NZ should follow Obama for sake of disabled kids

MEDIA RELEASE FROM CCSIDABILITY ACTION

27 February 2009

New Zealand should follow Barack Obama for the sake of our Disabled Children

CCS Disability Action is urging people to use this year’s Children’s Day on 1 March to discuss the issues that affect the most vulnerable children in New Zealand.

The theme of this year’s Children’s Day is ‘Listen and Talk’ something that Paul Gibson, National Policy and Strategy Manager at CCS Disability Action, hopes people will do around disabled children’s issues.

“Disabled children are still being excluded from education, playing with their friends and enjoying community resources because people don’t think about needs other than their own,” says Paul Gibson.

In America, President Barack Obama has highlighted supporting disabled children in the early years as a key area in his disability plan, something that CCS Disability Action has long championed in New Zealand with no response from Government.

“Many families come to CCS Disability Action in crisis because there is no support for their disabled children at birth,” says Paul Gibson.

CCS Disability Action believes an Early Family Support system that is triggered by the first identification of disability should be easily and universally available to families.

“It’s about making sure families get on the track to a rewarding future for themselves and their children as early as possible. We want Government to commit to Early Family Support for all disabled children and their families; make Early Family Support services an urgent priority,” says Paul Gibson.

Children's Day provides New Zealanders with a special opportunity to spend time with children, create positive memories, and take part in fun activities that start new traditions as well as continue old ones.

“The vision of Children's Day is to see children celebrated, nurtured and treasured by all and this must include disabled children too,” says Paul Gibson.

~ENDS~

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