The Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) is a pan-impairment disabled people’s organisation that works to realise an equitable society, where all disabled people (of all impairment types and including women, Māori, Pasifika, young people) are able to direct their own lives. DPA works to improve social indicators for disabled people and for disabled people be recognised as valued members of society. DPA
and its members work with the wider disability community, other DPOs, government agencies, service providers, international disability organisations, and the public by:
• telling our stories and identifying systemic barriers
• developing and advocating for solutions
• celebrating innovation and good practice
DPA values:
Equity – Transparency – Integrity – Creativity – Independence – Inclusivity – Diversity
DPA has a commitment to:
Recognition of Māori as tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. Recognition of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities as the basis for disabled people’s relationship with the State. Recognition of the Social Model of Disability as the guiding principle for analysis of disability and impairment. DPA’s areas of focus:
• Access
Disabled people have access and reasonable accommodation as an enforceable legal right.
• Education
Disabled people can engage in inclusive, lifelong learning in the communities of their choosing.
• Housing
Disabled people live in healthy, safe, accessible, affordable homes of their choosing.
• Health and disability support services
Disabled people have equitable health status with non-disabled people – and access to the supports required to live a good life.
• Income and employment
Disabled people have sufficient income to meet their requirements – now and in the future. Where appropriate, disabled people have comparable employment to non-disabled people.
• Justice, violence and abuse
Disabled people do not experience violence and abuse, disabled people have access to the supports they need in the criminal justice system, and are not overrepresented in the prison system.
