DPA's Information Exchange - 29 May 2021

• Covid-19 vaccinations - more info
• Bubble Hui for Māori members
• Transport workshops - Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whangarei, Hamilton
• Using Healthcare Services in the Community - a new resource
• Abuse in Care - Auckland disability hui

Covid-19 vaccinations - more info


Counties Manukau DHB area - Group 2

People living in the Counties Manukau DHB area and have an underlying health condition or disability are in Group 2.

If you are in this group and have not yet received a vaccination invite, you can call the vaccination helpline on 0800 282 926.


Clarification of eligibility criteria for Group 3 of vaccine roll-out

All DHBs have now begun vaccinating people in Group 3. Each DHB around New Zealand is managing the rollout of the vaccine in their area, so exactly how and when people are contacted may differ between regions. To find out more about how the vaccination rollout is being managed in your area see this vaccine rollout information by DHB 

Criteria for eligibility for Group 3 have now been clarified. This includes disabled people:

Disabled people, for the purposes of the COVID-19 vaccination, includes anyone who has an impairment that:

• is expected to last for 6 months or longer, and
• limits your ability to carry out daily activities and/or participate in society on an equal basis to others. This can be due to the interaction of your impairment with societal and environmental barriers such as inaccessibility, rather than caused by the impairment itself.

This includes impairments that are:

• physical
• neurological
• mental/psychiatric
• intellectual
• sensory
• other types of impairment.

People are not required to provide proof of disability, such as a medical certificate. This means you can decide yourself whether you are disabled, using the definition provided.

People with some underlying health conditions are also included in Group 3 including anyone who is eligible for a publicly funded influenza vaccine, people diagnosed with severe mental illness and people who are severely obese (defined as a BMI ≥40)

Supported decision-making guidance and tools - Easy Read

Easy Read guidance and practical tools for supporting disabled people with decision-making and consent are now available on the MoH website: Supported decision-making guidance and tools


Explore resources - Preparing for the Covid-19 Vaccination

Explore Specialist Advice NZ has developed a new resource built to assist people and families who might need extra support and strategies to have a successful vaccination experience: Preparing for the Covid-19 Vaccination

Bubble Hui for Maori members


Our next Bubble Hui will be held specifically for our Māori members. 

DPA want to hear what issues are important to our Māori members and what DPA needs to do to advocate for change.

We also want to develop a strategy for empowering Māori members – and for our Māori membership to lead the way in this.

What can DPA do to support the empowerment of our Maori members?

Should we have a Māori membership stream / working group? And what would this look like?

Should we have dedicated places reserved on our National Executive Committee for Māori members?

What does our Māori membership exercising Tino Rangatiratanga within DPA look like?  

When: Thursday 3 June
What time: 5.00pm  – 6.30pm
Where: Zoom (all current Māori members will be emailed a link)

-This hui will be facilitated by NEC member Helena Tuteao
-NZSL interpreters will be present at this event
-This is a national event, members from around the country are invited to attend

All current Māori DPA members should have already received an invite to this hui. If you are a Māori member and didn't receive the invite, please let us know info@dpa.org.nz 

Do you want to join in but are not a DPA member? Joining is easy and free – go to http://www.dpa.org.nz/join-dpa/introduction to sign up.

Transport workshops - Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whangarei, Hamilton

As our transport workshops continue, registration is still open for our in-person workshops in Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Whangarei and Hamilton.

The workshops are part of a series of workshops that DPA, together with transport consultancy MRCagney, are holding as part of research we are conducting on behalf of Waka Kotahi, NZ Transport Agency - "Understanding the transport experiences of disabled people, determining what barriers exist for people wanting to use Total Mobility and exploring new opportunities"

Palmerston North Workshop

This in-person workshop is for disabled people from Palmerston North, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Claudia Christensen from DPA. 

When: 10.30am – 12.00pm, 31 May 
Where: Hancock Community House,77-85 King Street, Palmerston North
Register: To take part register online for the Palmerston Transport Workshop


New Plymouth Workshop

This in-person workshop is for disabled people from New Plymouth, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Prudence Walker from DPA.

When: 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 1 June
Where: CCS Disability Action,114 Vivian Street, New Plymouth
Register: To take part register online for the New Plymouth Transport Workshop


Whangārei Workshop

This in-person workshop is for disabled people from Whangārei, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Paul Brown from DPA.

When: 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 8 June
Where: Whangarei RSA, 16 Hannah Street, Whangārei
Register: To take part register online for the Whangārei Transport Workshop


Hamilton Workshop

This in-person workshop is for disabled people from Hamilton, with any type of impairment. It will be co-facilitated by Isabella Cawthorn, of Confluence Consulting, and Joy Ho from DPA.

When: 1.00pm – 2.30pm, 10 June
Where: Speights Ale House, 30 Liverpool Street, Hamilton
Register: To take part register online for the Hamilton Transport Workshop


All workshop participants will be offered a $20 koha for participating, in the form of vouchers. If you require financial assistance with transport costs to attend any of these workshop, please get in touch - paul.brown@dpa.org.nz.

If you have any questions about any of these workshops, please contact DPA Policy Advisor Paul Brown - paul.brown@dpa.org.nz

Using Healthcare Services in the Community - a new resource

The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) has produced a new booklet called “Using Healthcare Services in the Community”. The booklet has been developed after consultation with disability groups and older people (50+) , with input from community healthcare services.

The booklet has information on what is available and what you can expect when you use some community healthcare services. It covers various services including:

• General practices
• Pharmacies
• Home and community supports

The “Using Healthcare Services in the Community” booklet has tips on how to prepare for appointments and a glossary of words including some in te reo Māori.

You can download and print the booklet from the HDC website 

A limited number of printed booklets will be available from DPA’s Wellington office, or you can order a booklet online free of charge from HDC’s website.

HDC is also working on smaller pamphlet versions of the booklet, an Easy Read version and a New Zealand Sign Language version. These will be available in the coming weeks.

Abuse in Care - Auckland disability hui

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care would like to invite you to their Auckland hui.

This is for people who are part of or connected to the learning disability, neurodiverse and cognitive impairment community and will be:

This will be an opportunity for people to learn more about the inquiry and explore ways to support people within your networks to engage if they would like.

When: Tuesday 15 June 2021
Time:    10.00am - 12.30pm. (Feel free to arrive anytime from 9.30 onwards for tea and coffee)
Where: Mary Thomas Centre, 3 Gibbons Road, Takapuna, Auckland.

Easy Read invite to 15 June Community Hui (Word Doc)

There is a following hui on the 6 July. This is for people who identify as part of the learning disability, neurodiverse and cognitive impairment community and their supporters.

This will be an opportunity for people talk about 

• what abuse and neglect means
• who to tell if it has happened to you
• what you think helps people feel safe to speak up.

 
When:   Tuesday 6 July 2021
Time:    10.00am – 3.00pm (Feel free to arrive anytime from 9.30 onwards for tea and coffee)
Where:  Glenfield Community Centre, Corner of Bentley Avenue and Glenfield Road, Glenfield, Auckland    
 
Easy Read invite 6 July Disability Hui (Word Doc)

The commission are aware that Auckland is very large and that travel to the north of Auckland may be a barrier for people attending. It is their plan to return to other areas of Auckland throughout the year.