Annual Report 2002
Chief Executive's Report
DPA increasingly active and influential
It is with pleasure that I present my fourth Chief Executive Officer's report to the members of DPA (NZ) Inc.
This year DPA has continued to go from strength to strength as our society experiences an emerging awareness of disability. DPA now has increasing influence with decision-makers, a more active and vibrant membership, new areas of activity and a slight improvement in our financial situation.
The breadth of activities this year included regular meetings with the Minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson, the National Assembly in Dunedin, the updating and launching Our Vision: To Matou Tirohanga Whakamua (2002-2005), forging closer links with kindred organisations in the South Pacific, activating DPA's Youth Leadership Development Project, initiating Maxeq Consulting and, most importantly, making sure that the issues facing disabled people are to the forefront of decision-makers.
Before I note my highlights for the year, I'd like to remember two very dominant people in DPA. Elizabeth Cooper passed away in July 2001 and Agnes Sneddon in January this year. Both of these people were committed to disabled people issues, particularly Maori and women's issues. I was lucky enough that they were there for me when I needed guidance, advice or the occasional "reality check." Their contribution to DPA will be enduring, especially as we develop a paepae for disabled Maori.
Our National Assembly in Dunedin was very successful, thanks to Patsy Wakefield and her team of volunteers. Those 80 or so members who participated also contributed to its success and were rewarded by witnessing a huge leap forward in the evolution of DPA.
Constitutional changes passed at the National Assembly mean that disabled people have ultimate control over decisions made in DPA forums. Not too long ago, many people involved in DPA thought that non-disabled people needed to have decision-making roles. This was partly due to the general lack of opportunities for disabled people to acquire the skills to have control and partly due to our society's under-valuing of disabled people generally. Fortunately, positive changes are taking place and the new Constitution is indicative of that.
As someone who has seen and heard many DPA Constitutional debates, it was refreshing, almost exciting, to behold a debate on philosophical issues rather than Constitutional legalese.
Another important event this year was the updating and release of Our Vision: To Matou Tirohanga Whakamua (2002-2005)). It contains a comprehensive list of actions that the government must implement during the next three years. As you will be aware, the first version of Our Vision influenced the last government's thinking and actions on disability issues. The current version assists the Government to build on the foundations that have been laid.
Last August, Lorna Sullivan and I were invited to be resource people at a leadership training seminar in Vanuatu organised by the Asia / Pacific Regional Council of Disabled Peoples International. This provided an excellent opportunity to meet with disabled people from the South Pacific and to share experiences. My overall impression continues to be that we, New Zealanders, must support our South Pacific neighbours in practical and meaningful ways.
After years of talk and speculation, Maxeq Consulting is finally up and going. With the opportunities available to consult on disability and its issues, Maxeq is ideally placed to use the considerable expertise of DPA's network so that we, disabled people, can benefit directly from our considered advice.
I am aware that well-established consultancy firms are winning contracts to consult on disability issues and they expect disabled people to provide input for free. The disturbing aspect of this, apart from the fact that others are getting rich off our backs, is that advice given freely doesn't have any value. Maxeq and DPA are two vehicles to ensure our issues really do have value, both economically and socially.
While we need to look back to see where we have come from, we also need to look ahead to see where we want to go. Part of the forward planning is the Youth Leadership Development Project. This project will result in many young disabled people having the necessary skills to have leadership roles in their communities of interest, including DPA. With many organisations struggling to attract new members, and therefore leaders, I'm optimistic that this project will hold DPA in good stead for many years.
All of DPA's activities rely on you, the members. Thank you to the many, many volunteers who, collectively, made this another memorable year in DPA's life.
Finally, I acknowledge and thank the National Secretariat team of Robyn Crisp, Wendi Wicks, Robert Cameron and Christine Field. Without their support, I would have been unable to be as effective in managing the affairs of DPA, as I have been.
Gary Williams
Chief Executive Officer
More from the 2002 Annual Report
Index
Vision, Mission, Philosophy
Acknowledgements
President's Report
Chief Executive's Report
National Executive
Goal 1: Lead
2001 AGM Photos
Relay Service Rally Photos
Goal 2: Advise
Goal 3: Empower
Goal 4: Monitor
Goal 5: Community
Obituaries
Financial Statements
For previous reports contact gen@dpa.org.nz.