Urgent action needed from the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues

16 June 2009

“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).

Disability Group says Police Cells, Hospitals and Residential Homes not fit for Teenager with Autism
27 March 2009
CCS Disability Action believes that police cells, hospitals and residential homes are not suitable places to keep teenagers. The comment follows the treatment of an 18-year-old woman with an Autism Spectrum Disorder who was locked up in Nelson police cells and then sent to a specialist hospital for mental health patients after her mother reported that her daughter had attacked her.

Teaching children with autism focus of new educational video
27 March 2009
An educational video focusing on teaching children with autism in New Zealand schools has just been released.  Autism at School includes case studies in mainstream primary and secondary schools, satellite classes and a special school.

NZ Crime and Safety Survey
The survey asks people how safe they feel within their community, if they have been the victim of any crime in the past year, and if so, what the effects were. It also asks about any contact people had with Police or support agencies as a result of being a victim of crime. The information from the survey is used to better inform the work by justice sector agencies to create safer neighbourhoods and communities. Attached is a short article on the survey.

New Zealand should follow Barack Obama for the sake of our Disabled Children
27 February 2009
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.

Women Less Likely to Illegally Park in Spaces for Disabled People than Men
17 February 2009
Research from CCS Disability Action has found that women are less likely to abuse parking spaces reserved for disabled people.

Disability Group Slams Rodney Hide
5 February 2009
Cabinet Minister Rodney Hide’s recent comments regarding building regulations have outraged the disability community in New Zealand.

CCS Disability Action Backs Council’s Footpath Crackdown
22 January 2009
CCS Disability Action is backing a new Wellington City Council campaign hoping to stop motorists from parking on footpaths across the city.