Disabled community protests funding rules, cuts

Dunedin's disabled community feels dismissed and undervalued by the government’s recently announced funding reductions.

The Ministry of Disabled People announced funding changes on March 18, including new limits on what disabled people could buy and changes to the way equipment was prioritised.

Members of Dunedin’s disabled community gathered in front of Meridian Mall and marched up George St to the Octagon in protest on Thursday.

Protest organiser Dr Amy Taylor said the community was angry that their flexibility and funding had been taken away from them.

"We felt dismissed, we didn’t feel valued as members of society.

"I mean it’s our funding, we know what we need it for — they don’t, how can they possibly know. They don’t live our lives."

She said she did not get any funding as a wheelchair user herself but did receive child disability allowance for her two children who both had ADHD.

"I was really hoping because we’d had a referral for carer’s support that I would be able to get some support to care for my two ADHD children, as a wheelchair user it’s not easy.

"But increasingly it’s looking like that might not even be possible."

She said she was worried she would not have the funding to be able to continue using tools to help her look after her children.

Dr Taylor said she did not have confidence in the Minister for Disabilities, Penny Simmonds, but blamed the coalition government which had made some "serious mistakes".

The protest was also attended by Dunedin City Council councillors Sophie Barker, Carmen Houlahan and Christine Garey.

A protest was also held outside Ms Simmonds’ electorate office in Invercargill on Thursday morning.

mark.john@odt.co.nz