With more resources it would be possible to do more, but compared with other strategies including mental, women's and children's health, "it absolutely does get its fair share," he said.
He was responding to a question about the priority given the strategy from disability support advisory committee member Peter Barron at the committee's meeting in Invercargill this week.
The previous board was criticised last year by two members of the then advisory committee for taking little action on disability issues.
Southland member Dot Wilson said awareness of disability was still a " tag-on" in people's thinking, rather than something which should be integral.
Chief planning and funding officer Chris Fraser said ideally all staff should receive disability awareness training, but it was logistically difficult with 3500 staff.
Ms Wilson said it could form part of orientation.
The committee agreed that the its first priority should be development of the disability awareness programme to improve the competency among clinical and other staff across both regions.
Commenting after the meeting, CCS awareness education co-ordinator Julie Woods agreed there was a need for hospital services to become more aware of disability issues.
Issues such as inadequate lighting in corridors, the uneven surface of mobility parks, which made it difficult for people in wheelchairs, and not sending out print material to blind people were among things which needed to be addressed.
It was important to have good systems so that whoever was using a service would receive appropriate treatment, she said.
The committee agreed the second priority would be audit processes to check that non-governmental organisations and community service providers meet requirements of the disability strategy in the way they run their services.
Another priority is to ensure that as hospital buildings are upgraded work is done to ensure they do not have barriers for disabled people.
Mr Fraser pointed out that compliance with the Building Act did not guarantee disabled people's needs were met and it was proposed there should be a tool for services planning changes to ensure they were disability-friendly.
The development of a disability profile of Otago and Southland patients, incorporating research and data from other agencies, is also planned.
Criteria for the data to be collected is yet to be developed, in conjunction with other health services, but it is envisaged that patients would self-disclose their disabilities.
The committee also proposes the boards develop ways to review policies and procedures to ensure they comply with the objectives of the disability strategy.
