To Have an 'Ordinary' Life - Kia Whai Oranga 'Noa'

Publications
To Have an 'Ordinary' Life - Kia Whai Oranga 'Noa'

Date of publication: September 2003

Summary
Publication availability
- Audio version of plain language summary
Publishing information
Background papers

Summary
A report to the New Zealand Minister of Health and the Minister for Disability Issues on community membership for adults with an intellectual disability.

This report from the National Health Committee (NHC) examines the barriers New Zealand adults with an intellectual disability face in trying to participate in society. It provides evidence for change and outlines practical steps to implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy (NZDS) - a rights-based blueprint that aims to achieve a society that highly values the lives of disabled people and enhances their full participation.

In considering the rights of citizenship of adults with an intellectual disability and who require government-funded support, the NHC looked at whether this group of people are accorded, and can access, the same rights and responsibilities as other New Zealanders and to what degree they are supported to lead the “ordinary” lives others take for granted.

The NHC concluded that in fact, the lives of such adults are very different from other New Zealanders and not consistent with the vision of the NZDS. It found this group of adults is seldom integrated into the community on their own terms, individual choices in the most fundamental of life decisions are not available to them and their aspirations and goals are not supported.

The NHC findings indicate that although services have sought to move away from institutional-based services, much of this has focused on removing bricks and mortar rather than on ensuring non-institutional support. Service purchase and provision has failed, the NHC found, to keep up with international best practice.

Among the NHC’s findings were disturbing systemic neglect of the development potential of this group, low levels of understanding among those in authority as to the impact of their decisions, high poverty levels, low educational opportunities, lack of purposeful futures and neglect of basic health needs.

The report details the actions the NHC believes are necessary to align the lives of adults with an intellectual disability with the government’s stated goals. Among those actions are a refocusing on the needs assessment process and upskilling of staff, the need to move away from the custodial model of service delivery, and addressing the neglect of basic health needs.

In undertaking this project, the NHC found a strong desire among people with an intellectual disability, their families, whanau and service providers to see meaningful changes occur. The NHC believes the advice in the report presents government with an opportunity to translate the vision of the NZDS into actions that will have a positive impact on the everyday lives of this group of people.

Publication availability
This publication is available in Word and PDF format below:

To Have an 'Ordinary' Life - Kia Whai Oranga 'Noa' (PDF, 797 KB)

Go to information about downloading publications

This publication is also available in hard copy. You can order a copy by emailing moh@wickliffe.co.nz or calling 04 496 2277 quoting HP number 3686. Please let us know your name, your physical address and how many copies you would like.

Audio version of the plain language summary
There is also a plain language summary version of this publication.

The audio version of the plain language summary can be downloaded in sections below:

Publishing information
Date of publication: September 2003

ISBN (Document): 0478-25239-X
ISBN (Web): 0478-25332-X

HP: 3686

Background papers
To Have An Ordinary Life – Background Papers. September 2003

Literature Reviews on Adults with an Intellectual Disability,Donald Beasley Institute. June 2003