Our aim is to improve outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities in:
We work hard to persuade government, decision-makers and other organisations to change their laws, policies, practices and beliefs so that the rights of people with intellectual disabilities are upheld.
We work to solve issues that affect a large group of people. This is Systemic Advocacy. The sorts of issues this advocacy addresses are often a problem with a system, meaning a lot of people are experiencing the same problem.
Our vision is that New Zealand is a place where people with intellectual disabilities are valued citizens and part of their community.
We work alongside people with lived experience and their families and whānau, disability service providers and communities across the country.
Our work is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights, and the Disability Action Plan.
IHC undertakes different campaigns that focus on key issues facing people with intellectual disability.
Some of our previous campaigns have been focussed on elections, education, safeguarding citizenship and rights, supported decision-making and quality of life monitoring.
Call IHC Advocacy toll free on 0800 442 442, email: advocacy@ihc.org.nz or find us on Twitter @tania_ihc.
New Zealanders have long life expectancies, but new research from IHC shows that intellectually disabled New Zealanders die up to 20 years earlier than the rest of the population.
This groundbreaking report, From Data to Dignity: Health and Wellbeing Indicators for New Zealanders with Intellectual Disability, reveals people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing poor outcomes in most areas of life. This research is a world first, providing comprehensive quantitative data about people with intellectual disability across many different areas.
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IHC’s report, The Cost of Exclusion: Hardship and People with Intellectual Disability in New Zealand lays bare the depth of poverty experienced by people with intellectual disabilities.
The report shows people with an intellectual disability are twice as likely to live in hardship or severe hardship.
They face significantly higher rates of hardship at every stage of life. Severe hardship rates triple in middle age, even as they decline for the rest of the population.
Living with disability comes at a real cost, one that’s falling on individuals and families who are often excluded from work, transport and even food.
We believe all students with a disability have a human right to attend their local school, feel welcome and included, have access to the curriculum, and have fair outcomes from a quality education. Unfortunately, students with disabilities have been treated unfairly within the New Zealand education system for far too long. They have been discriminated against by not having access to what they need to thrive at school. In 2008, after decades of work with the Ministry of Education to solve the problems, IHC lodged a complaint under the Human Rights Act 1993. We are still waiting for our day in court, but we continue to push forward.
Any strategy that aims to improve outcomes for disabled people must include targeted interventions for this distinct group.
Five recommendations for the development of this micro credential.
IHC is concerned that the Electoral Amendment Bill will create additional barriers to democratic participation for people with intellectual disability and other developmental disabilities.
The Government’s decision to means test the families of 18- and 19-year-olds before they qualify for Jobseeker support will unfairly punish young people with intellectual disability and families already struggling to make ends meet.
The latest Ministry of Social Development social cohesion report confirms what disability advocates have long warned: poverty is deepening across Aotearoa, and disabled people are hit hardest.
IHC is welcoming today’s announced changes to the disability system that will make it more consistent, transparent, sustainable and fair.
IHC National Office
Level 15, 57 Willis Street
Wellington
9am to 5pm
Monday to Friday
