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AUGUST 2022 InTouch | 5 A quarterly update from Alison Riseborough, MDANZ member and representative with the Disabled Person’s Organisation. DPO Update Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People The DPO Coalition is very pleased that Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People was launched on 1 July. The Coalition has emphasised the importance of ensuring that the newMinistry upholds accessibility requirements in its own activities and when it purchases or procures services. Housing, and Health andWellbeing In June, the DPO Coalition met with the disabled person-led monitoring team from the Donald Beasley Institute. The Coalition congratulated the team for releasing reports on Housing, and Health andWellbeing. An important feature of these reports is that they are the result of disabled researchers talking directly to disabled people about their experiences and views. The reports have been received by the public, participants and Ministers and have been covered by media. Copies of the reports are available on the Donald Beasley Institute’s website . Accessibility for New Zealanders The DPO Coalition met Ministry of Social Development officials in June to discuss the proposed Accessibility legislation. The DPO Coalition emphasised the need for public consultation on the Bill to be fully accessible and endorsed suggestions for an extended public consultation period. The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill was introduced to Parliament on 28 July. The Bill had its first reading in the House (discussion by MPs) on 2 August. It was then referred to the Social Services and Community Committee. Members of the public can give their views on the Bill to the Select Committee over the next fewmonths. You can register for ‘Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill’ updates on the New Zealand Parliament website. Look for the green“Get notifications”button. Disability Rights Commissioner The DPO Coalition met with the Lead Advisor to the Disability Rights Commissioner. They discussed the report from the Inquiry into the Support of Disabled People andWhānau During Omicron, as well as reports that were recently released on the violence and abuse experienced by disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori. They also discussed a social change campaign that is being developed called Project Mobilise. This campaign will have a focus on building the visibility of disabled people and mobilising for change around community- driven issues. The DPO Coalition will provide feedback as this project is developed further. Review into quality inclusive education An official from the Education Review Office’s research and evaluation centre met with the Coalition to discuss their review into quality inclusive education. This review has involved wide engagement and has focused strongly on the perspectives of disabled learners. The project considered Article 24 of the Disability Convention – the right of persons with disabilities to an education. The DPO Coalition looks forward to the publication of this important review this month. Examination of New Zealand’s implementation of the Disability Convention The United Nations International Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is scheduled to hold its periodic examination of New Zealand’s implementation of the Disability Convention in Geneva this month. The Government will present a report to the International Committee for its examination. The DPO Coalition has been involved in developing two other reports that will also be provided for the International Committee’s consideration. One of the reports called Disability Rights in New Zealand has been written by the Independent Monitoring Mechanism. The IMM is a partnership between the DPO Coalition, Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman. The IMM plans to publicly release the report early in August 2022. The Coalition has also been drafting a shadow report (a report by non- governmental civil society). This will focus on General Comment No 7 which says that representative organisations of disabled people should be supported to participate in the implementation and monitoring of the Disability Convention. NEWS ROUNDUP