PSA assistant secretary Melissa Woolley says, “The catch cry of the disabled community – nothing about us, without us – has borne fruit today, with the announcement of the development of a Ministry governed by disabled people and whānau-led.
It is the result of good engagement with the disabled community and the workers who support them, and a recognition of disabled people’s rights. The PSA supports the Enabling Good Lives principles.
To support lasting change, substantial investment into the disability sector is crucial. It is a sector that has always been massively underfunded. High quality, flexible services can only be provided if funding is robust and sustainable.
To create a genuinely transformed disability system for Aotearoa NZ, the current and future workforce should participate in the design of services, to ensure delivery of high-quality services that enable good lives for disabled people, workers and communities,“ Woolley says.
