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RESEARCH Navigating change in the health and disability landscape As we step into 2025, one of the most critical areas of the Cerebral Palsy Society’s advocacy is understanding and responding to the evolving health and disability landscape. By AMY HOGAN The current health system, while intended to serve all New Zealanders, is in the midst of significant restructuring - changes that are already creating ripple effects for disabled communities. While systemic improvements are a long-term goal, the immediate impacts cannot be ignored. The Disability Support Services (DSS) Taskforce, a cornerstone of these changes, is reshaping how services are designed and delivered. For our community, this means uncertainty about access, quality of care, and howwell these reforms align with the principles of the New Zealand Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons (UNCRPD). This is why the Society’s role as advocates is more vital than ever. Research: A foundation for advocacy One of the defining aspects of effective advocacy is the development of Aotearoa New Zealand-specific research that highlights the challenges faced by our community. Teams across the country have been working on several projects that resonate with the priorities expressed by our members. Research gives us the ability to speak with specificity, backed by numbers and evidence, about the systemic gaps we are asking to be addressed. Teams across the country have been working on several projects that resonate with the priorities expressed by our members. These include: • Piloting regional hubs to support neonates at risk of CP • Training health professionals on the use of tools for early detection of CP • Studying the impact of respiratory and oral health for people with CP • Developing prototypes for 3D-printed equipment to address long waiting lists for items like ankle- foot orthoses (AFOs) • Exploring the practicalities of delivering intensive 16 | THE REVIEW MARCH 2025