Hard News by Russell Brown

Thanks Robyn. There has been a similar thing happening in disability research and research funding. It is very little out there for social model disability research.

These are basically political decisions. The ODI was set up by the last Labour Government after a long period of consultation between disability activists like you and some politicians, and as a result of our first NZ Disability Strategy in 2001. That was followed by some dedicated research funding for disability topics (preferably done by disabled researchers or at least undertaken and supervised by those with understanding of the social model) as our research knowledge of disability in NZ is minimal. But that dedicated research funding priority has long gone.

We can only hope that both disability leadership and research is championed by a future government. I see a disabled woman was recently elected in NSW. It can be done.

I particularly enjoyed the distinction between Deaf and disabled people (as in Deaf are not disabled). Thank you, Robyn. 9 years on the Deaf Aotearoa executive was eyeopening as to how many in the disability sector disregard the UNCRPD "nothing about us without us" with impunity.

Well said, Robyn. I'd be ashamed to be working in government now. No progress at all since I left in 2005.

Meanwhile, those on the autistic spectrum also continue to languish. There's hope on the horizon though, with Specialisterne Oz looking for a NZ partnership.