Speech - 'Fly me to the moon' : Hutt Valley Disability Networking Forum

Hutt Valley Disability Networking Forum

Thursday 23 July 2009

Hutt Town Hall, Laings Road, Lower Hutt

Hon Tariana Turia; Minister of Disability Issues

 

‘Fly me to the moon’

 

I am delighted to be here today, to congratulate David Ogden, Mayor of Hutt City Council; and Wayne Guppy, Mayor of Upper Hutt City Council, for the example they are setting us all – about collaboration and cooperation in the best interests of the community.

 

In both the publication of the Hutt Valley Community Profile for 2009 – and specifically in this Hutt Valley Disability Networking Forum today - the message it is clear – working together; placing value on relationships and adopting a focus on sustainable, positive outcomes is the only way to go.

 

And of course in the context of recession, the joined-up approach makes sense in finding smarter, tighter ways of working.

 

It hasn’t just happened – I know the need for a networking forum for all groups engaged in the Disability field in the Hutt Valley has been on the table for at least two years – and so I want to acknowledge the importance of that consultation, and the value of your collective force.

 

 

It is also a great opportunity for me, as the new Minister of Disability issues, to float some of the ideas I have around this sector, and the aspirations I seek to achieve.

 

Right across the globe this week, people have been celebrating the 40th anniversary of the day two astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, landed their spacecraft on the Moon.

The airwaves have been crowded with memories of that fateful day in July 1969 when history was made.

 

We remember back to the two hour television spectacular in which two men bounced on the bumpy moon surface. There was radio contact and a historic phone call with US President Richard Nixon. Suddenly the universe became a whole lot closer.

 

But in the midst of the memoirs of the incredible technology; the wonder of man’s first step on the moon; one woman’s recollections really stood out.

 

She talked about walking outside and standing, in utter awe, looking up at the glowing face of the moon, and swallowing up the moment in all its glory.

 

She was enchanted by the sheer beauty of the moon which was such a natural part of her world – she didn’t need a tv set, a radio transmitter or a spacecraft to transport her to an outer galaxy – she had it all there, right in front of her.

 

I wanted to share this story, because to me it represents many of the things disabled people and their families have told me about their priorities.

 

So often when our focus is on the obstacles of a disabling society, we may overlook what is right around us; a community that cares.

 

It is about looking seeing the possibilities that are already there for a society which values all people, and which encourages and enhances full participation in the richness of life.

 

Of course the technologies; the strategies, the learning resources; the Braille; the audio aids; are important.

 

But just as important – if not more – is the strength evident in the friends, the family, the carers who help to make life distinctive.

 

I got to thinking about the symbolism of the moon a couple of months ago, in the promotions around Youth Week.

 

During that week, IHC featured the story of two young women, Holly and Natasha, who had come together through the IHC volunteer programme. Holly and Natasha meet up whenever they can – at a café; at the movies, or maybe a spot of shopping.

 

In talking about this friendship, IHC National Manager of Volunteering Karen Roberts said,

 

“We are not asking for the moon. Many young people with a disability are waiting for someone to call by and say, “hey, let’s hang out”.

 

What to many may seem ordinary – the opportunity to share time as friends – can seem to be right out of the picture.

 

This programme today, is the perfect example of finding the strengths all around us, and building on those strengths to ensure disabled people and their families are empowered to benefit from all the choices, the flexibility, the options and the innovation that we would hope for anyone.

 

It’s not about asking for the moon. It’s about realising the moon is already part of our world – all we need is the eyes to see that.

The programme for today celebrates the possibilities.

 

Raewyn Hailles and CCS Disability Action are sharing their excitement about the concept of an open space/ conversation – a world Café.

 

It’s about hanging out together, being united through Tai Chi; learning to read together; cherishing the special connections that are embraced within sexuality.

 

Roger Tweedy will demonstrate his enthusiasm for work-life balance. And the Whanau Trust will talk about the relationship between literacy and disability.

 

These are not ‘out there’ concepts – these are ordinary, every day experiences that any one of us should expect to be part of our lives. Our ambition must be to normalise these concepts; to encourage ongoing conversations and communications which enable disabled persons every opportunity to enjoy full participation in their communities.

 

One of the sad findings of the report, Living with Disability in New Zealand, was the fact that 48% of the parents or caregivers of children with a disability reported that they had been unable to get the respite care they needed.

 

How can this happen in a caring community? When did it become extra-ordinary to offer the practical support that our families need to get through each day?

 

I use this word, extraordinary, deliberately. I know that for many disabled peoples, the use of terminology such as ‘special’; ‘unique’; ‘extraordinary’ has been resisted. The fear is that in creating the impression that disabled peoples stand outside, apart, it creates distance and isolation.

 

Because in many respects, ‘ordinary’ is out of reach for many disabled persons. Some of the most moving stories I have heard, are the genuine desires of disabled persons to live an ordinary life. I have heard one man describing his ultimate fantasy would be to get married. For others, like Natasha it might be a trip to the mall.

 

And I have to ask, why does it have to be so hard?

 

I am seriously looking at the way in which the Needs Assessment Service Coordination currently works – whether families are receiving the appropriate support and resourcing they require.

 

I am also asking questions around individualised funding, and in particular, the request from many family members to be supported to care for their own.

 

It has never made any sense to me, that a complete stranger can be reimbursed for care, and yet family members have to jump through every hoop imaginable.

 

I look at some of the funding going into behaviour support services, to modify behaviours; and I wonder how much of these behaviours might disappear if the disabled person was able to be reunited and reconnected with their family support.

 

And I want to reinvest in our capacity for creating caring communities; for promoting whanau ora – ultimate wellbeing. Whanau ora is about the unique relationship between interdependence and independence, it is about whanau being entrusted to do what is right for their own.

 

I am inspired by the restoration of the role of whanau to care for their own with adequate resources, to enable the disabled, to be full participants in the world around them.

So I will be very interested to learn about the outcomes that come out of this day, to learn what are the key issues.

 

I want to hear from you, what are the greatest barriers to supporting disabled people in our schools, our workplaces, our communities. How do we create a better life? How do we shift attitudes?

 

What are the things we need to do, to ensure people with disabilities are able to live fulfilling lives? Who should we talk to? What are the connections we need to make?

 

I know that it is often when families are right at the point of desperation that they may contact support systems.

 

The United Nations Convention states that priority must be given to disabled children to stay connected with their families. We must restore to ourselves the confidence and the capacity to know that the greatest resource lies in the strength of our families.

 

That is why the connections you are making today are so vital. Because you are opening the door, to ensure families know they can continue to provide the care they need, to be strong, to stay resilient, to remain together.

 

Finally, it would be wonderful to hear at the end of this day, that you are prepared to make some leaps of faith, to do things differently, to look for new solutions.

 

Perhaps we all need a bit of courage to fly to the moon, to play among the stars. We need to reach out, to push to the limits, to enable disabled people to do for themselves.

 

We must refuse to stop dreaming. We must not just settle for ordinary – we must aim to be extraordinary and we will be. Why settle for anything less?