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16 June 2009

Urgent action needed from the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues

“The Eady family story provides a prime example of the lengths many families go to when the support they really need isn’t available to them,” says Viv Maidaborn, CEO CCS Disability Action (referring to a story on 60 Minutes TV programme shown earlier this week).

”This sort of experience is not uncommon, and isn’t just an issue for families living with Autism. People find themselves in similar situations very often as a result of poor government funding, planning and lack of appropriate disability support services.”

Over 31,000 adults with physical and intellectual disabilities are cared for in residential homes around the country.

“We are calling for urgent action from the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues to look at implementing recommendations already made by the Social Services Committee in a report they released late last year,” says Viv Maidaborn.

These recommendations include government funding to be provided to give people with disabilities a choice about their day-to-day living arrangements; and better support to be provided for unpaid caregivers, such as family members.

“We want to see people with disabilities getting support in appropriate environments, and to get the support and resources they need to live life to the full in their own homes, with their own families.”

Young people with Autism have been shown to thrive if they are able to stay with their own families who are receiving sufficient support. This is also the case for most young people with physical or intellectual disability, who all have a right to a meaningful life.

The Ministry of Health currently provides some financial support, benefits and respite care but does not fund at-home care provided by family members. The Ministry of Social Development’s Pathways To Inclusion strategy sets expectations around work, community involvement and meaningful roles and activities. For people with high and complex needs we are a very long way to achieving these goals.

“People with high support needs have the right to contribute to society, the right to a fulfilling life and to have choices about how and where they live it,” says Viv Maidaborn.

~ENDS~

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