Greetings to you all. As you probably know, I have taken over from Ruth Dyson as the Minister for Disability Issues.

Ruth and I both regret the circumstances that have led to this change. However, I want to assure you of my unflinching support for the work she has done over the last five years, both as opposition spokesperson for disability issues and as the first Minister for Disability Issues.

My job is made easier because of the strong foundation she has left. Consultation on the New Zealand Disability Strategy discussion document, Making a World of Difference: Whakanui Oranga, is now complete. I look forward to finalising the strategy early next year and ensuring Ruth continues to have input.

I am no stranger to disability issues, having handed over the opposition spokesperson role to Ruth in 1995. My other portfolios - as Minister for Senior Citizens and as Associate Minister of Education, responsible for special education - also overlap with disability issues.

I would like to make it clear that I have not taken over all disability responsibilities. My role is an advocacy one. I am well-used to being an advocate as Minister for Senior Citizens, and I can assure you that I will be your voice at the Cabinet table. Minister of Health Annette King will take over responsibility for disability support services. These include all HFA-funded support services for people with disabilities and for older people.

I regard this as an advantage because, without the Health delegation, I will be well-positioned to advocate on your behalf, including for the best approach to the future funding of disability support services.

Annette and I will work closely with Carol Searle, Deputy Director-General for Disability Issues in the Ministry of Health, to make sure the new arrangement meets the needs of the disability sector.

Disability advisor Jools Joslin will continue to be a single point of contact within government. You can phone Jools on (04) 471 9397 or e-mail her at jools.joslin@parliament.govt.nz.

It is essential that we maintain the momentum driving the New Zealand Disability Strategy. I am prepared to commit my energy and determination to this task. I ask you to join me so that, together, we can make a world of difference.

Lianne Dalziel
Minister for Disability Issues

Disability Strategy on target

The New Zealand Disability Strategy is on target to be finalised early next year.

Interest in the strategy has been overwhelming since the September launch of the discussion document, Making a World of Difference: Whakanui Oranga.

The first print run of 10,000 copies of the document ran out and a further 3000 copies had to be printed to meet the demand. More than 65 meetings to discuss the strategy were held around the country in September and October. Attendance was excellent, especially in areas where disability networks are strong. Over 1200 people attended meetings, not including all those who ran their own discussion groups with the help of the information pack.

Submissions have now closed. About 700 submissions have been received and are being analysed by Ministry of Health officials and the disability sector reference group.

Provisional findings have identified societal attitudes as the most common barrier for people with disabilities, followed by access to services, physical access to the built environment, and communication and literacy issues.

Four areas are emerging as priorities:

• Encourage and educate for a non-disabling society (Action 1 from the discussion document).

• Provide opportunities for employment and economic development (Action 4).

• Improve services to people experiencing disability (Action 7).

• Improve access to quality information ie improve availability of information and ensure it is available in appropriate formats (Action 8).

The final version of the strategy is expected to go to Cabinet for approval early next year.

Special education package

The Government has announced the first steps of a package for children with special education needs, to be introduced from the beginning of next year.

The package will use $30.2 million of the extra $48 million allocated in the Budget for special education over the next four years. It follows a review of Special Education 2000 policy earlier this year by Dr Cathy Wylie, who consulted widely with schools, parents, educationalists, special education providers and disability organisations.

From next year:

• Eligibility for inclusion in the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) will be widened to include children with combined moderate needs in three areas - therapy, specialist support, and requirements for curriculum adaptation. At the moment, eligibility is restricted to children with high or very high needs in at least one category.

• New funding will support students with significant fragile health needs.

• Students' eligibility for ORS funding will only be reviewed if their need for support is likely to change significantly.

• The Ministry of Education will centrally fund occupational therapist and physiotherapist positions for schools and units for students with physical disabilities for the next three years, and a research project will be commissioned to identify best practice.

• A Ministry of Education working party will report on staffing proposals for special education units and students with moderate needs by June 2001. Bridging funding for special education units will be maintained for 2001, pending this report.

• A three-year professional development programme will be developed for teacher aides in all schools.

• $1.2 million will go towards developing and distributing best practice guidelines and resource materials, in consultation with the sector.

A decision in principle about Cathy Wylie's recommendation to establish a national network of support and resource centres and about the future role of Specialist Education Services (SES) will be made next month.

Vocational services review

The Government has broadened its review of vocational services for people with disabilities to include an overview of all publicly funded vocational services.

The review was to be limited to services purchased by the Department of Work and Income. However, it has been agreed that, to develop a clear policy and funding framework for vocational services, a wider context is needed.

Therefore, the review will also include an overview of vocational services provided by other government agencies including the Ministry of Health, ACC, State Services Commission and Skills NZ.

Questions the review will cover include:

• What is the best way to work out what vocational services a person needs?
• What sort of services should be available?
• Who should be funding what?
• What is the role of Government, providers, consumers, carers?
• How can co-ordination between programmes funded by different government departments be improved?

Members of the advisory group are:

Cathy Scott: IHC

John Taylor: ASENZ

Ian Beker: Federation of Vocational and Support Services (VASS)

Lane Marama: Framework Trust

Maeria Koligi: Workforce Auckland

Mike Gourley: DPA

Pale Saunui: Framework Trust

Richard Buchanan: New Zealand CCS

Rob Warriner: Mental Health Foundation and ASENZ

Robyn Klos: Federation of Vocational and Support Services (VASS)

Robyn Hunt: Workbridge and DPA

Suzanne Townshend: Deaf Association

Suzy Stevens : Mental Health Foundation.

Many people have already given officials their views on vocational services in previous consultation exercises. These will be analysed and taken into account. For those who would like to contribute further, submissions close on 15 November.

NGOs support Government

A survey of non-governmental organisations in September showed strong support for the Government's social policy initiatives.

The survey, run by the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa (ANGOA), showed:

• 73 percent of organisations felt positive about the direction of public policy in their particular area.
• 43 percent felt positive about the impact of the Budget on their organisation, while 17 percent felt negative.
• 27 percent believed general social conditions would improve over the next three months, while 20 percent believed they would deteriorate.

ANGOA chairman Peter Glensor said the survey was conducted in the same way as the Institute of Economic Research's

Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion. Questionnaires were sent to more than 300 non-governmental organisations - including health, housing and welfare organisations, students' associations, trade unions and aid organisations.

The survey was the first of its kind and will be repeated on a quarterly basis.

Congratulations to new Mental Health Commissioner

Congratulations to community and mental health consultant Mary O'Hagan, who has replaced Dr Julie Leibrich as a Mental Health Commissioner.

Mary has been involved in mental health and disability issues as a consumer and consultant. She is a member of the disability sector reference group helping to develop the New Zealand Disability Strategy, and chairperson and facilitator for the World Federation of Psychiatric Users, the first worldwide user organisation.

Mary has also been involved in developing the Mental Health Blueprint and as a member of the Mental Health Commission's anti-discrimination team.

Great Paralympian effort

Congratulations to the 42 New Zealand athletes who competed at the Sydney Paralympic Games last month. The team arrived home with six gold medals, seven silver and four bronze. Equally impressive was the commitment, dedication and skill of all the athletes, many of whom improved on personal best performances and broke national records.

More than 4000 athletes from 125 countries competed at the Paralympics (so?called because they run 'parallel' to the Olympics), making it the third largest sporting event in the world. Public interest was unprecedented and the profile of people with disabilities received a fantastic boost.

Next time round, we need to lobby for live TV coverage of the events, so we can enjoy our Paralympians' success first-hand. TV1 screened 6½ hours of delayed coverage of the 11-day Games, most of it after 10 pm. This isn't good enough, but it is progress. In 1996, they screened only one hour of the Atlanta Paralympics.

Disability resources

Accessible New Zealand (Oct 2000): complete visitors' guide to New Zealand for travellers with restricted mobility, written by Alexia Pickering. Topics include terrain, accommodation, shopping, parking, toilets, restaurants, attractions, and transport. Published by McLaren Brown Publishing. Cost: $14.95 plus postage. Special rates for 10 or more copies. Order your copy from Accessible Options, PO Box 20 200, Hamilton, or e-mail: axess@hnpl.net

Disabilityworld: United States web-based magazine on international disability issues, available free at www.disabilityworld.org. The August-September issue includes:

• interview with new President of Rehabilitation International;
• hiring practices of disability NGOs in India;
• independent living in Japan;
• 10-country report on women with disabilities;
• children's books on disability and difference.

I'm Just A Little Mad (Oct 2000): CD with five versions of folk song from the culture of people who experience mental illness. Speaks of loss of jobs, friends, family and status, and anger that energises the fight for social justice. Sung by Arana Pearson. Cost: 1-5 copies: $7.95 each + $1 p&p; six or more copies: $7 each + $2 p&p. Order your copy from Serious Fun 'N Mind Trust, PO Box 3017, Ohope, Whakatane or e-mail SeriousFunNMind@xtra.co.nz

Paul Holmes CD (Nov 2000): 13 tracks of classic hits, sung by broadcaster Paul Holmes. Part of proceeds to go to Paralympics New Zealand. Available from music stores from 24 November.

People, Disability and Work (Oct 2000): 11 booklets aimed at encouraging employers to employ people with disabilities, and addressing disability issues in the workplace. Produced by Equal Employment Opportunity Trust. Cost: $45. Order your copies from EEO Trust, PO Box 12 929, Penrose, Auckland or e-mail admin@eeotrust.org.nz. Electronic version suitable for people with visual impairments who use text converters available soon for $20.

South Island Walks: An Accessible Adventure (Nov 2000): information on more than 90 South Island walks accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use a wheelchair. Written by Anna and Andrew Jameson. To be launched at Parliament in late November. Cost: $26 + $4p&p from DOC Information Centres or New Zealand CCS, PO Box 6349, Wellington, or fax (04) 382 9353 or e-mail anna-j@ihug.co.nz