March 2014

President’s Report Hello everybody

This is my first time writing the Bites editorial as DPA president and I’m really happy to have the opportunity. As president I want to be available to you. I am out of town a lot, but please feel free to contact me: brendon.murray@dpa.org.nz and I will get back to you.

This year the National Executive Committee (NEC) met in mid-January (earlier than usual) to do an analysis of what skills we had as a group and what additional skills we needed. We decided that it was important to have a Pasefika voice so we asked Pati Umaga to join us. He brings a huge network with him, including those in government agencies. We also decided to approach Gerri Pomeroy to join us. We wanted to keep women’s issues on the agenda and we needed someone who knows what’s happening in the Upper North Island. Gerri is helping to bring Hamilton DPA out of recess and she is also very involved in transport and access issues.

Also in this issue...Our new website.............................................P3

DPA hosting seminars …………………………P4

Remembering Donna-Rose McKay…………...P5

Accessibility at the 2014 elections……………P6

Review of disabled people in care…………….P7

National Policy update………………………….P7

Disability Access Review………………………P8

Celebrating the life of Dr Linda Beck………..P10

Government Action Plan………………………P11

I am pleased to tell you that Pati and Gerri both accepted the appointments and we look forward to working with them.

DPA’s new website is now up and running. Have a look at www.dpa.org.nz

I’m sure you will agree it looks great and gives us plenty of scope to build a real online community. Keep checking in, reading the news and having your say.

Our Communications Co-ordinator Sally talks more about how you can use the site in the first article of this issue.

I recommend you keep a close eye on our Policy Analyst Victoria Manning’s reports online. She is making submissions all the time. She often needs your input and will highlight opportunities for you to submit your views.

Sadly, Senior Kaituitui, Bronwyn Haywood, based in the Secretariat has resigned. Bron has put her heart and soul into her position with us. By sheer will power she got the kaituitui network up and running, developed the team and secured funding. I want to acknowledge this considerable achievement and thank her for the passion she’s brought to this work. Bron has a wealth of knowledge, about disability issues and dynamics that we don’t want to lose. NEC, Rachel and I all hope she can do further work for us without the stress of full-time hours.

We have lost several members this year. In this issue we celebrate the lives and contributions of Dr Linda Beck and Donna-Rose McKay - disabled women whose lives were an inspiration to us all.

I would also like to acknowledge the passing of Tom Morris (Anne Hawker’s husband). He was a valued member of DPA. We will talk more about Tom in the next issue of Bites.

Chris Erlbeck a long time member and office holder in eastern Bay of Plenty, also passed away recently. Chris had multiple sclerosis. He joined DPA in 2004 and went on to serve as treasurer for four years and sat on the committee for ten. He served on the Regional Land Transport Committee and District Health Board’s DSAC.

Bev Gammer, our Immediate Past President, says he was a staunch advocate always willing and able to ask the hard questions, and that he will be sadly missed by local members.

One of my responsibilities, as President, is to help support our regions to do their work, so if I can help in anyway, please contact me.

Best Wishes

Brendon Murray

2 March 2014

Have a look at our new websiteGo to www.dpa.org.nz and have a look around our new website.

We want to create a real online community by linking everybody up – our partners, members and other disabled people. We think we have developed a place where that can happen, so look around and participate.

What are your hot issues around employment, education, service funding, abuse and safety, etc? Tell us by commenting in the Our Community/My Views section. We would also appreciate hearing about any interesting websites you have found around disability and your experiences as a disabled person. If you want to write a think piece have a look at the Our Community section for guidelines.

The Our Community section of the site is a way you can let us know what’s on top for you.

The site is a work in progress. As time goes on, it will become richer in terms of accessible formats, news, your views, and resources.

Accessibility of the site

Of course we want a site that is an example of best practice in terms of accessibility. A company called Verb built the site to that brief and design was done by a firm called Creature, in Wellington.

To make sure it met the highest standard of accessibility we also asked a digital accessibility expert from the Blind Foundation to check it for us.

He made recommendations and worked alongside Verb, who implemented them. Both Creature and Verb say they have learnt a lot through this process and they are committed to using this knowledge in future work.

Let our Communications Co-ordinator Sally Champion know how you find the site in terms of accessibility.

Email: sally.champion@dpa.org.nz

3 March 2014

DPA hosting seminars with overseas expertsIn April, DPA is hosting two one-day seminars in Auckland and Wellington on a wide range of topics alongside experts from the Executive Committee of Rehabilitation International.

The two seminars will be open to disabled people, providers, government officials and interested others.

The seminars will allow us to reflect on what we are doing alongside international experts. It is an opportunity to further develop our thinking and how we translate this into our everyday practice and get affirmation for our current practice.

Seminar Agenda

Auckland: Tuesday 15 April 9.30am – 4pmCCS Disability Action, Kauri Room, 14 Erson Avenue, Royal Oak

Panels: Raising accessibility consciousness, Building employer confidence, Creating an inclusive education system, Creating a level playing field for women and Including indigenous people.

Wellington: Wednesday 16 April 9.30 – 4pm CQ Hotel 223 Cuba Street, Wellington

Panels: Emergency preparedness partnerships, Employment as an effective investment approach, Monitoring compliance and Effective policy setting.

We welcome your attendance. Numbers will be limited so please RSVP to gen@dpa.org.nz as soon as possible.

About Rehabilitation International

Rehabilitation International (RI) is a membership based organisation which pursues its global work based on decisions made by its members, RI continues being in the forefront internationally, actively advocating for persons with disabilities.

It was established 90 years ago in 1922. RI has a very rich history and has achieved many successes over time.

A source of disability sector newsA good source of disability sector news, albeit it from a government viewpoint, is the Office for Disability Issues email newsletter.

4 March 2014

To be added to the Office for Disability Issues' email list, send an email to: odi@msd.govt.nz with 'subscribe' in the subject line.  

Remembering Donna-Rose McKay by Chris Ford, Dunedin Kaituitui

Donna-Rose McKay

Donna-Rose McKay, longstanding DPA member, and leader in the development of support services for disabled students, died in Dunedin on 9 December 2013.

Donna-Rose, who lived with arthritis, fought tirelessly for a fair and inclusive world for disabled people. As an advocate, she went into battle to get better support countless times for disabled people, and their families.

She was best known for her work as Manager of the Disability Information and Support Service at the University of Otago.

She developed that role from a small add-on to student services, into a full service that supported a number of disabled students (including myself) to succeed at tertiary study. Because of her leadership the University became a leader in the area and one of the more accessible campuses in New Zealand. Donna-Rose mentored many other disability support coordinator colleagues around New Zealand and worked with Achieve, the national organisation which promotes tertiary education opportunities for disabled people. Because of her pioneering work in this field, she was recognised nationally and internationally.

Donna-Rose also became a well-known and respected disability community leader. She was on the DPA Dunedin committee in the late 1990s, before becoming our local President. She also served on a number of other committees, including CCS Disability Action Otago, the Dunedin City Council Disability Advisory Group, and the Dunedin Disability Information Service.

5 March 2014

Donna-Rose leaves a husband, Ross, and many good friends and colleagues behind. She will always be remembered by the disability sector and DPA for her contribution.

Any messages to Ross McKay and Donna-Rose’s family can be sent to:Disability Information and Support OfficePO Box 56DunedinEmail: disabilities@otago.ac.nz

Accessibility at the 2014 electionsThe Electoral Commission hopes a new telephone dictation voting service will be available for disabled voters at the 2014 election so they can vote independently and in secret.

Before the Electoral Commission can say for sure the new service will be ready this year, electoral regulations need to be amended, and operational requirements for the service finalised.

Voters will need to register for the service and the process will ensure that they can vote without having to identify themselves to the official recording their vote.

Blind or vision impaired voters, or voters who have a physical disability, that prevents them from casting a secret ballot, will be eligible to use the system.

Details of the new system are outlined in the recently published disability strategy (Access 2020) put out by the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission has worked closely with disability organisations over the past few years to make it easier for people with disabilities to enrol and vote in general elections. A workshop was held in 2013 with a number of disability organisations, to discuss accessibility initiatives. (DPA helped set up the workshop.)

What else will be available at the 2014 general election?

accessible voting places will be provided, and more variety of resources on how to take part in elections in accessible formats

will be available. There will be resources in NZSL, Plain English, Easyread, Braille and the 2014 version of the resource for people with learning disabilities will be further developed.

6 March 2014

A copy of Access 2020 is available on the Electoral Commission’s website in PDF and Microsoft Word format at: www.elections.org.nz/resources-learning/voters-disability

Review of disabled people in residential care finds systemic failuresThe findings of a review of Disability Support Services released at the end of last year by Minister of Health Tony Ryall, asks why disabled people in residential care don’t have anyone to independently oversee their safety and wellbeing.

Our Immediate Past President Beverley Grammer was part of the review team. She says the report “Putting People First” looks at the issues from the perspective of a disabled resident.

The report has 36 recommendations aimed at improving the systems, and processes to ensure the safety and well-being of people with disabilities living in residential care. These recommendations have been accepted by the Minister.

To read the report go to: www.health.govt.nz

National policy update From Victoria Manning

At the end of last year the Secretariat wrote three submissions on government bills or enquiries.

The inquiry into Engaging Parents in the Education of their Children DPA looked at the issue in terms of both disabled parents and non-disabled parents and reflected member’s views.

Our submission points included:

7 March 2014

The relevant principles of the UN Disability Convention

Disabled parents, caregivers and family members must be able to be involved in the education of their children, without discrimination, on an equal basis with non-disabled parents, caregivers and family members.

Non-disabled parents and caregivers of disabled children must be fully involved in the education of their children without discrimination and without prejudice or undue stress.

The Human Rights Amendment BillViews were sought on the structure of the Human Rights Commission. Changes to the make-up of the commissioners was suggested in the bill and the public were asked to comment.

Our submission points included:

DPA believes a dedicated and permanent Disability Rights Commissioner needs to be established. This would ensure effective leadership of disability rights by the Commission.

The appointment criteria and functions of a Disability Rights Commissioner should include specific disability related aspects, such as the need to engage with disabled people and to promote and monitor the implementation of the UN Disability Convention.

The inquiry into the 2013 Local ElectionsThe inquiry into the 2013 local elections wanted feedback about whether the system and processes worked for people.

Our submission points included:

Highlighting United Nations Disability Convention principles and measures to ensure equal political participation for disabled people

Promoting partnerships between DPOs,local councils and DHBs

Making information about candidates more accessible

Putting independent, secret voting provisions in place for disabled people

More accessible information on local authority operations and elections, particularly on key websites.

Disability Access Review looks at access to buildings Currently the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise and the Office of Disability Issues are jointly conducting a review into access to buildings.

8 March 2014

The purpose of this review is to gain a better understanding of how the requirements relating to people with disabilities contained in the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code are being implemented in new buildings as well as buildings that are being altered.

You can have your say

As part of the review you are asked to provide specific examples of buildings that allow access to the building for everyone, or that cannot be used by everyone.

If you would like to take part you can do so by using the following link to provide online information www.examples.malatest.net or by calling 0800 002 577 to talk to Hamish Grant from Malatest International.

All your responses will be confidential. For your examples to be included in the review they will need to hear from you by 4 April.

Please feel free to distribute the link to others that you think might like to comment.

For more information about the review click http://www.dbh.govt.nz/disability-access-review

This review is separate to the Building Amendment Bill which proposes to reduce requirements for providing disability access to earthquake-prone buildings. (See more about the Building Amendment Bill following).

The review will consist of the following steps:

summarise the current situation targeted consultation with sectors involved - consultation will not be held with

the wider public compile findings of the consultation.

Minister Tariana Turia said in an Office for Disabilities publication, “The Government is determined to take action to make New Zealand more accessible. We have begun to review building access. From this we expect to see a greater emphasis on making access a right, not something we add on, or fail to add on, later.”

The Disability Access Review is a separate process to the Building Amendment Bill.

The Building Amendment Bill

Introduced into the house in early December the Building Amendment Bill proposes to reduce requirements for providing disability access to earthquake-prone buildings.

9 March 2014

At the moment it is awaiting its first reading, after which it is expected to be referred to select committee where DPA will make a submission.

DPA is part of the Earthquake Disability Leadership Group in Christchurch which is requesting that the Government urgently take measures to ensure full access to public and commercial buildings for disabled people.

The groups say the building code needs to change to ensure universal access - for disabled persons, for the elderly, for parents with prams, and everyone else.

If you want to contribute to DPA’s submission on the Building Amendment Bill, please email: victoria.manning@dpa.org.nz

The Earthquake Disability Leadership Group has also launched a petition. Go to: www.healthychristchurch.org.nz

Dr Linda Beck - Celebrating a life well-livedby Pam MacNeill

Linda and her husband David

In early January a valued member of our community, Dr. Linda Beck, passed away.

Many of you will have known Linda and her husband David. She was my very dear friend and I know a friend to many of you as well.

In this article I would like to publically acknowledge her contribution to our community.

Linda was a member of the DPA National Executive Committee (NEC) in the early 2000s and her particular interests were human rights, equality and justice for all, and employment law.

10 March 2014

Of course, as a blind woman, disability equity and responsiveness were issues she cared about deeply.

Linda was born blind in Glasgow, although, after an operation, she did achieve some partial vision when she was four. She went to a boarding school for blind pupils in Edinburgh.

After her schooling she began studying law and she married David. They moved to Wellington and Linda continued her studies at Victoria University.

After graduating in 1987, she worked for the State Services Commission (SSC), as the first Mainstream Supported Employment Programme Manager.

Then she worked in the legal area of SSC and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

A car accident in the United Kingdom left her to grapple with the further impairment of a head injury causing short- term memory issues and chronic fatigue.

Linda and David moved to Christchurch, where Linda worked for the Human Rights Commission, as a complaints officer and then an advocate for the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner.

Then she went on to do further study and completed her doctorate in in 2010.

After that she became a board member of Workbridge, and the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind. And she was appointed a Member of the NZ Order of Merit in 2005.

In recent times Linda worked for the Canterbury Community Law Centre where she assisted with the establishment of the Disability Law Service.

I’m sure you will join with me in celebrating her life. I’m sure you will agree it was a life very well lived.

The Government Action Plan for DisabilityThe draft Government Action Plan for Disability (the plan for government departments through to 2018) is with the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development for sign off, due April 8.

Rachel Noble our Chief Executive says it’s the first time the DPO’s and the Government have worked so closely on a piece of work. She says work outlined in the plan was constrained by a pre-set budget but she says the new working partnership was reflected by:

the concerted effort both parties made to learn each other’s language, listen to each other and engage in a new way

the efforts DPOs made to make government systems less bureaucratic for disabled people to access, and how the ideas in the DPA Agenda for Change were reflected in the plan.

11 March 2014

Check out our new website www.dpa.org.nz and have your say