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Annual Report

1st July 2007 to 30th June 2008

Vision

A society which provides both equity and maximum opportunity to participate for all people.

Mission statement

To enhance and dignify the lives of people with disabilities.

Philosophy

People with disabilities must have the equal right and 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
• Live as they choose with the appropriate supports.

DPA provides:

• Strong advocacy at a national and local level as the voice of people with disabilities, and their families and whanau networks, to government and other agencies.
• Comprehensive information on matters affecting people with disabilities.
• Service monitoring for people with disabilities through its network of regional assemblies and membership.

DPA Goals 2007/2008:

Goal 1: Have a growing and politically aware grass-roots organisation of disabled people.
Goal 2: Provide a co-ordinated, informed disability perspective at all levels of government policy and decision-making.
Goal 3: Provide a vehicle for the promotion of the rights, social value and citizenship of all disabled people.
Goal 4: Eliminate the discrimination and devaluation experiences by disabled people in New Zealand.

Contents

Vision, Mission, Philosophy and Goals
Acknowledgements
President's Report
Chief Executive Officer's Report
DPA National Executive Committee & Secretariat
Goal 1: Have a growing and politically aware grass-roots
organisation of disabled people.
Goal 2: Provide a co-ordinated, informed disability perspective
at all levels of government policy and decision-making.
Goal 3: Provide a vehicle for the promotion of the rights, social
value and citizenship of all disabled people.
Goal 4: Eliminate the discrimination and devaluation experiences
by disabled people in New Zealand.
Auditors report and financial statements

Acknowledgements

DPA (New Zealand) acknowledges the generous support received from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board for general operating costs, the production costs of DPA Bites (our newsletter) and help with the 2007 AGM.

We also thank the Ministry of Health for supporting our international involvement and policy advice and the J R McKenzie Trust for contributing to our administration costs and AGM.

We thank CCS Disability Action, People First New Zealand and Workbridge for supporting the visit to New Zealand of Susan Daniels. We acknowledge the Ministry of Women's Affairs for their donation and also acknowledge a bequest made from the estate of Joyce Jerome Jarrold.

We gratefully acknowledge receipt of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award Grant, which was jointly presented to DPA, CCS Disability Action and People First New Zealand.

Continuation of the successful Regional Forums benefited from funding by the Ministry of Social Development's Office of Disability Issues. We also thank Workbridge for funding participation expenses, so that DPA continues to have a presence at events.

Thank you to Telecom NZ Ltd for providing four telephone lines at reduced commercial rates. We are fortunate, too, to benefit from a reduced market rent charge in Century City Towers - thanks to Century City Ltd.

We also gratefully received donations from members and from Wellington DPA.

Our thanks to you all.

Summary of the Year

'The convention'
The highlight of the past twelve months has undoubtedly been the coming into force, in May 2008, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Eighty nations signed the convention in March 2007 in New York. New Zealand was represented at the signing ceremony by DPA's own Gary Williams and Hon Ruth Dyson. The convention represents a global focus on disability rights and locally will provide a rallying point for us, for example to improve education, employment and support services.

'The award'
DPA and its partners People First and CCS Disability Action received a US$50,000 grant as part of the 2007 Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award. DPA President Mike Gourley and Matt Frost of CCS Disability Action attended the event in New York where our Governor-General, Anand Satyanand, was presented with the award. It is planned that the money will be used to make New Zealanders more aware of the UN convention and to help young kiwis better understand the rights and needs of disabled people.

Disability services inquiry
The 2007 DPA submission to the Select Committee inquiry into services for people with disabilities highlighted the need to change attitudes to disabled people and for a commitment to be made to let us lead decision making about matters that affect our lives. DPA's submission called for the objectives in the New Zealand Disability Strategy to be honoured and for a Disability Commission to be established.

Anti-violence
DPA and the National Network for Stopping Violence Services (NNSVS) have together created the Disability Coalition Against Violence, to pool resources and make a real difference through direct action, to reduce the incidence of violence against disabled people. Disabled people do not receive the same protection as others; we are not covered by all areas of the Domestic Violence Act and DPA was not involved in change-oriented communities such as Te Reto, the New Zealand Violence Prevention Strategy. DPA and NNSVS have been joined in the Coalition by other disability advocates to change law, policy and practice.

NZDS review
A review of progress made by central Government agencies implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy between 2001 and 2007 was conducted by Litmus Ltd. The review found that central Government agencies have undertaken a significant level of activity to implement the strategy, but that in all areas more work is needed to meet disabled people's needs and aspirations.

DPA activities
We had a remarkable AGM in Palmerston North in November 2007 and the three Regional Capacity Building workshops for the year were a great success. Regional events such as these strengthen the collaborative relationships between DPA and our allies. Building these links has been one of the highlights of the year.

DPA itself has undergone a strategic review and we are intent on changing the way we operate, including putting into place better connectedness between national and regional levels.

DPA leaders
Former DPA President Anne Hawker is the new President of Rehabilitation International. She has also been appointed as the new Principal Disability Advisor at Work and Income and in that capacity will be working hard to see that disabled people receive better services.

... and a couple of 'reality checks'
In April 2008, the Government launched the New Zealand Carers' Strategy, which attempts to address issues that impact the people who support friends and family members who are disabled or ill. DPA is concerned that the perspectives of disabled people were not considered.

A report released in mid 2008 by the Bioethics Council about pre-birth testing has delivered recommendations that fail to protect disabled people from a 'designer baby' future. The recommendations will simply reinforce disabled people's concerns that their lives have a lesser value and are poorly protected.

President's Report

It is of great satisfaction to me to know that at the time of writing, New Zealand is now in a position to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

DPA was one of a number of organisations that advocated for this country to ratify in time for the first Conference of States Parties to be held at the end of October. New Zealand's participation at that conference was essential if we were to have an influence on the way the convention will be interpreted, as well as on who is elected to the international monitoring committee. Our ratification was also essential if we were to maintain our reputation as a leading nation in this process. On behalf of DPA, I extend my thanks to those officials in the Office for Disability Issues and Minister Ruth Dyson's office for their efforts in making ratification a reality. And of course, to Ruth herself for her determination and leadership throughout.

Ratification is the icing on the cake, which DPA has helped to bake in association with our partners, People First and CCS Disability Action. Together we were successful in winning the prize money that came with the awarding to New Zealand of the 2007 FDR International Disability Award. I was privileged to represent our NGO grouping at the UN in New York, last May. It was a spine-tingling moment as the Governor General and I entered the chamber to karanga and haka to receive the award. As I made my speech, I was conscious that my voice was added to the many other disabled voices who have been heard at the UN over recent years - voices that have traditionally been ignored or silenced. I think particularly of my colleagues Gary Williams, Robyn Hunt, Mary O'Hagan, Chris Hansen, Wendi Wicks and Robert Martin. You can't underestimate the impact that they and the hundreds of disabled people from around the world have had on the usually slow moving and bureaucratic UN system.

The prize money that we and our partners have won will be put to work to make the convention a living treaty in New Zealand. It will also be used to insert the human rights of disabled people as an issue for the school curriculum. Because unless we can capture the imagination of young people and get them on board, all our efforts on the international plane will be in vain.

That's also true of the convention itself. I know there have been some rumblings over whether our parading on the world stage is worth much if the real lives of disabled people are light years away from the imaginings of the convention. It's a fair challenge. But it's my belief that although the convention isn't a silver bullet, without it our task in advocating for the improvement of disabled lives will be that much harder. Ratification by the New Zealand Government means we now have our own treaty with the state. And it's a pretty prescriptive treaty at that. We need to understand it and use it. Our share of the FDR award prize money will help us to do that.

Another achievement this year was getting NZ On Air money to record and produce interviews with 20 people who are part of our DPA story. The interviews will be broadcast on the various community access radio stations over the next few months. But they will also provide us with a rich oral history of our organisation over the years to come.

They're the success stories. So what about the not-so successful aspects of the last year. In my view, there's only one. And that is the DPA review.

It's now four years since Pat Hanley produced his report and I have to say that no decisions have been made that would help improve the organisation's effectiveness. This despite several years of membership input that challenged us to improve the relationship between regions and national leadership and to raise our profile in local communities. I take a large measure of responsibility for the fact that change has not occurred. I have to leave that task to my successor and their leadership team. Although as immediate past President, I would still want to have the opportunity to be involved in making the necessary changes.

I've enjoyed the last five years as President. There've been the inevitable frustrations, disappointments and mistakes. But the positive experiences outweigh those by far. My thanks to my NEC colleagues and to the national secretariat for their support and forbearance.

I wish DPA all the best for a promising future.

Mike Gourley

Chief Executive Officer's Report

The past year has been very active for DPA (NZ) and it has been my privilege to be part of this.

We in the Secretariat are small in number. The expectations placed upon us keep increasing. One way to address the growing number of issues is to not try do everything ourselves. As an organisation, we've moved away from being a suspicious patch-protector to embracing a more collaborative style.

The breadth of organisations we have worked collaboratively with over the year include non-traditional allies such as ComVoices, the National Network of Stopping Violence Services and the Kotare Trust. We have of course continued to work with our more traditional allies such as Workbridge, CCS Disability Action and People First NZ.

Our involvement with ComVoices has seen disabled people's issues being supported in mainstream media by the wider NGO sector. This is a vast improvement on, say, five years ago, when our issues were only on our own radar.

One issue that we need to talk about more is biotechnology and its impact on disabled people. DPA's policy is that having an impairment should not prevent a person from being born. This policy was agreed to unanimously by the membership in 1999, after extensive consultation and much angst.

You can imagine my surprise recently to learn that we have some members who now believe other disabled people shouldn't be born. It causes me to reflect on how much the human race needs to evolve so that we see all people as people and not as objects that can be dispensed with.

By thinking of people as non-human, it makes the outrageous seem logical.

I am hoping that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will mean a global shift in attitude. Our country is ideally placed to lead and to be a showpiece to the world.

Finally, Mike Gourley is retiring after five years as President. I have enjoyed working with Mike, especially our collaboration with the Government to develop the convention. It's an honourable legacy.

Gary Williams

DPA National Executive Committee as at 30 June 2008

DPA National Secretariat as at 30 June 2008

GOAL 1: Have a growing and politically aware grassroots organisation of disabled people

2007 National Assembly, Palmerston North

Sixty people attended our AGM and heard DPA President Mike Gourley tell the assembly that the need to maintain the momentum of work for the rights of people with disabilities would be crucial, following on from the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mike said that this would entail focusing on ensuring that New Zealanders are aware of the convention and what it means and that decision makers take seriously the actions required of them, so that the convention becomes a reality in improving disabled people's lives.

The convention will reinforce the New Zealand Disability Strategy's mission statement about valuing us. The need to change cultural attitudes which result in decision making that undermines the value of disabled people's lives was also likely to be highlighted by the report into the Government's review of the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Mike said that the upside of delays in ratification of the convention by the Government would be to give us more time to work on the strategy to implement it. Focus areas for action would include employment and education.

The Minister for Disability Issues, Hon Ruth Dyson, was unable to attend the assembly. She provided a text which was read by Mike Gourley. She expressed her pride at signing the convention for New Zealand and wrote about the opportunities for building partnerships with the disability sector in moving toward domestic implementation. She welcomed the leadership of the DPA in finding the best ways to get these partnerships working.

The minister highlighted the need for more disabled people to be registered with the Nomination Service and wrote about changes to the way Work and Income provides services to Sickness and Invalid beneficiaries, introduced in September 2007. "These changes mark the beginning of better support for people into work and bring a focus on what a person can do, not what they can't,” she said. She expressed enthusiasm for the appointment of Anne Hawker as the new Principal Disability Advisor at Work and Income.

She also wrote about a number of policy initiatives aimed by the Government at improving services for disabled people and described 2007 as a year of consolidation, reflection and commitment toward achieving full implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

DPA policy researcher Wendi Wicks spoke eloquently about the need for us to get into policy consultation at an early stage, to ensure we are not left protesting at policy decisions made without us, citing the example of the Human Genome report released by Otago University. This example was offset by DPA member Eamon Daly's membership on the Bioethics Council, whose inquiries into pre-birth testing and screening are of the utmost importance for all disabled people.

Scenes from 2007 National Assembly, Palmerston North

Regional Assemblies

DPA believes that the Assembly's strength lies in the effectiveness of its Regional Assemblies, which monitor issues relevant to people with disabilities and ensure that they are addressed at regional and, when appropriate, national level.

Regional Capacity Building

To achieve the goal of helping our members know how they can affect positive change in their local communities and in their own lives, each year DPA facilitates three Regional Capacity Building workshops: two in the North Island and one in the South Island. In 2008, over 40 people from 16 DPA regions, as well as the national DPA team, attended the weekend-long workshops.

The invaluable information sharing that occurred included the functions of the National Secretariat and of the National Executive Committee, the purpose of the Regional Assemblies and the history, kaupapa and vision of the DPA.

It is evident from the lively interchanges that took place that DPA has a huge resource of skills and networks among its members to draw upon. We need to find ways to tap into this resource.

Beverley Grammer, DPA Vice-President, who co-facilitated the workshops with Ruth Jones, said that a common theme to emerge from the discussions was the value of DPA as an organisation run by disabled people for disabled people and DPA's huge credibility that comes from 25 years of serving the disabled community locally, nationally and internationally. The workshops also examined the attributes of good leaders and the best ways to lobby the Government and other organisations on issues that affect our lives.

These forums also strengthened the collaborative relationship between People First and DPA.

Scenes from the Regional Capacity Building workshops

Regional Assembly Reports

DPA has an extensive network of Regional Assemblies. We acknowledge the hard work of those Regional Assemblies including Northland, North Shore, Auckland, Waikato, Rotorua/Taupo, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Napier, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Wellington and Ashburton.

We also highlight the following regional reports that demonstrate the diverse range of activities in which DPA Regional Assemblies are involved.

DPA Aoraki

This year has sure gone quickly! Our focus all year has been on lifting the profile of the DPA in Timaru.

Mobility scooter safety
We had a very successful mobility scooter safety day, which illustrated how lucky we are to be able to work closely with the local police and the road safety coordinator. Also, a local Rotary Club donated free safety flags to our mobility scooter users.

Timaru District Council
The local Mayor made it part of her election statement to meet with Aoraki DPA twice a year, so we have a very good relationship with the Timaru District Council. We attended numerous meetings about the proposed Aquatic Centre to be built in Timaru.

Mobility parking
We made up a sign to be put in car windows to remind people not to illegally park in mobility parks. These were given to our members and to some local supermarkets, etc. Fortunately, the increase in fines seems to have made more people aware of the need to leave these parks free.

It was very nice to get a visit from Lorraine and Gary in Timaru to have a chat about DPA locally and nationally.

Chris Miller
President, DPA Aoraki

DPA Christchurch & Districts

Our philosophy in practice
Firstly, this committee's philosophy has been aimed - right from the start - at forging closer bonds with its members. We want to involve our members and encourage their participation. We believe the result will be more productive work and an improvement in the quality of life for people with impairments. For this reason, we are aiming to make the DPA a kinder organisation. Caring for, encouraging and supporting our members must be paramount in order to improve the organisation and foster goodwill within our membership.

To boost membership, we held membership drives over two days in each of three malls around Christchurch at Hornby, Eastgate and Northlands. We ran a raffle which drew attention to our stall and also contributed to our funds.

Relationship building
We also aim to promote closer organisational relationships throughout our region, including relations with neighbouring DPA assemblies. We are developing closer bonds with DPA Ashburton and DPA Timaru. We met with Ashburton recently and hope to make contact with them again - and Timaru - at the DPA National AGM in October 2008. For example, we have monthly Regional Executive Committee (REC) meetings that members are invited to attend and we have social/membership and National AGM subcommittees to deal with remits, etc.

Membership representation
Our membership is represented in the following groups/networks/organisations:
Disability Advisory Group - Christchurch City Council (CCC), Kiwiable, People First, Arthritis Advocates, Total Mobility, National Council of Women, the deaf community, Human Rights Commission, CCS Disability Action, Canterbury Active Transport Forum, Accessible Transport Action Group, Safer Christchurch Crime Prevention (CCC), Civil Defence (CCC), MSD Advocates, Disability Information Service, Canterbury Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Canterbury District Health Board, Post Polio, Pan Disability Group, Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, Selwyn Wellbeing and Waimakariri Access Group.

Shopping mall buddies
Over the last few months we have initiated 'shopping mall buddies', who liaise with mall management to increase awareness of how they can make their areas a better place for people with disabilities.

Forums
We have organised two forums - the first one was held in March and focused on work and income issues; the second forum, held in July, concentrated on transport and safety issues, with five speakers and two observers in attendance.

Submissions
Philip Haythornthwaite has written submissions for us on a Bus Priority Project and a Bus Boarder Trial. Currently, we are lobbying Christchurch Polytechnic to run a New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreters' course. Promoting a second interpreters' course in New Zealand is currently a high priority for us.

Petrol survey
We have carried out a survey for people who can't leave their cars to serve their own petrol. It seems likely the Human Rights Commission may develop this issue further.

It has been hard work at times this year, what with a new President and a new Coordinator, but with a stronger and more active REC, the hard work has certainly proved worthwhile in the long run!

Doreen McCoard
President, DPA Christchurch & Districts

DPA Dunedin and Districts

The 2007-08 year has been both positive and busy for our region and we have moved closer to achieving success in two of our key objectives.

Key objective - better public transport
Our first key objective has been the provision of more accessible public transport, especially buses, in Dunedin. Towards the end of the 2007/08 year, the Otago Regional Council called for submissions on changes to its Regional Passenger Transport Plan. These changes will, among other things, improve access to buses for wheelchair users and improve passenger service. This will mean that any new buses that replace older vehicle fleets will have to be low-floor and wheelchair-user friendly. Other improvements to service have been promised in terms of electronic timetabling (including automated voicing for blind and vision impaired users) and disability awareness training for all bus drivers.

Key objective - Council Disability Strategy
The second key objective has been the development of a Disability Strategy by the Dunedin City Council. As this report is being written, the Reference Group is being selected that will advise the council on the implementation of the strategy, which represents another positive outcome that we have been advocating for in recent years.

Other highlights have included our continuing support - in 2007 - of Celebrate Diversity Week. We are maintaining this support in 2008 and the event promises to be bigger and brighter than ever!

Chris Ford
Secretary, DPA Dunedin and Districts

DPA Eastern Bay of Plenty

Collaboration with local government
In 2007/08, we have continued our collaborative work with local government bodies, including the Regional and District Council, aimed at creating an inclusive region.

Such joint activities have included an Access Committee for the built environment upgrade in the district, as well as transport related initiatives such as Total Mobility and the work of the Regional Land Transport Committee. This has seen the removal of many barriers and the inclusion of the needs of disabled people in district and regional planning.

Local elections input
We undertook a candidates' questionnaire and survey during local elections of Councils and the District Health Board and distributed the results to interested persons and organisations. Further contact details and information, including Inclusive Communities booklets, have been provided to those elected.

Regional Capacity Building
Our members have also had the opportunity to attend Regional Capacity Building trainings and conferences, to enhance their personal development and increase their knowledge of sector issues.

Promotion of our rights
Promotion of the rights of disabled people in the region has been focused through media releases, submissions to local planning processes and information sharing with local organisations and individuals.

We'd like to warmly thank our members, funders, supporters and the community for your involvement in and support for our activities throughout the year.

Beverley Grammer
President, DPA Eastern Bay of Plenty

DPA Southland

Raising our profile
We continue to raise our profile; the wording on our newly-purchased banner: "The Political Voice of Disabled New Zealand”, has certainly been attracting attention at community events, leading to dialogue about who we are and what we are about.

Membership news
It is encouraging to see our membership increasing across the region. However, this means that many of our members are unable to participate in our monthly meetings due to travel distance and financial implications. Despite this, we have held one meeting in Riverton and we see it as important to hold further meetings around the southern province.

Three of our members attended the DPA Regional Forum in Christchurch.

The underspend in the Total Mobility budget, with members under-utilising requested trip allocation, suggests there is less disposable income available out there for travel, even with the subsidy.

Shared services agreement - a caution
Southland and Otago District Health Boards have moved into a shared services agreement, accompanied by remodeling of the statutory Disability Support Advisory Committee and the Community Public Health Committee. This is an issue for disabled people, as it constitutes an apparent shift away from engagement towards consultation, i.e. away from disabled people as a separate interest group with acknowledged rights in all aspects of the health system (as occurs with iwi), toward consulting on 'general' issues (of which disability may be one of many) about services for people over 65 years old, whose care the health boards specifically fund. It appears that our rights as disabled people (not just DPA) to influence health policies that affect us are being eroded.

Submission to Council plan
Our submission to the Southland District Council's Draft Annual Plan was well received. It read:
"Council resolved that a Disability Strategy be prepared for the Southland District. Staff will also review the New Zealand Disability Strategy and Inclusive Communities as part of its LTCCP 2009-2019 development.

It is intended that one staff member in the regulatory department will undertake specialist accessibility training in 2008/2009, which may be sourced from the Barrier Free Trust depending on availability and content. It is also intended that more staff will be trained over the next five years. Staff may consider engaging Barrier Free Trust auditors for reviews of more complex consent applications, subject to the timeframe constraints in the Building Act. In addition, Council's Subdivision and Land Development Standards Bylaws require that new subdivisions be designed in order to facilitate disabled access.

The Riverton Focal Point development is subject to determination by the Department of Building and Housing and as such any alterations required will be identified in this determination.”

DPA member Peter Dolamore has been working on this issue and applied for a determination of behalf of DPA Southland.

Members' participation in forums, etc
DPA Southland contributes to the Combined Disabilities Network's (a provider network), six-weekly forums, receives the minutes from Moving Forward (the Southland Mental Health Consumer Forum) and attends their meetings when possible.

DPA Southland has been represented by members' participation at: the Invercargill hui of Ngati Kapo O Aotearoa Inc, Human Rights Transport Steering Committee, 2nd National Consumers' Summit - Strengthening Consumer Voice, Ministry of Women's Affairs Forum (with Leanne Dalziel), Land Transport Phase Two Review, Bioethics Council deliberations process, Disabilities Resource Centre May Day Exhibition, and Electoral Commission general electoral information presentation.

We continue in our endeavours, working towards a society that highly values our lives and continually enhances our full participation.

Dot Wilson
Secretary, DPA Southland

DPA Tairawhiti

Tairawhiti DPA 'general business'
We established the Tairawhiti DPA, which gives us a presence at national meetings.

We acknowledge the Cancer Society for letting us use their rooms for our new place of meeting.

We accepted Helen's resignation with regret.

DPA membership fees are now being paid into our local account, which we appreciate.

We hope to start concerted fund raising in the near future.

I have been active in other areas, too, attending the DPA Forum in Auckland, where some concerns we have about the role of our RLP with respect of Tairawhiti were raised. I also made contact with People First and agreed to help them set up an organisation of People First in Tairawhiti.

Gisborne District Council ... and access issues
Gisborne District Council's Disability Strategy has been accepted and implemented. We are represented on the Reference Group that will monitor the strategy. I was also elected onto the District Council's road transport committee, which is a major breakthrough within the disabled community.

Several other requests have come to the DPA regarding access issues around Gisborne (with regard to certain shops and businesses). These will be followed up by us.

Planning and networking
Our strategic planning morning, hosted and facilitated by Katherine Delahunty, helped us put together a great plan for the future, that both utilises currently available services and allows for future strategies, to help us grow and move forward.

We invited key local services and community organisations to a networking luncheon at one of our monthly meetings, to meet us and discuss our respective roles in the Tairawhiti region. We felt this was a success and as a result have made some good allies.

We had a request from the local polytechnic to audit their library with regards to access, which has been accomplished; our report has been presented to them and we have been invited to discuss the report with the polytechnic.

DSAC news
Our member Gordon reported from the Disability Support Advisory Committee (DSAC) about a new plan that is being proposed to put into place the Tairawhiti District Health Disability Strategy. We will be discussing this further with Michelle Lexmond when she returns to work. He also reported that DSAC is running a survey as part of research into 'Experience of people with disabilities in the Tairawhiti region', which we all hope will achieve progress for our community.

The media spotlight!
A story was published in the Gisborne Herald regarding taxis being denied access into Lytton High School in order to preserve the rugby field! As a result of this story, the school is making a new driveway, so that taxis and caregivers can access the main doors - as they should be able to!

Another story in the Gisborne Herald about the potential hazards of traffic roundabouts in Gisborne came about after Gordon and I did some filming. As a result of this publicity, we had a meeting with the Mayor and the roading division.

The start of our planned theatre group was delayed so Gordon, Sioux and I could put together a short film clip highlighting issues with the Childers Rd - Grey St roundabout. Hopefully, it will be ready for screening on UTube shortly.

Overall, we feel we've had a very 'go-forward' year and we're optimistic about the year ahead.

Ally Bryan
President, DPA Tairawhiti

GOAL 2: Provide a coordinated, informed disability perspective at all levels of Government policy and decision making

Workbridge Incorporated

Workbridge is an employment service for people with all types of disability, including people who have lived with the long-term effects of injury and illness.

DPA has a seat on Workbridge's Governance Council. It is currently held by Dot Wilson. She reports:
Workbridge's vision is that every person with a disability has the same value as any other person and will contribute positively in the workplace. Its mission is to enable people with disabilities to participate and experience equal opportunities in the labour market. Its values include: honesty and integrity, professionalism, respect, privacy and dignity, understanding cultural diversity, opportunity for all, commitment and collaboration.

The relationship between DPA and Workbridge continues to be strengthened, with considerable collaboration occurring at both the national and local levels.

Workbridge's Governance Council works to:

• provide leadership and vision to Workbridge and its Board;
• represent the interests of the members to Workbridge;
• provide policy regarding a sensitive and effective service delivery framework for services to disabled job-seekers;
• advocate for sensitive and effective policy frameworks for employment services for disabled people;
• appoint and remove the Board members;
• consider any major transactions; and
• consider any changes to the Constitution.

The latest Environmental Scan demonstrated the following:

• New Zealand is experiencing an acute labour and skills shortage, which offers unprecedented opportunities for disabled people to enter the workforce;
• while many disabled people have already entered the labour market, high numbers of disabled people remain unemployed (for example 64% of disabled people aged 25-44 years are unemployed);
• the incidence of disability amongst working age New Zealanders is increasing, due to our ageing profile;
• people are requiring more support both pre- and post-employment;
• many people live with multiple disabilities, so accommodation issues can often be complex;
• an increased proportion of people are presenting with mental health issues;
• Work and Income of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) have taken a significantly more active role in the area of disability and employment in response to the lower unemployment numbers;
• people are more often seeking job progression;
• disability leadership is seen as vital for success;
• disability organisations are working more collaboratively to achieve shared goals;
• employers are demanding more practical "how to” information;
• DPA needs to remain vigilant regarding funding levels, particularly as MSD contracts do not include an inflation adjustment;
• Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister for Disability Issues and Minister of Social Development, who has direct responsibility for managing support funds allocation, is pleased with the level of uptake of support funds.

Association of Supported Employment New Zealand (ASENZ)

ASENZ provides a high profile forum for the promotion, establishment and development of Supported Employment Services (SE) for people with disabilities in New Zealand, through information, networking, research and policy advocacy.

DPA has a seat on the ASENZ Board and David Corner has been our representative for several years. He reports:

ASENZ Board members' roles
The Board comprises the following people, all of whom have specified leadership roles:

• Les Gilsenan (Chairperson)
• Lachlan Keating (Secretary)
• Kervin Farr (Treasurer)
• David Corner (DPA representative)
• Mairwen Ladd-Sanford (Membership)
• Magdel Hammond (Professional Development)
• Thomas Bryan (Relationships)
• Tyron Pini (Organisational Risk Management)
• Cindy Johns (Research)

ASENZ strategic direction 2008 to 2010
We have identified five key areas to focus on and each area will be the 'portfolio' of one Board member, who will report on progress at all meetings. As the focus areas are intertwined with each other, we intend to ensure that we develop an effective process that merges a collaborative approach with clear lines of responsibility and focus.

The specific portfolios are:

• Membership: communication, Board members' orientation, members' involvement, services to members, website, increasing membership.
• Professional Development: conferences, training, supervision, mentoring.
• Relationships: policy, general advice and guidance, advocacy, contracts, public relations - external.
• Organisational Risk Management: funding, budget, policies and procedures, contracts, conflicts of interest, compliance.
• Research: identification and clarification of research requirements, funding opportunities for research projects, external research opportunities, acquiring relevant research-related data from members.

ASENZ Board meetings
The current Board had its initial meeting following the AGM on 21st November 2007. Further meetings in 2008 took place in Rotorua, Christchurch, Auckland and Palmerston North. The final meeting and AGM are scheduled for Wellington on 19th November 2008 at the Wellington Regional Conference.

ASENZ Regional Conferences
In 2008, ASENZ will be holding three Regional Conferences, each of one and a half days duration, as opposed to the usual two-day conference plus post-conference workshop.

Membership
Membership currently stands at 66 (44 full members, 14 associate members and eight individual members). This represents the greatest number of members we have had.

ASENZ standards review
ASENZ has set up a standards review team to review and update the standards for SE, including a review of SE principles.

Barrier Free New Zealand Trust (BFNZT)

The Trust's mission is to encourage, promote, and facilitate the creation of environments that are accessible and usable by everyone in the community including people with disabilities and this encapsulates the concept of universal access for all people.

Bill Wrightson is Access Adviser to DPA and the DPA representative on the Barrier Free New Zealand Trust. He reports:

During the year, the BFNZT has consolidated its activities, with no changes in Trustee personnel and with Sheena Oughton and Jula Goebel now well established in administering the office and training functions of the Trust.

The Trust has continued to perform its role administering the International Symbol of Access for DPA. As the member agent for Rehabilitation International (RI) in New Zealand, DPA is responsible for oversight of the use of RI's symbol of access through a delegated arrangement with the BFNZT.

The Trust also maintained its well established series of seminars on access and its network of Barrier Free Advisers (BFAs).

Highlights during the year have included:

• an operational review of the BFAs network;
• upgrade of the BFNZT website to facilitate improved communication amongst BFAs and external access inquirers, through an interactive question and answer forum;
• a revamp of the training seminars by establishing separate modules that can be attended individually during the existing two day seminar programme. A new 30-minute "Introduction to Access” presentation is also available;
• the Trust's legal opinion on interpretation of the Compliance Schedule requirements of the Building Act 2004;
• an update of the Trust's long term Strategic Plan.

As part of the BFNZT's Constitution, DPA has a permanent trustee position on the Trust, to ensure the symbol of access is responsibly administered and that there is no duplication of the advocacy role of DPA on matters of access to and use of the built environment. In this, the past year has been successful, with good exchanges of information and views on a number of submissions made by the Trust and DPA on access matters.

DPA is also keen to ensure that the Trust, in its education and training roles, adequately represents the interests of persons with disabilities through NZS 4121:2001 as a legal minimum level of access compliance with the requirements of the Building Act 2004.

From DPA's point of view, it is also vital that both we and the BFNZT maintain our vigilance to ensure that the no exemptions regime, under which the access requirements have operated since they were first introduced in 1975, is not diluted in any way by future proposed amendments to either the Building Act 2004 or the Building Code.

DPA looks forward to continuing 2008's development of our complementary roles with the BFNZT through 2009 and beyond.

DPA submissions on access during the year included:

• September 2007:
  Department of Building and Housing (Building Code review - Discussion Document 2);
• September 2007:
  Appeared before Social Sciences Select Committee (proposed amendments to the Building Act 2004 on PIMs);
• December 2007:
  Land Transport NZ (submission on redraft of RTS 14);
• July 2008:
  Department of Building and Housing (proposed amendments to the Building Code on backcountry huts);
• July 2008:
  Correspondence with Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister for Disability Issues, regarding access to backcountry huts;
• July 2008:
  Meeting with Hon Ruth Dyson, regarding access to backcountry huts.

Office for Disability Issues

The Office for Disability Issues is responsible for promoting the implementation of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, and monitoring actions to enable the participation and inclusion of disabled people in our society.

The Office's Disability Advisory Council is a consultative forum of disabled people and their families/whanau to the Office for Disability Issues.

DPA has appointed two people to the Council, Marion Wellington and Beverley Grammer.

Marion represents people whose impairment is caused by injury. She writes:

On a personal note, I am indebted to DPA for nominating me to the Disability Advisory Council, especially for the opportunity this has given me. I have been able to participate in open discussion on disability issues of interest to us all. The Council's quarterly meetings, of two days duration each, have all proved interesting and informative.

Highlights of the 2007/08 year:

• New Zealand being chosen as the recipient of the 2007 Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award. This award recognises progress by a member country of the UN towards full participation of disabled people in society and includes a grant of about US$50,000 to a New Zealand non-government organisation (NGO) that can demonstrate an outstanding commitment to disabled people and families. The New Zealand Government has decided that this money should go to DPA, CCS Disability Action and People First, for working to increase participation of disabled people in leadership roles, or promoting and advocating for the rights of disabled people, or making society more responsive to the needs of disabled people.
• The 2008 launch of the Carers' Strategy.
• Associating with ministry staff and representatives who really listen and value our input, especially the Ministry of Women's Affairs representatives, who sought the Council's views on how the participation of disabled women could best be supported by Government. The Council responded with ideas on the need to be proactive in research in this area; the need to encourage membership of the Nominations Service; and gave advice about health and disability related issues to do with contraception, sterilisation and family support.
• Access to and demand for public transport continues to be a key topic of paramount interest to all disabled people, in particular the lack of appropriate public transport in rural areas. At our Council meetings, many good ideas and suggestions on this topic were put to the representatives of the Ministry of Transport.
• The Council also provided valuable advice on access to transport services by deaf people, the Total Mobility Scheme and mobility scooters.

To wrap up, my view is that the Council represents a very informative forum for open discussion and debate, where the members are listened to and encouraged to participate whenever possible. Ministry representatives are genuinely interested in our views and our comments about our own regions.

Beverley represents people whose impairment is non-injury related. She writes:

As a nominee of DPA, I attended the three meetings of the Disability Advisory Council held since August 2007.

As a priority, advice is being provided by the Council in all areas relating to removing barriers of access to information, housing, employment and Disability Support Services.

The Council has had input into the work of - and presentations from - Government departments on the ways they are working to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Presentation and feedback sessions at Council meetings included:

• Litmus Ltd presented on the process they have used to gather information for the five-year review of the New Zealand Disability Strategy implementation and described the types of people they interviewed. Options for including the disability sector and disabled people in the review were explored.
• The Office updated progress on its review of long term disability supports and outlined current directions of work.
• The Ministry of Social Development presented to the Council on progress with developing Working New Zealand: Work Focused Supports, to be delivered by Work and Income. The appointment of a Principal Disability Advisor at Work and Income, to assist with implementation of this new service, was welcomed. Council members discussed issues the new service would have to address, such as access to supports needed for disabled people to get into work, e.g. transport, filling in complex forms, funding for assistive computer software/equipment, flexibility in transition from school to work, access to New Zealand Sign Language interpreters in provincial areas and access to counselling support. Members noted that Work and Income needs to improve the accessibility of its communications, such as letters, brochures, etc. The ministry responded by saying that the new roles being established, such as employment coordinators, are intended to work with existing disability employment services and not duplicate them. The new Work Focused Supports service will be working with all Sickness and Invalid benefit recipients, which are about 100,000 more people than the number who currently use vocational services funded by the ministry.
• The Families Commission presented on recent research on families with disabled parents and parents with disabled children. Issues impacting on families, especially support for disabled parents to enable families to stay together, were discussed.
• The Ministry of Economic Development presented on the New Zealand Relay Service, and its plans to promote use of the service.
• The Ministry of Transport presented on current work assessing disabled people's ability to use public transport, including the collection of information and guidelines for accessible services.
• Progress with the Office's work programme was discussed, including work on promoting the accessibility of Government.
• The Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand presented on its recent research report, jointly funded with the Office, titled Housing and Disability: Future Proofing New Zealand's Housing Stock for an Inclusive Society. It was noted that New Zealand's housing stock does not meet the current or increasing future needs of disabled people. Accessible housing should be seen as primarily an issue for sustainable housing and not marginalised as a disability issue. The solution is to build universal design into all housing stock.
• The Department of Building and Housing presented on its review of the Building Code. It was proposed that access issues for disabled people would be mainstreamed in the revised Building Code.
• Progress with the Office's Nomination Service was discussed. The process for government agencies calling for nominations and making appointments was noted. Suggestions for encouraging disabled people to apply to the Nomination Service were explored.
• Council members discussed priorities for improving access to transport for disabled people in the context of the Human Rights Commission's The Accessible Journey report. The importance of the Council's response to the report was noted.
• The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management discussed their work to support disabled people in emergencies. Possible resources were discussed to inform and support people who lead emergency responses.
• The Ministry of Transport discussed the development of a consultation document on implementing the New Zealand Transport Strategy. Council members noted priorities for disabled people to improve their access to public transport.
• DPA continues its representation and active role on the Council and always welcomes input from the wider DPA membership into the business of the Office and the Council.

GOAL 3: Provide a vehicle for the promotion of rights, social value and citizenship of all disabled people

DPA is the New Zealand affiliate to Rehabilitation International (RI). RI is a global and diverse organisation, bringing together expertise from different sectors in the disability field; advancing and implementing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

In order for RI to carry out its work effectively, it has established topic-specific Commissions.

DPA's Anne Hawker was Rehabilitation International's Social Commission chair. She writes:

This year has been a milestone in the development of social inclusion and participation for disabled people within New Zealand and internationally. March 30th 2007 saw the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York. New Zealand featured highly, through the excellent efforts of an advocate of whom we should be immensely proud. Robert Martin also gave a very important speech on behalf of civil society.

It is important, having achieved the signing and international ratification, that we do not rest on our laurels, as there is still much to be done.

I had the privilege of attending the RI Latin-American Regional Conference on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Mexico City in April 2008.

I spoke at the closing panel discussion and I'd like to bring some of those words to your attention here, as I think that they are as relevant for the New Zealand disability movement as for the Americas.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was the first Human Rights Treaty of the 21st Century. That it was developed and signed in record time was due in large part to the role of civil society. This was the first time in the history of the UN that civil society had been involved in developing a convention and through the professionalism displayed by those involved, there was great success. The convention provides an international legal framework to ensure that those ratifying it have the tools to address discrimination against people with disabilities. The optional protocol provides the mechanism for people with disabilities to lodge a complaint when their rights are violated. It gives teeth to the convention.

We were reminded at this meeting how lucky many of us are. Many of the 650 million people with disabilities worldwide are isolated and shunned. Ten per cent don't go to school, 80 per cent don't work and 15 million earn less than one dollar a day.

Globally, people with disabilities have been segregated, marginalised and discriminated against. Women and children with disabilities are often the most vulnerable and are frequently the targets of abuse.

Too often, the media worldwide portrays disability in a negative light.

We need to work hard to achieve the paradigm shift from welfare to rights; to get people into work; to get children into schools; to get access to health, housing and rehabilitation; to introduce assistive technology and make access to interpreters the norm.

Some key strategic issues discussed at the workshop included:

• The need for universal dissemination of the convention to all areas, including the development of training manuals. It is essential that the convention is read as widely as possible and its legal implications understood.
• We need to think collectively and innovatively about accessing resources. We need to build connections locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. Dialogue will be a vital part of this relationship-building process.
• We need to build alliances and partnerships including with governments, academia, UN agencies and others. We need to increase our efforts to ensure parliamentarians, the judiciary and the Executive are aware of the needs of people with disabilities. We need to demonstrate our expertise in explaining the realities of our lives.
• We need to have a clear and agreed plan of action that reflects the principles of the convention. For example, in identifying a strategic solution for disabled people's access to transport, we need to ensure we utilise the best data and research and that the solution reflects best practice.
• We need to be a part of all of the decisions that impact on our lives and we need to convince decision makers to be our partners in achieving an inclusive society.
• We need the tools to evaluate the success of these initiatives. This will help in accessing future resources.
• We need to be part of the national councils of disability. We have a responsibility to ensure that information about their work is available in accessible formats and that civil society is an integral part of these mechanisms.
• We need effective monitoring mechanisms, including the development of baselines, to realise the full intent of legislation intended to improve the rights of disabled people.
• We need to understand the Government budgetary process, so that we can lobby to ensure that disability is included in resource allocation. We need to accentuate that we can assist civil society to achieve the economic and social goals of Government.
• Disabled people must be involved in designing disability training for all professionals and stakeholders working in the disability sector.
• We must take risks to achieve our goals, if that becomes necessary, at both an individual and organisational level.
• We need to develop strategies, tools and capacity to effectively use the media to change the perception of disability.

In conclusion, the potential success of the convention lies in effective communication.

To make the changes required for generations ahead we will need strong, committed, professional leadership from within the disability community. We must become skilled negotiators. We all bring passion and a desire to achieve. Let us harness that energy to meet the expectations of all disabled people.

We must assist Governments to develop the most effective public policies, standards and monitoring mechanisms, so that the convention takes on life and does not stay as words on a page. This will enable us all to reach our full potential as contributing members of society. The convention provides a tool for the Agenda for Prosperity.

I hope these words will help inspire you to turn the UN convention into reality in Aotearoa.

Wendy Neilson is the New Zealand contact for the RI Work and Employment Commission. She reports:

A year has gone by since the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

My report this year consists of the Easy Read version of the convention's implications for people with disability in work and employment. This version, I feel, states so clearly the rights of people with disability to a working life:

Disabled people have the right to work, equal with others.

Countries will do more to get disabled people work and will help do this by:

• making laws that make sure disabled people are treated equally and fairly at work;
• making sure disabled people have equal job rights and rules and pay;
• making sure disabled people have a right to join a union the same as everyone else;
• making sure disabled people can go on work programmes and work training;
• helping disabled people find and keep jobs as well as get better jobs;
• helping disabled people set up their own businesses;
• giving disabled workers jobs with Government and in places like councils and hospitals;
• helping companies give disabled people jobs;
• making sure disabled people have suitable places to work;
• making sure disabled people can try out work;
• help disabled people get back to work;
• countries must make sure that disabled people are not forced to do unpaid work.

An important event this year has been the appointment of Anne Hawker as Principal Disability Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development. This role is regarded very favourably by the disability sector, as Anne is a skilled advocate for specific issues relating to disabled people. The establishment of the Employer Disability Forum is also seen as a valuable reference and support group for the sector.

With the downturn in the New Zealand economy, people with disability could become more vulnerable in an employment situation and it is important that the needs of this group are understood and supported.

Policy and Advice

DPA's National Policy Researcher, Wendi Wicks, reports:

The 2007-2008 policy landscape has been dominated in many ways by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It has not been the only matter of significance, but it has occupied a central place. It's also a useful illustration of how a variety of approaches are required to get to a policy goal.

When the New Zealand Government signed the convention in March 2007, it intended to ratify, or formally agree to it, after going back and working out how much our domestic law and policy fitted with what's in the convention. To do this has taken more time than expected. While our Government examined laws etc, other countries decided to ratify and on 3 May 2008, after 20 countries had ratified, the convention came into force. This means that at the end of 2008, there will be a big meeting of countries who have ratified and they will choose a monitoring committee. So the pressure to complete the parliamentary processes while the house is still sitting in order that New Zealand can ratify the convention and go to the meeting has been intense.

The culmination of the process of examining laws etc, was a formal document called a National Interest Analysis (NIA) on the convention. An NIA says, in summary, that there is a case for us signing up to the convention, these are the benefits and these kinds of changes to law etc are needed.

The NIA went to the whole of Parliament, then on to a Select Committee (Justice and Electoral) in July 2008. At first it was not clear whether there would be enough time for the convention to pass through all of the necessary parliamentary processes by end of the year. But in a most welcome burst of speed, the select committee reported back quickly and it seems likely that all of the parliamentary processes will happen in time to ratify.

What all this means to DPA's policy and advice role is that it reinforces how we need to use a variety of ways to address the central issues. In this instance, DPA made a formal submission on the NIA, but that was preceded by meetings with Minister Dyson and other politicians, meetings with various Government departments and Crown entities, media releases, blogs, newsletter articles and many discussions and lobbying activities involving a number of disability organisations.

The ongoing pressure was needed so that the issue did not slip onto the back burner. It was also required to continue the partnership between disabled people and the Government in how they approached writing the convention. These collective efforts bore fruit on the 3rd of September, when all parliamentary processes for ratification were completed at two minutes to 12, with support from all political parties. New Zealand can now attend the end of year conference. All the political parties publicly acknowledged the importance of ongoing lobbying from disabled people in reaching that point.

What this matter has highlighted is how important genuine partnerships of many different varieties have become to the way DPA does its issue-level advocacy. Not only does pooling our efforts behind a common goal make it easier, it also gives a good working model of a mutually beneficial partnership to those we seek to influence that is particularly compelling.

It's also a good way to make headway in some of the other issues where change has been slower. Last year, DPA began a coalition with the National Network of Stopping Violence services around the issue of abuse and violence against disabled people. The coalition is led by disabled people in disability services and in stopping violence organisations. Our collective efforts have begun to bear fruit; relevant Government departments are looking at legislative, research and policy gaps, other NGO services are looking at training needs and the anti-violence task force seems likely to address the matter in their work.

The Disability Coalition Against Violence and the convention partnership between Government and disability NGOs may well be signposts to the future for disabled people.

GOAL 4: Eliminate the discrimination and devaluation experienced by disabled people in New Zealand

Disabled Maori face multiple forms of discrimination.

DPA has collaborated with People First and CCS Disability Action on two projects this year.

The first is to increase access for disabled Maori and their whanau. After some discussion, we decided that access was needed to:

• information;
• living, learning and laughing;
• services and supports;
• tipu ora;
• culture and a spiritual and cultural tradition;
• benefits and increased opportunities for Maori;
• marae.

We met with the Minister of Building and Construction, Hon Shane Jones, to get political traction on these issues.

The second project is to develop leadership among disabled Maori. We are planning a series of leadership development hui.

In 2006, the Ministry of Health set up the Environmental Support Services Advisory Group (ESSAG).

Eamon Daly is the DPA representative on the ESSAG. He reports:

The ESSAG had its one and only meeting for the 2008 year on June 20. The reason for there being only one meeting this year is that the ESSAG has now been disbanded. Instead, the Disability Services Consumer Consortium, which meets twice per year, will be the forum for disability related views in the future.

At last year's DPA AGM, I reported verbally on my attendance at these meetings and noted my disappointment at the seemingly token nature of representation accorded to disability issues in the reform of Environmental Support Services. Rather than being a forum for real dialogue and effective change, the meetings have tended to focus on updates for disability sector organisations around changes to the ESS programme which have been or will be implemented in-between meetings. Having said that, however, and especially according to some organisations' representatives, the meetings have proved to be a reasonably worthwhile exercise in service updates and information sharing.

Organisations represented on the ESSAG included: DPA, Hearing Association, Deaf Association, PIASS Trust, Carers NZ, Grey Power, Talk Link Wellington, Foundation of the Blind, Age Concern, and CCS Disability Action.

Following are some key points which came out of the June 20 meeting:

• income and asset testing for housing and vehicle modifications removed;
• hearing aid budget increased by $4.5 million to accommodate the subsidy for over-65s;
• no increase to the Equipment and Modification Services budget for the next financial year;
• new DVD available from the Ministry of Health, with five presentations in various languages from people with disabilities, describing support from the ministry.

The meeting concluded with a reminder that regular updates on the progress of the ESS programme will be posted on the Ministry of Health website and a suggestion that those with particular ESS interests continue to liaise with ESS staff.