21-03-2024, 02:19 PM
The changes have been slammed by those it affects.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/whanganui-...T2VZKPNPA/
"Whanganui disability advocates have slammed the Government’s changes to disability funding.
The Ministry of Disabled People announced this week new limits on what disabled people can buy with their funding.
Julian Emmett of Whanganui, who was born with cerebral palsy and has been a long-time advocate for disability access, said he was appalled to learn via social media about the allocations.
“It seems that these changes have been made without any consultation with the disability sector,” he said.
The ministry, which commissions support services for about 50,000 people and funds equipment for around 100,000 people, said there would be changes to the way equipment such as wheelchairs and home modifications were prioritised.
Disabilities Minister Penny Simmonds said there would not be a reduction in funding and the aim was to focus on the needs of people with disabilities.
Emmett said he was unsure how the changes would affect him personally.
“At the moment I’m more concerned about caregivers of children with disabilities and how they will be affected,” he said.
“I don’t know how the ministry could have arrived at their decisions without adequately consulting the people who will be affected.”
Emmett said the move “flies in the face” of the increased choice and control people had achieved in spending their support funding under an approach known as Enabling Good Lives."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/whanganui-...T2VZKPNPA/
"Whanganui disability advocates have slammed the Government’s changes to disability funding.
The Ministry of Disabled People announced this week new limits on what disabled people can buy with their funding.
Julian Emmett of Whanganui, who was born with cerebral palsy and has been a long-time advocate for disability access, said he was appalled to learn via social media about the allocations.
“It seems that these changes have been made without any consultation with the disability sector,” he said.
The ministry, which commissions support services for about 50,000 people and funds equipment for around 100,000 people, said there would be changes to the way equipment such as wheelchairs and home modifications were prioritised.
Disabilities Minister Penny Simmonds said there would not be a reduction in funding and the aim was to focus on the needs of people with disabilities.
Emmett said he was unsure how the changes would affect him personally.
“At the moment I’m more concerned about caregivers of children with disabilities and how they will be affected,” he said.
“I don’t know how the ministry could have arrived at their decisions without adequately consulting the people who will be affected.”
Emmett said the move “flies in the face” of the increased choice and control people had achieved in spending their support funding under an approach known as Enabling Good Lives."
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)