Background
What is the Roosevelt Award?
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award is sponsored by
the World Committee on Disability and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt
Institute. It is given annually to a nation for noteworthy progress in achieving
the full participation of its disabled citizens.
In recognition of its importance, the award ceremony is held at the United
Nations, where the Head of State of the recipient nation is presented with a
bust of President Roosevelt to be housed in its legislative chamber. A grant of
US $50,000 is also presented to an outstanding non-governmental disability
organisation selected by the winning country.
Why did we win it?
The 2007 Roosevelt Award has been granted to New Zealand for its
achievements in promoting a truly inclusive society where disabled people are
valued and fully participate. In particular, New Zealand has been recognised
for the lead role it played at the United Nations in the development of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
What were the criteria used to choose the grant recipient?
The organisation had to be a New Zealand non-profit working in the disability
sector, that can demonstrate their work has resulted in real changes in the
lives of disabled people and their families, has a track record of promoting
inclusion of disabled people in society and involves disabled people in
different roles within the organisation.
The organisation had to demonstrate achievements in at least one of the
following areas:

building the skills and knowledge of disabled people, providing them
with opportunities to experience leadership roles, and increasing the
numbers of disabled people working as leaders of their sector
and/or of society.

advancing the rights of disabled people and their inclusion in New
Zealand society, and how this has changed people’s behaviour and
attitudes.

improving the responsiveness of New Zealand society to disabled
people.
The organisation had to identify how the grant would be used for disabled
people, how this relates to the objectives of the New Zealand Disability
Strategy or the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, and how disabled people will be involved.