The Disability Action Plan 2019–2023 (the DAP), launched in November 2019, aims to improve the wellbeing of disabled people through progress on the eight interconnected outcomes in the New Zealand Disability Strategy: education, employment and economic security, health and wellbeing, rights protection and justice, accessibility, attitudes, choice and control, and leadership.
The Office for Disability Issues manages the six-monthly reporting as the key monitoring mechanism of the DAP. This is the first six-monthly report on progress.
In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic put significant pressure on essential services and government agencies. Delivery of some work programmes were impacted with work being reprioritised and/or delayed. However, progress in the first six months can still be seen.
Agencies provided reports across 29 work programmes. 20 (68%) work programmes were reported being on track or ahead, and 9 (32%) reported being off track but with low risks or issues to delivery. No work programmes were reported to be off-track with significant risks or issues. The DPO Coalition did not agree with the self-assessment of “off track-but low risk” for two agency reports noting that both work programmes had issues for delivery. This has been noted in the report.
Notable achievements and progress included:
- Accessibility Charter (Ministry of Social Development): All government agencies have now signed up to the Accessibility Charter, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring that all information intended for the public is accessible to everyone, and that everyone can interact with government services in a way that meets their individual needs.
- Improving outcomes for disabled learners in tertiary education (Tertiary Education Commission): Introduction of Disability Action Plans and improved data collection for Tertiary Education Organisations.
- Lead Toolkit (Ministry of Social Development): Updated lead toolkit resource to help agencies and businesses employ disabled people to include all sectors and employers. A new “Retaining Existing Employees” resource to help agencies and businesses retain disabled employees was also launched in 2020.
- Reducing segregation and restraint (Department of Corrections: Ara Poutama Aotearoa): Removal of tie-down beds in prisons as part of the programme to reduce forms of segregation and restraint.
- Repeal of Part 4A (Ministry of Health): In September 2020, the repeal of Part 4A came into force to change the Ministry of Health and DHB paid family care policies. This included increased pay rates for family/whānau carers, choice on employment arrangements, lowering the minimum age of carers from 18 to 16 years old, and enabling eligible partners and spouses to be paid in their carer role.
Below is a list of the agency reporting against DAP Outcome areas. The detailed reporting is available in Word and HTML from the ODI website. Please contact Office_for_Disability_Issues@msd.govt.nz if you require the more detailed reporting in an accessible format.
Agency Reporting by DAP Outcome Area
Outcome One: Education
- Curriculum Progress and Achievement
- Government reform of the Tomorrows Schools System
- NCEA Review
- Learning Support Action Plan
- TEC work plan for improving outcomes for disabled learners in tertiary education
- Reform of Vocational Education (ROVE)
Outcome Two: Employment and economic security
- Disability Employment Action Plan
- Increasing the employment of disabled people in the public sector (lead toolkit)
- National Information Portal and regional hubs
- Replacing Minimum Wage Exemption permits
Outcome Three: Health and Wellbeing
- Improving health outcomes and access to healthcare for disabled people
- Funded Family Care policy change
- Reduce the use of seclusion and restraint
- Reduction of the use of segregation and restraint
- Repeal and Replace the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
- Sport NZ Disability Plan
- Safeguarding bodily integrity rights
Outcome Four: Rights protection and justice
- Improvement of justice services so that they are accessible and able to be understood
Outcome Five: Accessibility
- Accelerating Accessibility
- Accessibility Charter
- Accessibility [Policy implementation]
- Ministry of Transport Action Plan
- Waka Kotaki NZ Transport Agency’s Disability Action Programme 2019-2023
Outcome Seven: Choice and Control
- Development of a Shared Understanding of Supported Decision Making
- Transform the disability system to enable disabled peoples’ choice and control over their lives
Outcome Eight: Leadership
- Nominations Database of disabled people for Government Boards / Advisory Groups
Cross-cutting: Disability Data
- Disability Data and Evidence
- Disability data collection and reporting