We have formed an online Disability Advisory Group 

We the disabled community in New Zealand face a range of difficulties not faced by the average person or their families. Our group is formed to advise Councils on the concerns you may have, the idea here is to advise council what could be done better to ensure disabled people are included

I am one of the disabled people, I believe the disabled have a lot to contribute to the council planning. It is really difficult for the average normal person with a disability to get heard.

I am building this website as well as a facebook page. I need people to join me and speak about how your council can help. I will be loading links on this site which will make it easier for you to connect with the correct people at your local council.

We are on Facebook / Utube/ and most other social media platforms, just search for Disability Advisory Group

Members

CEO/Chairman
Glen McMillan

Vice Chairman
Vacant please contact me

Our intent

We need to get people to speak up and be heard democracy works when the people speak, there are a lot of disabled people in New Zealand we want to be included in society.

Each city

Each city in New Zealand should have its own online disability advisory groups, we need core groups, with each city having their own Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, We will use social media as well as this website to get our message across, the bigger cities should be able to muster at least 12 members but could listen to anybody able to get online.

Purpose

The purpose of the Online DAG is to provide a forum for people with disabilities to participate in the planning of Council services, projects, and activities in order to ensure that the needs of the wider disability community are taken into account.

Role

Advise and work with the Councils on the implementation of the Equity and Access for People with Disabilities Policy, and all other related policy-relevant to people with disabilities. If no current policy is relevant we should be able to suggest policy be made.

Advise on the most useful ways of communicating and consulting with the wider disabled community.

Provide feedback and advice on planning, reviewing, or the implementation of Council activities (projects and services) that relate to the broad spectrum of disability issues.

Help to determine the ongoing role and functioning of the disability advisory group. Checks should be made to ensure councils are acting on the advice they receive

Provide experience and inclusive practice advice, to the Councils. It is acknowledged that the group will not be experts on all disability matters.

It also needs to be acknowledged that the group representing councils will not be experts on all disability matters and will not have the benefit of the collective knowledge of those disabled people providing advice.

It would be expected that those representing councils listen and act if possible on the advice of the online DAG members.

Support the Council's community governance structure by providing advice about inclusive, resilient, and responsive communities for people with disabilities, and their families. The DAG supports the Council's commitment to consult and network with citizens and to involve the community in the decision-making.

The Council is committed to partnerships with most District Health Board's.

The Council employs inclusive communities coordinators to help address barriers to recreation/leisure participation for people with disabilities and to coordinate with disabled people. The Council's Inclusive Communities Coordinators provide staff support and advice to the DAG in relation to recreation and leisure participation.