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Advocacy The 2025-2026 year has been a busy one on the advocacy front for the Cerebral Palsy Society – we have taken advantage of a number of opportunities to share the concerns, thoughts and experiences of our members. We have also been invited to present these views in different local and central government settings. Our systemic advocacy included preparing and presenting submissions and contributing to policy documents. We have also pushed for legislative change, both through amending current Papers before parliament and helping raise the profile of, and championing, new disability rights and access frameworks across the political spectrum. OUTREACH Key advocacy highlights: 2025–2026 • As part of an international working group, we contributed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Disability Health Equity Network. There was a particular focus on bringing lived experience perspectives into global health planning and reducing inequality through supporting sound policy, engagement and implementation. • Building an advocacy blueprint and action plan documents for the Society. These documents will guide us as we look for advocacy opportunities and engage with Government officials. The blueprint includes insights from our surveys, priority areas, strength-based language for Cerebral Palsy and advocacy timeframes. • Attending Access Matters Aotearoa’s Accessible Futures Summit. This summit was an opportunity for disability community leaders, policymakers and researchers to come together to share insights from their work. It was an opportunity to discuss accessibility policies urgently needed in the areas of education, employment, health, housing and the built environment, justice, transport, public spaces, government investment and procurement, and the environment. As a result of the momentum generated through the summit and background advocacy work, we have had subsequent meetings with MPs, government agencies and community groups to further this work as we enter the election cycle. • Visiting Auckland Airport to be shown their current parking accessibility initiatives and discuss what more could be done to support travelers with accessibility needs. • Joining the International 2025-2026 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT | 15