In late July the Government will introduce the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill into the House of Representatives.
Ahead of this, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) have released the cabinet paper Accelerating Accessibility in New Zealand. (This also links to information in a variety of accessible formats including Easy Read, Audio and as NZSL videos).
The cabinet paper reports back on the detailed design of an accessibility framework that aims to identify, prevent, and remove barriers to participation for disabled people, tāngata whaikaha and whānau whaikaha Māori and others with accessibility needs.
The Access Alliance are asking for feedback on two key questions:
- What do you like about the Government’s proposed detailed design of the accessibility framework?
- What’s missing from the Government’s proposed detailed design of the accessibility framework?
Your feedback will be included in the final model bill (Accessible Aotearoa New Zealand Bill). The model bill will be a yardstick with which to measure how effective the Government’s bill will be.
To read more about this bill you can visit the Ministry of Social Development website.
The Access Alliance seek your input by 5pm Tuesday 31 May. Feedback can be emailed to jzidov@blindlowvision.org.nz by 5pm Tuesday 31 May.
Further opportunity to have your say on the Bill
After the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill has been introduced into the House of Representatives it will go to select committee for public scrutiny, at that stage there will be an opportunity for the public to make submissions.