This project was developed by the Convention Coalition to provide advice and information to the New Zealand Government to enable the formulation and implementation of practical and appropriate disability policy, in partnership with disabled New Zealanders.
The 2010 monitoring report: Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, noted that “Social participation by disabled people in society emerged as by far the biggest single issue ... .” Other major issues identified were negative experiences relating to health. Lack of employment also featured, as did access to disability related services and supports, barriers to making complaints and a general lack of awareness and responsiveness about disability issues. The high cost of living, gender and ethnicity further compounded these issues. Discussions about social participation included tangible issues such as work, transport, communication and lack of money. “... this also includes drivers for true social participation, taken for granted in non-disabled peoples’ lives, such as friendships and other social networks and access to the social and cultural world.”(Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2010).
The six key areas chosen for systemic monitoring and consultation in 2012 have resulted from this earlier study.
A total of 156 people took part in the various consultation mechanisms described in the preface. Contributors represented a cross-section of people with a range of impairments. Quotes from these people are used liberally throughout, in order to give authentic voice to the report.