Briefing to:
Hon Nicky Wagner
Minister for Disability Issues
3 November 2014
1
Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2
About us............................................................................................................................... 3
Disabled New Zealanders do not get a fair go ..................................................................... 4
We need change
6
Discrimination and employer attitudes
7
Accessibility
7
Disabled children are amongst our most vulnerable children ............................................... 9
Disabled children are more likely to live in poverty
10
What we can do ................................................................................................................. 11
Look for community led solutions
11
Do not be afraid to ask the hard questions
11
Think about how people with disabilities might be affected by Law and policy
12
Think about long term options
12
Our advice ......................................................................................................................... 12
Thank you .......................................................................................................................... 13
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Introduction
CCS Disability Action is a community organisation that has been advocating for disabled
people to be included in the community since 1935.
Our vision
We want to share our knowledge with you. We do not
have all the answers, but we can provide you with advice
and analysis to help you make better decisions.
Disabled people are included in
the life of their community and
family.
It has never been more vital that disabled people in New Zealand are included in the
community. With the aging population, the number of disabled people is set to increase.
Already disabled people make up almost a quarter of the population. We are running out of
time to create an inclusive society.
Key facts about Disability
Being included in the community means disabled people
have equal access to education, employment, buildings,
infrastructure and transport. Disabled people need to have
the same choices as non-disabled people, such as the
choice of where to live and where to work.
There are an estimated 1.1
million disabled New
Zealanders, almost one in four of
the population.
There are an estimated 632,000
people with a physical
impairment (14 per cent of the
total population).
There are an estimated 484,000
people with a sensory
impairment (11 per cent of the
total population).
There are an estimated 95,000
disabled children aged under 15
(11 per cent of all children aged
under 15).
53 per cent of disabled people
have more than one impairment
type.
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About us
We work with over 5,000 people with disabilities and their families. Our services support
disabled people to be included in the life of their family and community.
We receive a mixture of government funding and private donations. We provide services
and advocacy from 16 local branches and 25 offices throughout the country.
Our governance has strong disabled leadership and many of our staff members identify as
disabled.
Our advocacy is evidence-informed, honest and responsible.
What unites and drives our organisation is a common philosophy. We
believe that the community should value and include disabled people.
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Disabled New Zealanders do not get a fair go
Too often disabled people do not get a fair go. They do not get the same opportunities as
non-disabled people.
Disabled people do not always have equal access to
Some of the costs of
exclusion
education, employment, buildings, infrastructure and transport.
Last financial year, the
As a result, some disabled people are excluded from the
Government spent over $2
community.
billion dollars supporting
people on disability related
This is bad for disabled people and wider society.
benefits.
Residential care for disabled
Considerable money is spent on disability related services and
people under 65 costs
income support, but there is often poor outcomes for disabled
around $485 million a year.
people.
Disabled people aged 15 to
44 have an unemployment
In the 2013 Disability Survey, disabled people;
rate of 14 per cent,
compared to 7 per cent for

were less likely to report a high level of life satisfaction;

were less likely to feel safe at home or in their
non-disabled people.
neighbourhood;

were twice as likely to be the victim of violent crime;

more likely to report being discriminated against and more likely to be discriminated
against more than three times over a twelve month period;

more likely to have no qualification and less likely to have a bachelor's degree or
higher;

had higher unemployment and lower labour force participation;

more likely to have lower incomes and live in lower income households, including
for those aged under 65.
We can do better and we must do better. A nation survives and thrives on how well it
includes all its citizens in everyday life.
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People reporting their life satisfaction - higher is more satisfied
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
Disabled people
30%
Non-disabled people
20%
10%
0%
0–4.9
5–7.9
8–10
Highest qualification gained
Disabled people
Non-disabled people
37%
33%
32%
23%
15%
No qualification
25%
23%
12%
School qualification
Post-school
Bachelor's degree or
at level 1 to 4
qualification at level
higher
1 to 6
Total personal yearly income- aged 15+
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Disabled people
Non-disabled people
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We need change
The discrimination and barriers people with impairments face are an issue for all of us.
When disabled people are prevented from accessing the community and finding
employment we all lose. With an aging population, the proportion of people in the labour
force who have disabilities will increase. Exclusion costs us all.
Statistics New Zealand’s median labour force projections has people over 65 making up
14 per cent of the labour force by 2036. In the 2013, Disability Survey people over 65 had
a disability rate of 59 per cent, compared to 21 per cent of people aged 15 to 64. The
future prosperity of New Zealand depends on our ability to include disabled people in
education, employment and the community.
Estimated percentage of labour force over 65
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
Estimated percentage
of labour force over 65
8%
6%
4%
2%
2061
2056
2051
2046
2041
2036
2031
2026
2021
2016
2011
2006
0%
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Researchers from Canada have estimated that reducing the unemployment rate
amongst disabled people could increase GDP per capita by up to $600 Canadian
dollars per year. They also found that increasing the education achievement rate of
disabled people would generate an additional boost to GDP of $200 Canadian dollars
per year. 1
These estimates were in Ontario. Ontario is, arguably, more advanced than New Zealand
in terms of accessibility and human rights. This suggests our gains could be even higher.
Discrimination and employer attitudes
In a 2012 survey of employers, 78% said they believed disabled people were discriminated
against in employment. 59% felt there were barriers that might stop disabled people from
being employed in their own workplace. Only 21% felt there were none. Most employer
believed these barriers were either difficult to address or insurmountable.2
Nearly all the employer in the research showed, at least outwardly, positive attitudes to
disabled people. Nearly all employers believed that disabled people deserved a fair go and
that their low rate of employment was an issue. These positive attitudes, however, seemed
to have no effect on their willingness to hire disabled employees. Neither did knowing
disabled people or having positive past experiences employing disabled people.
Accessibility
A major barrier to people accessing their community and finding employment is the
inaccessibility of some buildings and public transport. In the 2012 survey of employers,
38% of employers said that there were physical barriers that stopped people with
impairments from working at their work. A sizable number of people on government income
support will be prevented, or discouraged, from working because of access barriers.
1
This research was commissioned by the Government of Ontario and can be found here:
http://martinprosperity.org/2010/06/14/releasing-constraints-projecting-the-economic-impacts-of-increased-accessibility-inontario/
2
This research was sponsored through the Think Differently Campaign and can be found here:
http://www.thinkdifferently.org.nz/employer%20research
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Accessibility issues affect everyone at some time in their life. We all experience different
levels of mobility; sometimes due to temporary causes such as injury, pregnancy or
sickness. As we age, it is increasingly due to more permanent causes such as
impairments.
With the aging population, there will be a growing diversity in mobility needs. Developing
accessible infrastructure and transport will ensure that everyone can continue to live, work
and fully participate in their chosen community.
An Access Review has recently been completed and there is momentum to tackle the
long-standing problems in access. There needs to be political will to drive changes,
especially from you, the Minister for Disability Issues.
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Disabled children are amongst our most vulnerable children
Disabled children are more likely to live in low-income households, have fewer rights in
current Law and experience serious discrimination in access to education.
In the 2013 Disability Survey, disabled children were less likely to have done the following
activities, in the previous four weeks, than non-disabled children
were:

had music, art, or other similar lessons;

played a team sport;

done other physical activity such as swimming or
gymnastics;

visited friends;

been away on holiday in last 12 months.
Only 77.8 per cent of disabled children had visited friends, over
the previous four weeks, compared to 92 per cent of non-disabled
children.
Overseas research has found that Disabled children are at a higher risk of abuse. One of
the most comprehensive studies to date, which took place in America, found children with
disabilities were, when compared with children without disabilities:
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
3.8 times more likely to be neglected;

3.8 times more likely to be physically abused;

3.1 times more likely to be sexually abused.3
See the American Academy of Pediatrics article below or the recent Health Committee Inquiry into improving child health
outcomes and preventing child abuse.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/5/1018.long
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/documents/reports/50DBSCH_SCR6007_1/inquiry-into-improving-child-health-outcomesand-preventing
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Disabled children are more likely to live in poverty
Disabled children are more likely to live in poorer families. The 2013 Disability Survey
found that

34 per cent of disabled children live in families that earn under $50,000 a year,
compared to only 24 per cent of non-disabled children.

17.7 per cent of disabled children live in households that earn under $30,000 a
year, compared to 11.5 per cent of non-disabled children.

Five per cent of disabled children live in households that earn under $15,001 a
year, compared to 3.8 per cent of non-disabled children.
The Ministry of Social Development’s 2012 Statistical Report found that:

37.5 per cent of caregivers receiving the child disability allowance are on a main
benefit or superannuation.
Disabled children - household income
Less than $15,001
$15,001–$30,000
$50,001–$70,000
$70,001+
$30,001–$50,000
5%
13%
49%
16%
17%
Non-disabled children - household income
Less than $15,001
$15,001–$30,000
$50,001–$70,000
$70,001+
$30,001–$50,000
4%
8%
12%
59%
17%
You cannot address child poverty or child abuse without addressing the issues disabled
children face.
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What we can do
The issues affecting disabled people are complex and the government alone cannot solve
all the issues. Government, however, has a key role to play. Government funded services
and income support play a major role in the lives of many disabled people.
We need to find ways to include disabled people in the community. As long as disabled
people cannot freely access employment, education and the wider community, they, and
New Zealand as a whole, will be significantly disadvantaged.
This is a complex challenge. For example, here are just some of the issues stopping
disabled people from finding employment:
•
attitudes of employers and fellow workers;
•
availability of suitable jobs in the local economy;
•
ability to make adjustments to the work place;
•
availability of flexible hours;
•
availability of formal and informal support networks;
•
a person’s access to education and work experience;
•
lack of accessible transport options and;
•
an inaccessible built environment.
As Minister for Disability Issues you can play an important role. Below is some general
advice about approaching disability issues.
Look for community led solutions
Disabled people and non-government organisations are often far more innovative and
responsive than government departments. Sometimes all that is needed is for
governments to give disabled people and non-government organisations room to innovate,
rather than try to dictate change from above.
Do not be afraid to ask the hard questions
The disability sector, just like any sector, can lapse into jargon and good intentions without
substance. Judge projects on their outcomes for disabled people, as well as principles. Do
not be afraid to challenge ministries to be clear about their projects.
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Think about how people with disabilities might be affected by Law and policy
With an estimated 1.1 million disabled New Zealanders, nearly every law and policy will
affect disabled people. Most of the issues disabled people face are connected to a wide
range of government policies and beyond. Think about how different laws and policy
interact. For example, accessibility requirements will affect the ability of people with access
needs to find jobs.
Think about long term options
With the day-to-day pressure of being Member of Parliament, it is easy to lose sight of the
overall picture. The 2008 Inquiry into the quality of care and service provision for people
with disabilities recommended a lead agency be set up to coordinate disability services
and policy. If this was ineffective, the Inquiry recommended an independent disability
commission be established.
At the time, the Government declined both recommendations, in favour of more immediate
projects. While it important to carry out short and medium projects, it is important to have
one eye on the long-term.
Take a stand
People look to you for leadership. Sometimes the Minister for Disability must stand for
what is right, not what is convenient. This is what successive governments did when they
dismantled the large-scale institutions disabled people use to live in.
There is never going to be a perfect time to implement many changes, especially around
inclusion. For example, several sections of the Children, Young Persons and Families Act
give fewer rights to disabled children than non-disabled children. It has been acknowledge
that this is wrong, but the time is never right to change it, or Ministries say more work must
be done first.
Our advice
We are always happy to offer advice and analysis. Our advice is independent, evidenceinformed, frank and jargon free.
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We have a diversity range of expertise across our organisations. We have staff members
and governance with extensive experience in education, employment, housing, policy,
care and protection issues, foster care, accessibility, local government, early family
support, independent living and Māori disability issues.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to read this briefing. We look forward to seeing the difference
you will make.