29 November 2004

Manukau City celebrates participation of disabled people and their support groups in the community

Friday, 3 December is International Day of Disabled People. On Saturday, 4 December, Manukau City Council will recognise the importance of disabled people to the Manukau community when it launches its Disability Policy and Action Plan for 2004/05. The Mayor of Manukau, Sir Barry Curtis, and the Minister for Disability Issues, the Hon Ruth Dyson, will speak at the launch.

The Council developed its Disability Policy in collaboration with disabled people in Manukau. The aim with the policy and action plan is to work toward creating an inclusive Manukau where all can participate.

Some 62,000 disabled people live in Manukau, and even more people are affected by disability as family/whanau, friends and people who give support to disabled people. Many of the Council's activities have a direct impact on the daily lives of all these people.

"Disabled people and those who support them are an important part of the Manukau community. Manukau City Council wants to support disabled people to share fully in our city's democratic processes and community life. This policy and its action plans will help us to make a real difference for disabled people living or working in, or visiting, Manukau," says Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis.

ENDS

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