Innovative New Information Resources from New Zealand
By Robyn Hunt (robyn@iecho.co.nz)
What did you say?
It is good to see a disability service provider organisation taking the initiative on public disability education, especially educating the media on discriminatory language.
The recent launch of an education package saw the revival of an earlier resource entitled Words Matter. This updated and more colorful booklet 'What did you say?' covers respectful language and comes complete with posters and postcards to be sent to those who don't follow the guidelines.
The material has been issued by New Zealand CCS, a national organisation providing services for people with physical disabilities.
The resource is lively and positive, showing disabled people in a variety of work and leisure activities you would expect anyone to be involved in, but which might challenge the view of disability held by some.
It was interesting to read a damming review in a national Sunday newspaper by someone who had entirely missed the point. Subsequent letters proved many readers hadn't.
Demand is already heavy for a resource that will be used widely in general disability education. CCS is keen to receive feedback.
For more information contact info@no.ccs.org.nz
New disability magazine
'No Limits' is the first new disability magazine in New Zealand for some time. Despite new technology, print still has a valuable role to play in the disability media.
New Zealand already has well established radio and TV series on disability issues.
The first edition of No Limits contains a reasonable variety of editorial content, covering recreation, human rights, a message from the Minister of Disability issues, some news, and political material. The latter would have had more interest for the reader if a more critical editorial standpoint had been taken.
The look and layout is amateur, but it is generally readable. Improvements should come with experience and wider circulation. Advertising is relevant, providing an opportunity for disability services to read an often elusive audience.
Full national coverage will be important to achieve beyond the current northern bias.
The magazine is quarterly, and happily is edited by a disabled person. His email address is withoutlimits@xtra.co.nz
Envisioning an ideal world for disabled children
" Kids' Vision" is a small and lively document released earlier this year in New Zealand. It has two parts, the vision itself in the form of a story of an ideal world for disabled children, and a readers guide. It is accompanied by a small poster and a web site reference.
The process of development took the form of consultation with around 150 disabled children, parents and siblings. It was created for Auckland DPA in partnership with the Ministry of Health Disability Issues Directortate in Auckland New Zealand.
"Kids' Vision" presents a vision of what might be for disabled children, their siblings and their families. It is an outcome of the Kids' Vision Project.
Although the document looks like a kid's book, it is written from an adult rather than a child's perspective, despite some quotes from children. This lessens the impact that could have been created if the children's contribution had been greater.
- The vision is represented by a story of the lives of disabled twins and their family in a supportive community of the future. If the book is turned upside down and opened there is a readers guide section. This includes a glossary of new terms such as:
- Schools become conceptual learning centres
- Subjects become development paths
- Community centres become leisure and creativity centres
- Doctors become well-being facilitators
- Service providers become constructive support organisations
- And so on
Some of the value of endeavours such as this may well lie in the process as much as the outcome.
While not everyone might agree with all aspects of the vision, and all of the implications, visioning is an important activity. This particular one provides food for thought and should be read by anyone who has an interest in the well being of disabled children and their families. Getting there will be a whole new project.
The vision is strong on positive language and ideas and short on detail. It is after all a vision. To achieve the outcome of this vision will require a huge amount of work, and this document gives no clue about who owns vision or the process from here on. I suspect that those around whom the vision is centred will have to do the work.
Participation of the health partner is not evident. Even though it has funded the project such a vision will need to have more than seeding money to be realised.
More information can be found and copies of the strategy can be downloaded at www.kidsvision.net.nz but be warned the site is not particularly accessible or user friendly.
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