It is with great pleasure that I will table my first report on the New Zealand Disability Strategy in Parliament before Christmas. The report shows a heightened awareness of disability issues inside government, and a greater willingness by departments to consider the effects of their policies and services on people with disabilities. This sort of leadership is critical in removing the biggest barrier to participation - people's attitudes.

In this issue of Participate you will find some examples of the strategy in action in our communities. People tell me that the strategy has given formal recognition to the things they have been saying for years. It validates their concerns, supports their activities and gives them a clear direction to achieve a fully inclusive society. Around the country, the growing confidence of the disability sector is translating into stronger relationships with local authorities and government departments.

So that we can share our successes and celebrate our achievements, I've asked the Disability Issues Directorate to set up a noticeboard on the NZDS website (www.nzds.govt.nz). Watch out for it. It will be up and running soon.

I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year, and I thank you for your hard work and support. In particular, I want to acknowledge the leadership and commitment of DPA, the Assembly of People with Disabilities.

I look forward to working with you all again in 2002, as we continue our efforts to create a society which values all its citizens and encourages their full participation.

Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister for Disability Issues

Report covers 10 agencies

My first report on the New Zealand Disability Strategy will outline initiatives undertaken by the 10 key government departments that developed action plans to implement the strategy for 2001/2002, and relate them back to the strategy's objectives.

The report covers initiatives from 1 July to 30 September 2001 and shows positive progress since the strategy was launched.

The Disability Issues Directorate will report on options for long-term monitoring of the strategy by the end of 2001, including how to involve people with disabilities and the wider disability community. Future annual reports will be more comprehensive, monitoring the progress of all government departments over a full year. The government's overall progress will also be evaluated after five years and 10 years.

The first report on the New Zealand Disability Strategy will be available on the NZDS website at www.nzds.govt.nz, and in hard copy, large font, Braille or audiotape from New Zealand Disability Strategy, Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington. Phone: (04) 496 2554. Fax: (04) 496 2050. E-mail: nzds@moh.govt.nz.

Human Rights Bill strengthened

The Human Rights Amendment Bill has been reported back to the House, with a number of amendments to strengthen its provisions.

The bill:

• confirms the end of government's exemption from the Human Rights Act;
• reforms complaints-handling procedures;
• merges the Human Rights Commission and Race Relations Conciliator; and
• introduces the concept of a Declaration of Inconsistency made by the (newly created) Human Rights Review Tribunal and aimed at laws and regulations that discriminate.

The justice and electoral committee has strengthened the bill by amending it to:

• add 'advocacy' and Treaty education to the functions of the Human Rights Commission;
• give the Chief Commissioner clear ability to lead the commission, while protecting the role of the Race Relations Commissioner;
• increase the commission's ability to compel people to attend inquiries and provide information; and
• widen the ability of religious denominations to use their own versions of the marriage vow.

The bill comes into force on 1 January 2002.

New DIA website gets thumbs-up

Association of Blind Citizens president Jonathon Mosen has described the Department of Internal Affairs new website as "fantastic". Jonathon says the website takes the IT needs of the blind seriously at last, and brings the visually impaired and colour blind into the 21st century.

Almost all of the massive site is approved by Bobby, an online tool for testing the accessibility of websites for users with disabilities. All documents except Adobe PDF files can be read by a screen reader, and there are plans to upgrade these files. The entire site can also be navigated solely by keyboard, an important feature for people with physical disabilities that rule out use of the mouse.

The site is at www.dia.govt.nz

• A number of Ministry of Health websites are now accessible: the national health committee site (www.nhc.govt.nz), cervical screening inquiry site (www.csi.org.nz), national drug policy site (www.ndp.govt.nz), and NZ Disability Strategy site (www.nzds.govt.nz).

• The E-government Unit has developed Web Guidelines aimed at making government websites more accessible. Government organisations are expected to use the guidelines for any new developments. The guidelines can be found at: www.e-government.govt.nz.

DOC sets employment target

Following a staff survey, the Department of Conservation has developed a People Diversity Strategy. DOC says: "To relate well to a wide range of people, DOC staff need to reflect the diversity within their communities. The rewards of a diverse workforce should be better relationships and increased support that will in turn, help DOC achieve better conservation outcomes."

The strategy's goals include greater numbers of women, Mäori, Pacific peoples and people with disabilities in the DOC workforce, especially at management level.

Targets include increasing the proportion of employees with disabilities from 4.4 per cent in June 2001, to 9 per cent by 2005 and 12 per cent by 2010. There are also plans to increase the proportion of people with disabilities in senior management by the same percentage.

TelstraSaturn improves access to directory service for blind

TelstraSaturn has adopted a policy to help blind and visually impaired people access Telecom's national and international directory services. TelstraSaturn will make directory assistance available to qualifying customers at $1.25 a month. There will be no cap on the number of directory calls a customer can make (domestic or international).

Applications must be made in writing to TelstraSaturn, with proof of visual impairment, such as a doctor's report.

TelstraSaturn customers who need directory assistance when away from their own homes will continue to use the pin-activated directory service op

erated by the New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. This policy is the same as Telecom's, including the monthly charge. TelstraSaturn is now working through implementation issues, such as creating an application form and setting up an exemption in its billing system.

Govt supports postal concession

The government is committed to continuing New Zealand Post's free postage concession for articles such as talking books for people who are blind and vision impaired. The current arrangement with New Zealand Post expires in April 2003, but work is under way to secure funding so that the service continues beyond this date.

Deafblind services get funding

The New Zealand Foundation of the Blind will receive $325,000 a year in new government funding to enhance its deafblind services. The funding is the first official recognition that deafblind people have a unique disability that requires special methods of communication, mobility and learning.

Deafblindness affects around 1500 people in New Zealand, and the number is expected to grow with the ageing population.

In October, Deafblind New Zealand hosted the 7th Helen Keller Deafblind World Conference in Auckland, which was attended by over 300 people from 46 countries.

Employers 'go the extra mile'

Otago Polytechnic and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board are the joint winners of the State Services Commission's Mainstream Employer of the Year Award for 2001. The awards are presented each year to employers who have gone the extra mile to provide employment, training and career development opportunities for people with disabilities participating in the Mainstream Programme.

Merit awards were also presented to the Teacher Registration Board, Taranaki District Health Board, Waikato Institute of Technology and Hutt Valley District Health Board.

Volunteers get funding boost

The government is investing $2.19 million over the next four years to support volunteering in New Zealand. The funding is made up of:

• $30,000 annually to each of the six regional volunteer centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin to include more rural volunteers;
• $90,000 annually to help develop new and emerging volunteer centres in the regions;
• $90,000 annually to develop connections with Maori, Pacific and ethnic community volunteers; and
• $90,000 annually for Volunteering New Zealand, the national strategic and advocacy body for volunteering.

The funding aims to build greater levels of participation in voluntary activities, and to cement the achievements of International Year of Volunteers 2001.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Steve Maharey have also signed a Statement of Government Intentions for an Improved Community - Government Relationship, signalling their commitment to a better working relationship between community organisations and government agencies.

Congratulations

Toni Fox, from Weymouth is the youngest person in New Zealand to be named as a student member of the Mouth and Food Painting Artists. Toni - the only woman wheelchair rugby player in the Auckland team - was also a finalist in the Westpac Trust Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards. Cyclist Mark Inglis has been named Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year, 12 months after winning a Paralympic silver medal.

The winners of the Blind Achievers Awards 2001 are Pauline MacNab, of Wanganui, for the arts; Helen Davies of Hamilton for sport; and Allan Jones of Wellington for community contribution.

TVNZ named People First national spokesperson Robert Martin its 'Person of the Week', after about 500 people with intellectual disabilities and their supporters took part in a march to Parliament in September, to thank the government for its decision to close Kimberley.

Renee Clark has won the national Fletcher Challenge Young Enterprise Scheme examination. Renee, who has a vision impairment, gained 95 per cent in the exam which tests students on what they have learned from a real-life business opportunity. Renee's team set up Business Post-Kards after identifying a gap in the market for localised postcards in Whakatane.

Lions Club New Zealand have chosen George Turner of Taranaki as one of their Top Ten Volunteers for 2001, in recognition of nearly 40 years work on behalf of the Taranaki Amputee Society.

In August, Gary Endacott became the first person in the world with cerebral palsy to reach the summit of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, after a gruelling four-and-a-half day climb.

Bouquets

Rehua Marae in Christchurch has spent $20,000 to become fully accessible for people with disabilities. New facilities include a wheelchair hoist so people can be lifted up the steps at the front of the wharenui (meeting house), a specially designed bathroom, and ramps into the wharekai (dining rooms). CCS social worker Ruth Jones says the changes are very empowering: "It means I can take part in a powhiri, hui or a tangi and can fully participate in my culture, and it also helps other disabled people feel included when they visit the marae."

The van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch has produced Perception, a film about alienation, based on a story by Stefen Lewis. The film, which premiered on 14 November, has been accepted for screening at the 6th Annual Deaf Film and Television Festival at Wolverhampton, England on 17-18 November 2001 and the Chicago Institute for Moving Pictures Film Festival in March 2002.

The Deaf Association and Police have established protocols to enable Deaf people to contact police. This includes a Telecom free emergency fax number, a 24-hour non-emergency contact fax number with the Central Communications Centre, and fax numbers for local police stations. Details have been disseminated through the Deaf Association. Interpreters for Deaf people are organised through a local sign language liaison person whose contact details are kept in the local watch-house.

Auckland City Council has appointed Minnie Baragwanath as its disability advisor. The appointment is the first of its kind in New Zealand, and recognises the value of personal experience of disability as a specialised area of knowledge.

People with disabilities in Auckland, together with the Ministry of Health, held a forum in October to establish an Auckland-specific action plan to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

DPA Palmerston North has developed a memorandum of understanding with the Palmerston North City Council to adopt the New Zealand Disability Strategy. Areas of work include the accessibility of public buildings; barriers in sport, recreation and leisure; social activities for people with disabilities; accessible transport, roading, footpaths and walkways.

Wellington DPA celebrated International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December with a performance at Te Papa. Poets, musicians, dancers and storytellers provided four hours of free entertainment, demonstrating the diverse contribution of artists and performers with disabilities to the creative community.