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The next round of the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund opens for applications today, Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner has announced.

“NZSL is central to Deaf culture and identity, and is crucial to Deaf people’s ability to communicate and fully participate in society,” Ms Wagner says.

“The second round of the NZSL Fund seeks proposals for NZSL community-led projects that strengthen NZSL, especially in the home, within whānau, hapū and iwi, and within the Deaf community.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today released the updated Disability Action Plan 2014 – 2018 and announced the first steps in the revision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

“The Disability Action Plan brings together multiple government agencies to act on disability issues and is jointly governed with Disabled People’s Organisations. It was updated to make sure it was relevant and focused on the issues that are the most important to disabled people and the disability sector,” Ms Wagner says.

ACC Minister Nikki Kaye and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner have congratulated the winners of last night’s Attitude Awards, which recognise exceptional contributions made by New Zealanders who live with disabilities.

“ACC is the principal sponsor of the Attitude Awards, which promote positive role models and celebrate people living with a disability who are achieving great things,” Ms Kaye says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated globally on 3 December every year.

“This year’s theme, ‘Inclusion matters’, reflects what I hear loud and clear from disabled New Zealanders; disabled people want to be included and want the opportunity to live an ordinary life,” Ms Wagner says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today announced the release of the updated Disability Action Plan 2014-2018 for the second round of public consultation.

“This is about making sure the Plan remains relevant and focuses on what will make the most difference for disabled people. Feedback from the first round of public consultation has been incorporated into the updated Plan,” Ms Wagner says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the start of consultation for the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Board’s three year action plan.

“New Zealand Sign Language is vitally important for the thousands of New Zealanders who use it as their primary form of communication,” Ms Wagner says.

"The Government is committed to promoting and maintaining the use of NZSL as one of New Zealand's official languages. The NZSL Board and the NZSL Fund were established to help support this commitment.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says the first annual update of the Disability Action Plan 2014-2018 will help government agencies work together on actions that are important to disabled people.

“The Disability Action Plan sets out four priority areas for disabled people; increase employment and economic opportunities, ensure personal safety, transform the disability support system, and promote access in the community,” Ms Wagner says.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry and Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner congratulate the winners of the eighth annual Arts Access Awards for their work in providing access to the arts.

“The Arts Access Awards celebrate the individuals, community groups and organisations that provide opportunities for people with limited access to engage with the arts, both as audience and artist,” Ms Barry says.

“It was a very impressive occasion, and a reminder of the vibrancy and diversity of the creative arts sector.”

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today announced the first 14 grants for community projects from the newly established New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says the release of the Government response to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reaffirms New Zealand’s position as a world leader on disability issues.

As part of the Government response, Ms Wagner also announced the formation of a new interagency Disability Data and Evidence Working Group.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says the Conference of States Parties was an opportunity to exchange ideas with other countries and support the campaign for Robert Martin, New Zealand’s candidate to the Committee for the Rights of Persons with D

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

I am delighted to be attending my first Conference of States Parties in my role as Minister for Disability Issues. This is a role which allows me to advocate for persons with disabilities at the highest levels of Government.

The New Zealand Government warmly welcomes the appointment of Ms Catalina Devandas Aguilar as Special Rapporteur on Disability. We believe her wide and long standing experience working for the rights of persons with disabilities will serve her well in this important role.

Disability Issues Minister and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner will travel tomorrow to the United States to attend the Conference of States Parties (COSP) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. COSP is the annual meeting for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD).

“New Zealand is considered a world leader in disability issues. The Conference of States Parties is the pre-eminent annual disability-related event, and is an opportunity to promote New Zealand’s achievements and discuss ideas on the world stage,” Ms Wagner says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today announced the appointment of the 10 founding members of the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Board.

“The establishment of the New Zealand Sign Language Board is an opportunity to promote and maintain one of our three official languages,” Ms Wagner says.

“I am looking forward to working with the Board’s founding members to help improve the lives of New Zealand Sign Language users.

The New Zealand Sign Language Board members are:

Disabled students with high needs will receive more support to transition from school to adult life, Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says.

Budget 2015 delivers an additional $16.3 million over the next four years for participation and inclusion services for students with disabilities leaving school and entering the Very High Needs Scheme.

“The extra support will make a difference to the quality of life for around 300 young people facing significant challenges,” Ms Wagner says.

The Government is welcoming NZ on Air’s decision to allocate a further $400,000 for increased TV caption and audio services.

NZ On Air will provide the additional funding to Able, a charitable trust which will deliver an increase in captioned and audio described content.

Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams says the funding will mean a greater number of programmes on free-to-air television will be accessible to the hearing and vision impaired.  

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner encourages people from all walks of life to celebrate, communicate and connect with New Zealand’s Deaf Community during the upcoming New Zealand Sign Language Week.

“New Zealand Sign Language Week is a chance to celebrate one of our three official languages, and one that is used by over 20,000 New Zealanders every day,” Ms Wagner says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner today announced that applications are being sought for grants from the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Fund.

“New Zealand Sign Language is incredibly valuable for the more than 20,000 New Zealanders who use it to communicate with their loved ones,” Ms Wagner says.

“These include the deaf community, non-verbal people and their families and friends.

“The NZSL Fund has been established to support projects that enable the Deaf community and NZSL users to promote and maintain the Language.

Data released today about the use of Ministry of Health-funded disability support services will help ensure that disabled New Zealanders are receiving the best services, says Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

The demographic data, which has been made publically available for the first time, gives detailed information about the age, ethnicity, marital status, accommodation, deprivation levels and disability types of people using ministry-funded disability support services.

The data will put disabled people at the centre of decision-making, Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says her meeting with Australian counterpart Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield in Melbourne was an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest, including enabling disabled people to get into work and providing ch

Customs Minister and Minister for Disability Issues Nicky Wagner will travel tomorrow to Australia to visit her counterparts and foster trans-Tasman cooperation across both portfolios.

“New Zealand Customs and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service enjoy a strong relationship and work collaboratively to ensure effective border management in both countries,” Ms Wagner says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says World Autism Awareness Day is an opportunity to celebrate people with Autism Spectrum Disorder while highlighting ways to improve their quality of life.

“The theme for this World Autism Awareness Day is Employment. The skills, knowledge and unique perspectives of people with ASD that can be brought to the work place are great assets we can make better use of,” Ms Wagner says.

Minister for Disability Issues Nicky Wagner today encouraged nominations to the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Board to help NZSL users reach their potential.

“New Zealand Sign Language is one of our three official languages and is used by over 20,000 people throughout the country. The establishment of the Board is an opportunity to promote and maintain the use of NZSL,” Ms Wagner says.

Disability Issues Minister Nicky Wagner says the Government wants to hear from families, children and service providers involved with supporting disabled children, as part of a review of the system for voluntary out-of-home placements.

“All parents want what is best for their children. In a small number of cases severely disabled children, who can no longer be cared for at home, are cared for in voluntary out-of-home placements. This review is about ensuring that the needs of the child always come first,” Ms Wagner says.