Waiariki Disability
Action Plan.

 

 

The Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Boards have partnered with Momenta, to create a new Disability Action Plan for the Waiariki region.

 

We are not out to create just another strategy; we are out to make real change. That’s why we are asking for your help, so that – together – we can create a plan that makes a real difference to you. To do that, we know that you need to be heard.

With your input, this plan will focus on:

  • removing barriers;
  • providing greater access;
  • improving the health outcomes for all people with disabilities in the Waiariki region.
  • ensuring Equity and Accessibility to health services for Māori and Pacifica people with disabilities.

We want your voices to be heard in their new Waiariki Disability Action Plan.

We’ve come up with the questions – with the help of people from across the disability sector

 

 

But you have the answers

Of course, COVID level restrictions have made it challenging to arrange face to face hui, so we have had to get creative

To have your say, you can:

  • Join a zoom hui
  • Answer an easy survey.
  • Or, you can send us your feedback to the questions direct, in either a voice recording or video.

You can do the survey  on-line or we can send a hard copy for you to fill out.

  • The survey will be available in Te Reo Māori, English, Easy Read or in Braille.

Or you can email us at actionplan@momenta.org.nz  for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Why?

Statistics NZ surveys consistently show that disabled people experience poorer outcomes across multiple domains, including income, employment and health compared with non-disabled people.

The DHBs would like to translate this into a plan with achievable actions and benefits for generations to come.

How?

Key in the development of the action plan is the co-design aspect; the DHBs can’t do this mahi without hearing from:

  • the people who experience disability every day, and
  • from those who work for and with them.

Together with a group of representatives from the disability community, we have developed a survey asking for people’s experiences, thoughts, and ideas. This input will determine where the priorities lie and which actions to include in the plan.

Who and what?

The Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Boards have partnered with Momenta to create a new Disability Action Plan for the Waiariki region.

This plan will be informed by input from disabled people, their families/caregivers and service providers for disabled people via a survey, small group workshops and input from a focus group with lived experience of disability

Where?

The action plan is focused on the Waiariki region; this covers the Bay of Plenty and Lakes, see maps below.

When?

The Waiariki Action Plan will be completed by February 2022.
The survey will be online between 11th of November until the 1st of December 2021.

What is classified as a disability and how many people in the Waiariki region have a disability?

The Ministry of Health describes disability is an impairment — physical, intellectual or sensory — that lasts for more than 6 months and limits your ability to carry out day-to-day activities. This can include psychiatric illness. The Human Rights Act: has a full definition in section 21(1)(h).

The New Zealand Disability Strategy defines disability as something that happens when people with impairments face barriers in society; it is society that disables us, not our impairments, this is the thing all disabled people have in common. It is something that happens when the world we live in has been designed by people who assume that everyone is the same.

In the Waiariki region 27% of the population has a disability, approximately 1 in 4 people within our community.

What will be in the Waiariki Disability Action Plan?

The purpose of the plan is to improve access to quality health services and improve the health outcomes of disabled people. In order to achieve this the plan will contain actions that focus on data, access and workforce.

What is the goal?

Disabled people live their best life, knowing DHBs support them as their needs and goals change.

How does this plan align with other current plans for the disability community and sector?

The Waiariki Disability Action plan will be aligned to the national disability strategy – Whāia Te Ao Mārama 2019 – 2023.

There will also be analysis and research taken from other disability action plans that area already in motion. The beauty in doing so is learning what currently works and doesn’t work, while also being able to gauge what changes have already had the greatest impacts.

How will you make sure that the input you get for the plan represents the views of the whole disabled community?

Our communications approach is aimed at reaching as many people from the disability community as possible. Apart from sharing the survey with our partners who are operating across the disability sector and encouraging them to share it with their database, we are issuing media releases and we have developed a tailor-made approach for hard-to-reach groups, such as Māori and Pacific peoples. We are working closely together with Māori and Pacific leaders to ensure their people are made aware of their opportunity to be a part of this plan.

Also, we have made the survey accessible for as many people as possible by providing the survey in English, Te Reo Māori, Easy Read, braille and Voice Recording.