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The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia says International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an important day for recognising the rights of disabled people and the need to change attitudes and behaviours towards those who live with disability.

Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all is the theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2013.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced terms of reference and timeframes have been set for a review into building access for disabled people.

The review will look at how the Building Act and Building Code’s provisions relating to access for people with disabilities are being implemented when buildings are first constructed or altered.

The Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia has reiterated her call for all public transport companies to review their policies and provide staff training immediately following further reports of incidents of discriminatory treatment of disabled people and those with pushchairs.

“I was very alarmed at news reports that disabled passengers and those with children and pushchairs are experiencing discrimination while trying to board buses in the Hutt Valley and Wellington,” says Minister Turia.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced a review has begun into building access for disabled people.

The review will look into how New Zealand Standard 4121, which outlines how people with disabilities can access buildings, aligns with the Building Code and how the Code more generally represents the needs of disabled people.

Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia announced the introduction of a brand new service today to help make government services more accessible to Deaf people.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) is being progressively rolled out around the country in key government services. It connects a Deaf person to a New Zealand Sign Language interpreter based in an Auckland call centre via an internet video connection and to a face-to-face meeting with a government service worker.

The Minister for Disability Issues Tariana Turia announced today that Cabinet has approved a three-year demonstration of Enabling Good Lives in Christchurch, with work starting immediately.   

Christchurch school leavers with disabilities will be the first to benefit from Enabling Good Lives – a new way of supporting disabled people that offers people greater choice and control over the supports they receive and the lives they lead. 

Minister of Disability Issues Tariana Turia has commended the courage of disabled people living in Gisborne and Tairawhiti for sharing their stories in research released today, The Hidden Abuse of Disabled People Residing in the Community; an exploratory study by Tairawhiti Community Voice and Dr Michael Roguski.

“The report is a brave account of experiences of disabled persons living in residential services, institutions, homes and the community,” said Mrs Turia.

The Government has committed to a number of initiatives in Budget 2013 to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities, Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia says.

The Minister for Disability Issues, Tariana Turia has called for Tauranga Bus Company ‘Go Bus’ and all public transport companies to review its policies and provide staff training immediately following a third incident of discriminatory treatment of a disabled resident trying to board a bus.

“I’m alarmed that within the space of a few months two disabled passengers have experienced discrimination while trying to board Bay Hopper buses,” says Minister Turia.

Senior Citizens Minister Jo Goodhew and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia are pleased to announce the funding of a new advisory service available to Canterbury people planning to re-build or renovate their earthquake damaged homes.

The Office for Senior Citizens and the Ministry of Health are providing a total of $99,000 funding to Enable New Zealand for a free professional advisory service on sustainable housing design.