People First says, “Sort it out.”

People First says, “Sort it out.”

Members of People First New Zealand Inc., a national self advocacy organisation for people with intellectual disability are distressed and feeling uncertain about the future of their support services after today’s announcement of IHC being forced to put its trading companies into statutory management.

Graeme Parish, National Chairperson states, “Many thousands of people with intellectual disability are now worried and the government needs to sort this issue out. Our members want our support staff to be paid fairly for the work they do but this money needs to come from the government.”

People First are aware that this is not a new issue and that it has been raised many times over the past 9 years but has been ignored by successive governments.

Cindy Johns, National Manager comments, “It is a sad day when an organisation such as IHC is forced into a position through the inadequacy of government funding. While at the moment it is just IHC, this issue has the potential to affect over 100 similar providers and many many people with intellectual disabilities and their families.”

People First NZ urges the government to show leadership on behalf of all people with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand, and to act with urgency on this issue to enable people with intellectual disabilities and their families to get on with their lives.

ENDS

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