move and to grow in terms of their advocacy and skills. She is a wonderful person."
Chris is well educated and qualified. He has two University of Otago degrees as well as a media qualification from Aoraki Polytechnic Dunedin Campus. Currently, he works as a freelance writer.
"The experience of disability is something ablebodied people don't have in terms of facing the additional barriers that people place in front of us," he says. And at the moment accessible transport is a key issue for the disabled community in Dunedin. It's hot on the agenda for the local DPA, which wants to ensure the city's buses are fully accessible for all people, including older people and people with disabilities.
Chris says currently "one or two buses have become more user friendly" to all city residents, but that other contracted bus routes do not have full accessibility. This issue will grow in significance as the population ages "as there is a higher statistical incidence of disability in old age," he added.
Non-disabled people also undervalue the Total Mobility transport scheme, Chris suggests. The accessibility of the Dunedin's Total Mobility scheme was recently savaged by cuts to voucher entitlements.
"But DPA Dunedin fought back, and Total Mobility entitlements have largely been restored to where they were in 1999-2000. We still have a long way to go on Total Mobility issues as well as accessible transport."
Becoming more effective
DPA's national executive is considering how it might become more effective co-ordinating and disseminating issues from local assemblies. This was an issue raised in a remit at DPA's last conference in Invercargill. DPA's website at www.dpa.org.nz, list servers, and a regular media profile are ideas to be further explored in planning for this year.
Panui (announcement) from our Maori advisor
Kia Ora Koutou.
Happy New Year everyone. I apologise as I haven't taken the time to write to everyone previously - I am more into doing the mahi (work) than reporting on it and I sometimes find writing difficult. It has now been 12 months since I agreed to take on the role of DPA National Maori Advisor and a lot has been happening in the background.
A strong voice for Maori
Our CEO Gary has been working hard with myself and different key people to devise a plan that will, we hope, give Maori with disabilities a strong Maori voice at a national and local level.
There have been comments made to me and others that DPA is a Pakeha organisation and not Maorifocused. I would like to respond by asking those who see this to help us to change it. We have a constitution and a commitment to work in true partnership with Maori to address the issues that pertain to Maori.
When I first became involved, I felt the lack of focus on Maori and so I chose to get involved and be a part of a change I hoped would happen. At a New Plymouth conference for DPA a group of us made a stand and DPA has since made the commitment to honour that stand. DPA's desire to work with Maori with disabilities has always been there and I believe it was not through a lack of desire to work with Maori, but just not being the right moment or the right events for it to happen in the past. Step by step funding has been found (thanks largely to Gary) and moves have been made to have Maori vocal within DPA. We do not, however, have the numbers and we need Maori to consider coming into DPA and making it their voice to those who need to hear.
DPA a voice for Maori
To do this, we need more Maori members and a stronger voice. We could start our own Maori Disabled Person's Assembly separate to DPA (NZ) Inc (this is something I seriously considered myself). However, we would need support, time, energy and resources which we have very little or none of. We would also need to build our networks within all levels of our social structure and frankly it does not exist at any great level for Maori with disabilities at this time.
Stengthening that voice
Identifying as Maori and as disabled is full of too many issues for this korero to you, but there are many. I hope to share them with you if you wish to consider becoming involved with the DPA Maori Caucus. We could start a new organisation, or we could have a series of hui throughout NZ, with the aim of strengthening the DPA Maori caucus, give it a Maori voice and focus and have our voice made strong so we can finally be in charge of OUR issues and we can have our place back as Maori with Maori.
Hui for Maori with disabilities
The Ministry of Health and Lotteries Commission have given DPA the funding to hold hui and I need everyone to get the word out, so as many Maori with disabilities and their Whanau have a chance to make a difference for themselves and for Maori with disabilities.
Contact Huhana You can reach me through DPA (NZ) Inc or by email at huhanas_consultancy@hotmail.com or at sjh8@waikato.ac.nz or by fax 07 858 2683. I am hard of hearing so I would prefer not to have to try and hear on the phone, however, I can make arrangements and time if that is preferred. I am excited about the future for Maori with disabilities and I believe we finally have a chance to move forward independently and positively. I hope you will give DPA the chance to be the organisation to do this with.
Make our voice count Let's have our voice, lets make it strong and let's make it count collectively and with focus so that future Maori with disabilities don't go through the struggles we have had to get here. Thank you for your time.
Huhana Hickey,
Maori Advisor
Tainui waka, Waikato iwi
Ngati-tahinga hapu
Advocacy and Awareness
DPA believes that self-advocacy is the strongest and most effective form of advocacy and therefore DPA supports efforts by people with disabilities to promote assertiveness and selfconfidence.
Dot inspires and promotes self-advocacy
New DPA national executive member, Dot Wilson, of Invercargill, is an inspiring woman. And as national consumers cocoordinator for CCS and a DPA member, she works hard to promote self-advocacy.
Dot was elected to DPA's NEC committee at the last AGM in Invercargill. And her work at CCS involves building and organising networks of consumers from within and outside the organisation. She also teaches people about the importance of self-advocacy and prepares CCS's CHAT newsletter, which is issued six times a year. CHAT acts as a voice for people with disabilities, and pushes self-advocacy while also providing a valuable source of information.
Dot got involved with DPA because she strongly believes in the organisation's principles and values. "Through CCS I was sent to DPA conferences and really liked their principles, values and vision," Dot says. "Rather than agencies working for people, it's an organisation of people doing things for themselves. The principle of us doing it for ourselves really appeals to me."
Dot was born with congenital dislocation of the hips (CDH) which has resulted in a severe mobility impairment. Though her life at times may have been difficult she realised at an early age that "everything happens for a purpose. I spent years trying to fool myself into thinking that I wasn't disabled. It wasn't until I acknowledged, accepted and embraced my disability that I achieved a wholeness and fulfilment in my life."
Dot left school at15 years of age. "I'm self taught. Some people are good at setting goals and planning. Well, doors opened for me and I stumbled through them, when one door closed another would open."
Though DPA is beginning to grow in Southland Dot says living in Invercargill can sometimes be difficult. "I miss not having like minded people around me. Often I feel like I'm the only person who thinks the way I do."
A strong campaigner for self-advocacy Dot believes in "personal advocacy for people. I get behind people and stand along side them". This is what Dot refers to as the yeast principle. "If you don't have yeast the bread won't rise".
"Some people think that I can be a hard task master. Some people with disabilities want to be treated the same as everybody else but when the going gets tough they want to be treated as special again. I'm a believer in the measure of ordinary people, in ordinary places, doing ordinary things. We must strive to be accepted in ordinary situations as ordinary people and not as tokens".
Dot says that to be accepted, first there must be a change in the perception of disability. "I'm not broken or sick, this is my norm. Nobody can tell you what you can or can't do, you have got to try for yourself to find this out."
Bay of Plenty for AGM
Whakatane in the wonderful Bay of Plenty will be the location of DPA's next annual general meeting this year on 22 November. We'll keep you posted.
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