Southern disability advocates have welcomed the Government announcement yesterday that it plans to establish a ministry for disabled people.
Disability issues are now dealt with by a range of ministries and agencies, and while there is a Minister for Disability Issues, Carmel Sepuloni is not backed by a dedicated ministry.
That is set to change after she and Health Minister Andrew Little announced a major overhaul of the disability sector, reforms intended to be in place at the same time as the already-announced revamp of the entire health system.
As well as the new ministry, support services will be reviewed and accessibility given greater emphasis.
‘‘I’m very excited and pleased,’’ Otago Blindness Network co-ordinator Paula Waby said.
‘‘It is something we have called for for years, for health to be separated out from disability, because while if we are ill we do want healthcare, the rest of the time we do not have a health issue, we are disabled.’’
Ms Waby, also a member of the Southern Community Health Council, has been a strong advocate for improving accessibility for the disabled and was pleased at the promise of strengthened laws in that area.
‘‘We need to have the technology available so that all can achieve,’ she said.
‘‘I also like the acknowledgement of making things accessible right through the country.’’
Ms Waby, who played an important role in the drafting of the Southern District Health Board’s recently released disability strategy, said she believed the local plan could align well with the new central government plan.
‘‘The DHB has taken note and taken on board the things we have said to them so I would be hopeful that they will be open to what comes through from the ministry.
‘‘We all want to work towards the same goal, making New Zealand accessible for all.’’
SDHB disability strategy steering committee chairman John Marrable said the new ministry should provide a much needed focus on one of the biggest minority sectors.
‘‘Our Building Code is 20 years old in terms of accessibility regulations, and this is one area where I think the new ministry can make a real difference.’’
An estimated 1million New Zealanders have some sort of disability, and Mr Marrable said with that many people their needs could not all be the same.
‘‘Hopefully, the new ministry will bring all the things that are going on together and focus their energy on them ... for want of better words, we all want to be treated the same way as everybody else.’’
Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar welcomed plans to improve accessibility and said any improvements to help the disabled navigate around their communities would help everyone, including the elderly.
‘‘It will a great step forward for our members ... it is meant to be all-encompassing for everyone so I do believe that this is going to make a difference for us,’’ Ms Millar said.
‘‘I’ve always had the philosophy that if something works for the elderly it will work for everybody and I think the same holds true for the disabled, so there will definitely be benefits for the elderly, even if they are not at this stage disabled.’’
Many older people would experience a decrease in mobility or decline in sight and hearing, so a greater focus on making their lives better would be welcome, she said.
