The Disabled Persons’ Assembly (DPA) forum has been organised to give disabled people the opportunity to question MPs about key election issues including housing, accessibility, education, employment and income support
Esther Woodbury, DPA spokesperson, said these issues affect all voters but the specific effects on disabled people – with 24 per cent of Kiwis identifying as disabled – need to be acknowledged including the extra barriers that disabled people face finding rental accommodation.
“For example, while few would disagree that New Zealand as a whole is facing a housing crisis, disabled people additionally struggle to find housing that is not just affordable or warm and dry – the holy grail of housing – but where they can literally get through the front door and use the bathroom; where they are not turned away for using a wheelchair; for wanting to install a smoke alarm for Deaf people; or for needing to accommodate their service dog in a rental market where ‘no pets’ is the standard rule.
The MPs who had accepted invitations to attend the forum included Mojo Mathers (Green Party); Poto Williams (Labour Party); Ria Bond (New Zealand First); and Alastair Scott (National Party).
FORUM DETAILS:
Thursday 13 July 6-7.30pm
Mezzanine Meeting Room, Wellington City Library
65 Victoria Street, Wellington
Livestreaming on DPA’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dpa.nz.7/
