Disability strategy launched

New Zealand's first Disability Strategy has been launched by the Government with the aim of removing the barriers which prevent disabled people from participating fully in society.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the strategy gives the Government a basis to deal with disability issues across agencies, policies, services, and legislation.

It outlines fifteen objectives in areas such as human rights, social attitudes, education and employment, recreation and lifestyle, information, public services and support systems.

Government departments will prepare annual work plans outlining how they intend implementing the strategy.

Eleven departments will develop work plans over the coming year, and all government departments will develop annual work plans from next year.

Departments' performances will be monitored, with input from disabled people, and the overall progress on implementing the strategy will be reviewed after five and ten years.

Minister for Disability Issues Lianne Dalziel said the 700 submissions the Government had received on the strategy showed the high level of interest in it.