May 4th 2015
Press release for immediate use

Attitudes to disability need to change

Disabled people still experience serious barriers that prevent them from fully participating in society and feeling accepted, according to two new reports. Based on interviews with disabled people, the reports share examples where people feel their human rights have not been respected. As well as sharing their experiences, the disabled people interviewed called for a change in attitudes to disability, greater awareness throughout society and a more accessible New Zealand for all.

The first report, Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand: Participation and Poverty, highlights barriers that can prevent disabled people from fully participating in society. Barriers are identified in many different areas of life including transport, public buildings, workplaces, technology, housing, cultural life and sport. The report also considers the impact of poverty on disabled people.

The second report is Disability Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand: Acceptance in Society. In this report, disabled people explain the impact of discrimination and other people’s attitudes. Many of the disabled people interviewed have felt judged by the general public because of their disability. They report that this makes them feel excluded and often stops them from participating in activities. Some complain of being seen as different, or requiring ‘extra’ rights, when they are only asking to have the same basic human rights as non-disabled people. The report suggests that disabled people in New Zealand are being treated in ways that would not be acceptable to non-disabled people.

The information collected in both reports will be used to monitor how well New Zealand is implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The reports are produced by a coalition of disabled people’s organisations – the Article 33 New Zealand Convention Coalition Monitoring Group. Article 33.3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that people with disabilities must be fully involved in monitoring the Convention.

The reports are available online at http://www.dpa.org.nz/page/130/NewZealandConventionCoalitionMonitoringGroup.html

ENDS

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