2002 got off to an eventful start with the release of the first report on progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy. The report shows that, while there is still a long way to go, government departments are becoming more aware of disability issues and more responsive to people with disabilities.

A Press Council ruling in late February not to uphold my complaint against the Dominion for breaching an embargo on the decision to close Kimberley has raised important issues about media responsibility. I laid the complaint in September last year after the Dominion ran a front-page story on Kimberley's closure, before a midday media embargo had expired.

I issued the embargo so that Kimberley residents, their families and staff could be told about the closure privately and appropriately, rather than learning about it from the media. I explained this to the media at the time, outlined the timetable for informing the relevant parties, and asked for their cooperation.

The Press Council was divided in its decision, and it is clear that the issue was hotly debated. Six council members voted not to uphold the complaint. However, four members, including the chairman, former High Court Judge Sir John Jeffries, were in favour of upholding the complaint, saying "there were good reasons for the request" and "editors should not be able to absolve themselves of their wider responsibilities".

The issue has highlighted a tension between the media's right to publish information and the rights of individuals affected by publication. In my role as Minister for Disability Issues, I deal with many sensitive matters. There must always be a balance between discharging my duty to keep the public informed through the news media, and at the same time, protecting my constituency.

I issued the embargo to achieve that balance, and it is significant that all the New Zealand media, except the Dominion, respected it.

Also in this issue of Participate are my reasons for calling for an immediate halt to the process of contracting home care services for people with disabilities in the lower North Island; information about the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan; an update on Kimberley; DPA's new business arm, MAXEQ Consulting; and other news from the disability sector.

Hon Ruth Dyson
Minister for Disability Issues

Home care contracts halted

I have called for an immediate halt to the process of contracting home care services for people with disabilities in the lower North Island. Eight out of 15 current providers of home care services in Hawkes Bay, Hutt Valley, Manawatu/Horowhenua/Tararua, Wairarapa and Wellington/Kapiti had not had their contracts renewed.

My main concern was the effect of the changed contracts on people receiving home care services. The contracting process created unacceptable uncertainty and disruption, and I wanted to reassure them that the provision of their services is secure.

I have asked the Ministry of Health to put an immediate halt to the contract changes, roll over existing contracts unless otherwise requested by the provider, and develop a process to address the outstanding concerns.

I want the ministry to develop a new process in partnership with providers, caregivers and clients to achieve:

• high quality, reliable and secure services;
• a stable workforce with appropriate training;
• monitoring provisions which include client satisfaction;
• open and informed complaints procedures, and opportunity for improvement of services in response to any complaints;
• cooperation between the Ministry of Health, district health boards and ACC on provision of services;
• constructive partnerships and working relationships between all parties - the ministry, providers, clients and caregivers.

The ministry will report to me by the end of April on the future process for arranging and ensuring the provision of high quality, reliable and secure home care services. I want an open dialogue about the future objectives of the contracting process, constructive engagement on a pathway forward, and the participation of all parties to achieve those objectives.

Government makes progress on NZDS

The first report on the government's progress in implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy was released in February. The report outlines the activities of 10 key departments from 1 July to 30 September 2001. Many have focused on internal issues - recruiting people with disabilities, improving physical access to buildings and equipment, staff training, more accessible information.

The State Services Commission, for example, has conducted a survey of graduate students with disabilities about their knowledge and perceptions of the public service as an employer, and held a seminar on disability awareness for Equal Employment Opportunity coordinators and human resources advisors. This is the sort of leadership we need to change negative attitudes, which are the biggest barrier facing people with disabilities.

People with disabilities get very frustrated at having to deal with different government departments to meet their different needs. So it is heartening to see a number of joint projects, such as collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Education to improve support services for children with autistic spectrum disorder, develop services for people who are deafblind and review operational protocols for equipment and therapy.

While the primary focus of the report is on the role of central government, it also outlines local government and community responses. The strategy has given the disability movement new confidence and strength, and excellent local initiatives are occurring in many areas.

Future annual reports to Parliament will be more comprehensive. All government departments have to prepare annual plans to implement the strategy for 2002/2003, and will be monitored against them. As a result, departments are expected to become increasingly responsive to the needs of people with disabilities who make up 20 per cent of the population.

The report, Progress in Implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy, is available on the NZDS website at www.nzds.govt.nz, along with the 2001/2002 implementation plans of the 10 government departments: the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Ministry of Women's Affairs, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Transport, Department of Labour, Te Puni Kökiri and State Services Commission.

The report is also available electronically, in hard copy, large print, Braille, on audiotape and as an easy-to-read summary from the Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington. Phone (04) 496 2554. Fax (04) 496 2050. Email: nzds@moh.govt.nz

Pacific plan focuses on disability

Disability issues feature strongly in the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan, launched in February 2002. The plan has six priorities, including promoting participation of Pacific peoples with disabilities, and Pacific health and disability information and research.

The plan says that Pacific peoples are more at risk of disability than non-Pacific and non-Mäori, and are typically low users of support services. Reasons include economic disadvantage (compounded by the financial cost of disability), the need for mainstream services to be more responsive, and the need for Pacific-led service delivery models.

Goals to promote participation of Pacific peoples with disabilities include developing culturally appropriate guidelines for NASC services, entering into partnerships and service contracts with Pacific providers, and supporting Pacific advocacy services.

Goals to promote Pacific disability information and research include developing appropriate Pacific methodologies, supporting and developing the Pacific health and disability research workforce, and identifying how Pacific families meet their disability support needs.

The plan is available from the Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington, or on the website: www.moh.govt.nz

New charities commission proposed

A Charities Commission should be set up to approve and register charitable organisations, monitor their activities, investigate complaints, and provide advice to the sector and government, according to a working party set up by Finance Minister Michael Cullen.

Many disability organisations are registered as charitable organisations.

The working party says the new commission should administer the Charitable Trusts Act, and take on the 'defender of charities' role currently carried out by the Attorney General. Legislation establishing the commission should contain a definition of 'charity' or 'charitable activities' that would also serve other legislation such as the Income Tax Act.

The working party also recommends that an organisation should not cease to be eligible for registered charity status simply because its purpose is to benefit a group of people connected by blood ties, as happens now. It says the proposed change takes into account New Zealand's unique cultural situation.

Dr Cullen says the need for reform is clear. "Currently there is no reliable information base and no simple means for members of the public to check the bona fides of organisations claiming charitable status, and the regulatory framework is so fragmented that charities can find themselves having to deal on a regular basis with at least five different government agencies."

The working party report is available on the Treasury website: www.treasury.govt.nz/charities/

Kimberley update

The Ministry of Health has contracted needs assessment and service coordination agency LIFE Unlimited to coordinate services for Kimberley residents moving into the community. LIFE Unlimited has a sub-contract with Muaupoko Tribal Authority, and together they will provide both mainstream and Mäori services for the assessment and placement of residents.

Preferred providers of day activity services and accommodation are expected to be known by April, and arrangements for advocacy services are well under way with the Personal Advocacy Trust and Muaupoko Tribal Authority. A comprehensive range of specialist support services is also being developed.

The Kimberley Parents and Friends Association (KPFA) has a list of current providers of community-based housing for people with intellectual disabilities - compiled by my office - who are willing to let families and Kimberley residents visit their homes around the country to see what is available for people with similar needs. These visits will give families ideas and options about future possible living arrangements for their own family members.

KPFA has also compiled a useful list of important questions to ask, covering things like standards of care, staff interaction with residents, family involvement, facilities and services available.

For more details, please contact KPFA president Anne Bell, phone/fax (04) 566 7284, email: annemariebell@xtra.co.nz.

Winners and losers in programme changes

A new broadcast time for disability radio programme One in Five (formerly Future Indicative) has effectively halved its audience, according to market research. The programme has been moved from its early Sunday afternoon slot to a new time of 7pm on Sunday, reducing its audience from 40,000 to 20,000 people. People with insomnia may be pleased to know that the programme is repeated at 1am on Mondays. If you would like to make your views known about these programming changes, phone Radio New Zealand, (04) 474 1999, fax 474 1459, email: rnz@radionz.co.nz.

In a more positive change, TVNZ disability programme Inside Out has a new screening time of 9.30 am on Sunday, (formerly 8.30 am). The programme is also repeated on Wednesday night on Wellington TV, channel 7.

TVNZ increases caption hours

TVNZ has negotiated a $360,000 funding increase from New Zealand on Air for programme captioning, taking the total funding to $1.5 million a year. Captioning of television programmes is an essential service for people who are Deaf and hearing impaired. The new agreement specifies 90 hours captioning a week (compared with 65 hours last year), including captioning of at least one children's programme.

NB: In November 2000, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's English network and Newsworld to caption all of their television programmes to address the needs of Deaf people. The tribunal dismissed the corporation's claim that the cost would constitute an undue hardship.

DPA to set up register of disability contractors

DPA is inviting people with disability expertise to add their names to a register of contractors being set up for its new business arm, MAXEQ Consulting.

DPA president Bill Wrightson says it has become clear that DPA needs to complement its national advocacy role with a business function. He says people with disabilities must publicly promote their skills and capacity to do the work associated with implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

MAXEQ Consulting will develop a network of consultants who have identified skills and knowledge in disability issues, services and policy. The company will accept approaches from government, private or community sector clients, and will also develop its own projects. Wherever possible, expertise will be provided by people with disabilities.

For more information, contact DPA chief executive Gary Williams, phone/TTY (04) 801 9100, fax (04) 801 9565, email: gary@dpa.org.nz

Bouquets

Cantabrians Rachel Battersby and Steve Bayley have won three gold and two bronze medals between them at the Winter Paralympic Games at Salt Lake City - with each having the slalom event to go. However, Rachel is disappointed that television reporting of her win in the high-speed downhill race used old footage of her competing in New Zealand.

"If people could see the footage from here, they would have so much respect for what we do," she told the NZ Herald. "It is scary and dangerous. I don't think we get the funds and recognition for what we do. I haven't trained seven years for this to have five-year-old footage shown. I almost cried."

Rachel recently recorded New Zealand's best ever result in Disabled World Cup skiing, finishing second overall for the season, and leading the slalom rankings.

Mark Inglis reached the summit of Mt Cook in January, 19 years after losing his lower legs to frostbite on the mountain. "I got silver at the Sydney Paralympics [for cycling], but this is definitely gold," he said after the climb.

Auckland Uni improves disability website

Visitors to the updated disability website www.disability.auckland.ac.nz at the University of Auckland are greeted by a student welcoming them in New Zealand Sign Language. The redeveloped site includes services and technologies available to students from the university's disabilities office; information for staff about students with disabilities; maps around the university; and a noticeboard with news and events of special interest to students with disabilities. A text-only version of the site complies with the W3 consortium's guidelines on website accessibility.