Day 170 - The Star - Opinion: disabled left in limbo by frontline cuts

Opinion: disabled left in limbo by frontline cuts

By: Ingrid Leary Labour MP for Taieri

The Star: 5 September 2024

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse or any more cruel from this National government, media this week reported a leaked document revealing a freeze on new residential support for many disabled people.

A leaked copy of guidelines issued by Whaikaha Ministry for Disabled People said there would be no net increase in residential places while the freeze was in place.

This means families going through the process of applying for government-funded or supported residential accommodation for siblings or children are now left completely in limbo. As are those with high-needs children who were relying on residential care down the track, or parents who can currently look after children but may not be able to do so in future due to their own health needs, or changed circumstances.

It’s causing huge anxiety among my constituents, therefore I was grateful to host my colleague Priyanca Radhakrishnan at the Labour Rooms in South Dunedin last week, to hold a public forum for the disabled community, as well as a second meeting with community service providers.

The purpose of both was to exchange information, so that we can answer community questions, hold the government to account, and co-create meaningful policies for when Labour returns to government by 2026.

Despite the austerity measures being imposed across all agencies, the National government pretends there are no cuts "to the frontline".

The disabled community have felt it hardest, losing frontline support when the government made the brash decision to cut flexible funding for carers.

As well as the proposed freeze to residential care, National has announced the end of Whaikaha, the ministry tasked with increasing choice and control for disabled New Zealanders, as well as their access to services.

The public service cuts started with border workers.

For months New Zealanders had been told by the government there would be no cuts to the frontline, and then we found out some of the people who work to prevent drugs and pests coming into New Zealand were losing their jobs.

Then it was reading recovery teachers. The people who had been helping teach kids to read for 50 years, and in many cases much-loved specialist teachers who are now being forced into retirement.

Then the government stopped filling doctors and nursing roles. They made big claims saying they were investing properly in the health system, but instead they’re shrinking the workforce to cut costs and putting even more pressure on the system. GPs have been forced to put the price of seeing the doctor up just to cover costs.

We found out about reductions at the suicide prevention office, and jobs being disestablished in the teams that deal with child exploitation, anti-terrorism and online harm. At the same time, up to 190 frontline providers who work with vulnerable children, women and families have had their government funding stopped, and a further 142 have had their funding reduced.

The government continues to claim frontline services would not be touched

Christopher Luxon said they would be "protected" and when Nicola Willis was asked time and time again if there would be any new cuts to frontline services, she said "I make that promise".

What is absolutely clear not even a year into the coalition government, is National has no plans to keep the promises it made to New Zealanders about frontline services, and every plan to keep cutting them.

Last Updated 9/09/2024

Resources

• https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/opinion-disabled-left-limbo-frontline-cuts

Day 104 - ODT - Minister tells DCC most needy must be prioritised

Minister tells DCC most needy must be prioritised

By: Grant Miller

ODT: 2 July 2024

The Dunedin City Council has been told government support for disability services has to give priority to people with the highest needs.

Increasing costs had led to some difficult decisions, Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston said.

This included reducing some aspects of flexibility for purchasing rules, which happened "alongside the very urgent need to ensure the [Ministry of Disabled People — Whaikaha] could continue to fund critical equipment and modification services".

The government provided additional funding for the ministry to make up for the deficit in the disability support system in the financial year just completed, Ms Upston said.

Ms Upston wrote to Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich last month after he had written to her on behalf of the council in May.

Her letter came up at a council meeting last week, prompting the Otago Daily Times to request a copy.

"Demand for disability support services is increasing and the cost of delivering those services is also increasing year on year", she wrote.

"The ministry has work to do to ensure it can continue to provide disability [support] in an affordable and equitable way."

Mr Radich wrote to Ms Upston after a notice of motion put up by Cr Mandy Mayhem was passed by the council.

The new restrictions had removed mileage allowances, cut accommodation support, reduced purchases and forced changes to equipment and home-modification priorities — all of which were previously a life-saver for disabled individuals and their families, Cr Mayhem said at the council meeting.

Cr Carmen Houlahan said at the meeting the changes to purchasing rules had "put fear into every member of the disability community".

The issue was personal for her, as she had a son with disability needs.

Ms Upston referred to a review that had been announced.

It is expected to advise on pressure the disability support system is under and provide recommendations about how services could be sustained in the long term.

Last Updated 02/07/2024

RESOURCES

• https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/minister-tells-dcc-most-needy-must-be-prioritised

• Dunedin City Council

Day 76 - ODT - Calm protest, high stakes over disability support

Calm protest, high stakes over disability support

By: Grant Miller

ODT: Monday, 03/06/2024

Amy Taylor (right), of Mosgiel, speaks at a disability funding protest in the George St play space, Dunedin, on Saturday. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

Marching was replaced by what was described as a sensory-friendly protest in a Dunedin play space, but the messaging remained consistent.

People with disabilities and advocates for the sector wanted reassurance government funding would be both sufficient and accessible in useful and empowering ways.

They gathered on Saturday at the recently opened George St play space after two previous protest marches in the city.

Saturday’s protest was designed to be more accessible and comfortable for everybody, including for neurodiverse people more at ease in a calm sensory environment.

The protests have been held since changes were made to disability support purchasing rules in March amid budget pressures.

This was viewed by the sector as inhibiting funding flexibility established since the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

An independent review has since been announced into disability support services funded by Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People and the government’s Budget last week included a five-year $1.1 billion funding boost.

As things stand, there are no plans to reverse the changes to purchasing rules.

Protest organiser Amy Taylor said it was unclear how the $1.1b might be spent.

"It’s difficult to say what the money means", Dr Taylor said.

The government had earlier reverted to a prescriptive model and "cut the flexibility to the point where we can’t spend our funding", she said.

Dr Taylor, who is also a wife and mother, said support was structured in a way that created a disincentive for people with disabilities to form relationships.

Disabled Persons Assembly policy adviser Chris Ford said there was relief about the funding package, but flexibility for how disability support was provided was still missing.

Dunedin city councillor Mandy Mayhem said one in four people had a disability and in many cases disabilities were hidden.

"We need to support our most vulnerable", she said.

Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston last week said the Budget provided significant investment for support services to improve the lives of disabled people and their families.

"The coalition government wants the best outcomes for the disability community, which is why we are prioritising the essential frontline services they rely on", she said.

"It’s important we provide disabled Kiwis with ongoing support that meets their needs and helps them lead a good life."

grant.miller@odt.co.nz

Day 46 - Dunedin Protest 1 June

Dunedin Disability Funding Cuts Sensory Friendly Protest 

Join us for a sensory friendly protest of the 18 March Whaikaha, Ministry of Disabled People, Funding Cuts.

Date: 1 June

Time: 11 am

Where: the new accessible playground on George Street, Dunedin.

We will not be chanting or having formal speeches. This will be a relaxed protest where we just hold banners, show our presence as disabled people and enjoy the playground. There will be a five minute silence for those who can’t be with us and to symbolise how our voices have been silenced, followed by an opportunity for disabled people and care givers to share their stories. Everyone is Welcome.

We welcome everyone to our protests however we are focused on and united by disability rights. This is not an event to champion other causes.

Dunedin Funding Cuts Protest Group

Contact: Amy Taylor amytaylordisabilityadvocate@gmail.com

Day 41 - DCC - Dunedin City Council calls on government to reverse the funding cuts.

Dunedin City Council calls on government to reverse the funding cuts

YouTube: 30/04/2024

Tonight's meeting of the Dunedin City Council voted to support a motion by Councilor Mayhem for the Council to call on the government to reverse the changes to funding for disabled people.

Presentation by DPA member Chris Ford to the councilors at 6 minutes into the meeting.

The discussion 4 hours and 13 minutes into the meeting.

Day 31 - ODT - Disability advocates protest policy changes

Disability advocates protest policy changes

By Matthew Littlewood

ODT: Saturday, 20 April 2024

Dunedin's disabled community is calling on the government to reverse changes to access funding and restore their autonomy.

Yesterday, more than 80 people joined a march from the Meridian Mall to the Octagon to protest the government’s changes to access funding.

Disability Issues Minister Penny Simmonds has said there have been "no changes to funding" of the disability support appropriation, and the changes were "simply about ensuring the funding allocated to disabled people is actually being used for that purpose".

But protest organiser Dr Amy Taylor disputed this.

"We've lost a lot of flexibility.

"They've tried to clarify things; but they're still as clear as mud.

"We don't have a lot of autonomy as disabled people. "Ideally, we would like to spend our money as best we can.

"We shouldn't be told by some bureaucrats in Wellington what we need."

Removing the flexibility leads to an "incredibly narrow" type of assistance, she said.

[PHOTO]

A protest group advocating for the disabled community marched to the Octagon yesterday. Photo: Peter McIntosh

"People are not able to leave the city with a carer any more; that’s not possible.

"People aren’t allowed to use the funding to purchase glucose monitors for diabetics ... you can spend it on support workers, but it’s not enough: $80 per day doesn't pay anyone’s salary."

Protester Emily McClelland said the changes affected her family, because her 11-year-old daughter Liliana had a lot of "additional needs".

"It’s limited our options as to how she can be cared for.

"I would to see like the reversal of all the changes."

Ms Simmonds has said in Parliament there were a small proportion of people who were accessing the funding for care services such as massages, hairdressers, pedicures and other appearance or therapeutic services, or for purchasing Lotto tickets.

Ms McClelland said this claim was "nonsense".

Dunedin MP Rachel Brooking also attended the protest in support.

"Governing MPs have seen there is disquiet among the community about these decisions; I'm always optimistic we can effect change.

"Congratulations to the disabilities communities for staying motivated; when government decisions such as these are very de-motivating."

Day 30 - Dunedin Disability Funding Cuts Protest

19 March 2024

There was a successful protest today against the disability funding cuts. Over 80 people in Dunedin marched from Meridian Mall to the Lower Octagon.

Photo by Mandy Mayhem-Bullock

Photo by Mark McGuire

Photo by Mark McGuire

Photo by Mark McGuire

Photo by Mark McGuire

Last Updated 20/04/2024

RESOURCES

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Day 17 - Dunedin Disability Funding Cuts Protest on April 19

Dunedin Disability Funding Cuts Protest

11.40 am, Friday, 19 April 2024

Meridian Mall, 285 George St, Dunedin.

Join us as we again protest the recent cuts to disability funding. Please support your local disabled community who have been undermined by the coalition government cuts to funding flexibility.

Schedule:

• 11:40 am: Meet outside Meridian Mall

• 12 pm: March to Octagon

• 12:30pm: Speeches in the lower Octagon

Masks Encouraged.

Image description: a rainbow style wheelchair with the text Dunedin Disability Funding Cuts Protest.

Contact: Amy Taylor

Email:  amytaylordisabilityadvocate@gmail.com

RESOURCES

• Facebook https://fb.me/1RVPnN8u1KiGqsy

Day 12 - ODT - Disabled community protests funding rules, cuts

Disabled community protests funding rules, cuts

ODT 30/04/2024

By Mark John

 

Click here to watch this video > Dunedin's disabled community feels dismissed and undervalued by the government’s recently announced funding reductions.

The Ministry of Disabled People announced funding changes on March 18, including new limits on what disabled people could buy and changes to the way equipment was prioritised.



Members of Dunedin’s disabled community march down George St on Thursday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

Protest organiser Dr Amy Taylor said the community was angry that their flexibility and funding had been taken away from them.

"We felt dismissed, we didn’t feel valued as members of society.

"I mean it’s our funding, we know what we need it for — they don’t, how can they possibly know. They don’t live our lives."


Protesters outside Minister for Disabilities Penny Simmonds’ electorate office in Invercargill on Thursday morning. PHOTO: TONI MCDONALD

She said she did not get any funding as a wheelchair user herself but did receive child disability allowance for her two children who both had ADHD.

"I was really hoping because we’d had a referral for carer’s support that I would be able to get some support to care for my two ADHD children, as a wheelchair user it’s not easy.

"But increasingly it’s looking like that might not even be possible."

She said she was worried she would not have the funding to be able to continue using tools to help her look after her children.

Amy Taylor. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

Dr Taylor said she did not have confidence in the Minister for Disabilities, Penny Simmonds, but blamed the coalition government which had made some "serious mistakes".

The protest was also attended by Dunedin City Council councillors Sophie Barker, Carmen Houlahan and Christine Garey.

A protest was also held outside Ms Simmonds’ electorate office in Invercargill on Thursday morning.

mark.john@odt.co.nz

Day 10 - Facebook - Dunedin Protest held today in the Octogon

Here are some photos taken from the Facebook Event page for the protest held today on the Lower Octogon in wet weather. I will add more information as it becomes available.

Media - ODT

The Otago Daily Times is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. The ODT is one of the country's four main daily newspapers, serving the southern South Island with a circulation of around 26,000 and a combined print and digital annual audience of 304,000. Wikipedia

Owner(s): Allied Press

Founded: 1861

Circulation: 26,435 (2021)

Editor: Paul McIntyre

Format: Broadsheet

Published: Monday to Saturday

Reporters: Mark John, Fiona Ellis

RESOURCES

• www.odt.co.nz

• List of articles and programmes about the funding cuts

• Wikipedia

Day 7 - Facebook - Dunedin Protest on Thursday March 28

From Facebook

The recent funding changes brought in abruptly by Whāikaha - Ministry of Disabled People last week caused a huge amount of distress to the disabled community. They have taken our essential funding and flexibility away, making our already difficult lives impossible.

Please gather outside the Merdian Mall to protest the disability funding cuts. We will march to the Octagon at 12pm.

Latecomers can meet us in the Octagon.

We are aware that the town is currently undergoing multiple building works. Please make sure you take care of your personal safety along the protest route.

• Bring banners and loudspeakers if possible.
• Masking is encouraged to keep our vulnerable people safe and to encourage more people to attend.
• There is no expectation that anyone will stay for the whole event; we know you are busy folks. We have opened a wide window of time to accommodate as many people as possible.

Here is the schedule:
11:30 am - 12 pm: Meet outside the Merdian mall
12:00 pm -12:30 pm: March to the Octagon
12:30 pm -1:30pm: Be a visible presence in the Octagon with banners and chants.

Day 5 - ODT - Disability cuts are ‘devastating’, disabled Mosgiel mother says

Disability cuts are ‘devastating’, disabled Mosgiel mother says

By Fiona Ellis

Otago Daily Times 23 Mar, 2024 12:29 PM

A Mosgiel mother of two children with disabilities says she is devastated by “cuts to an already threadbare funding system”.

Dr Amy Taylor said disability funding was not sufficient to begin with — she herself had never received government support despite being a wheelchair user.

This follows the Ministry of Disabled People’s announcement of funding changes on Monday, including new limits on what disabled people could purchase, and changes to the way equipment was prioritised.

Dr Taylor, who is an executive committee member of the Disabled Persons Assembly, said the change came out of the blue with no consultation, and these were cuts to a threadbare system.

“It’s devastating.

“I think everybody is really feeling undermined.

“Basically there was never a generous provision for disabled people at all, and now they have decided to give us less with no justification other than they can’t manage their budget.”

She had two children who had severe ADHD and were both on a waiting list to receive carer support.

Her condition meant she was unable to walk more than a few steps, and parenting as a disabled person was not easy.

It was not yet clear exactly how the change would impact her family, and Dr Taylor said there may still be some support available, but not as much as expected.

“I don’t know how we’re supposed to live full lives.

“My children deserve to go to birthday parties, they deserve to go to the mall, all the things that normal little kiddies do, they deserve to be able to do it too.

“Without having somebody help me, and being able to pay that person a fair wage to help me, I don’t know how I’m supposed to make it work.”

Taieri Labour MP Ingrid Leary said she had been inundated with messages from disabled people and their carers.

“The sudden change to the criteria is nothing but a cut to services which are essential for the wellbeing of members of the community,” she said.

Those who looked after loved ones often did heavy lifting and experienced sleep deprivation. They needed respite, physio and other services to support them — to imply they were living the high life at the expense of taxpayers was insulting.

Amy Taylor says sudden government changes to disability funding have left those impacted feeling undermined. Photo / Linda Robertson

A statement on the ministry’s website said it was not reducing funding but was clarifying what disabled people could purchase.

The ministry also said it would be prioritising equipment and modification services according to who needed them the most.

Disability Issues Minister Penny Simmonds said funding for disability support services had “blown out” under the previous Government, shifting from no flexibility to “total flexibility”.

“What we are saying is prioritise the funding for people with disabilities,” she said on Tuesday.

“Some of the funding has been going to carers — that has to be pulled back and prioritised to the disabled person.”