The National Health Committee report To Have an “Ordinary” Life- Kia Whai Oranga “Noa” (2003) contains critical information about the lives of New Zealand adults with an intellectual disability. This information was mostly collected through direct dialogue with people with an intellectual disability.

The National Health Committee has made 23 recommendations for action by government and the community, which it believes are necessary to achieve the concept of community membership for people with an intellectual disability as envisaged by the New Zealand Disability Strategy.

Priority areas for action include:

• refocusing needs assessment, service co-ordination and service purchasing
• moving away from the custodial ownership model of service delivery
• addressing the neglect of basic health needs

IHC strongly supports the findings and recommendations of the report and is closely monitoring the Government’s response.