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 or email advocacy@ihc.org.nz
In November 2025 IHC signed a landmark settlement with the Government that acknowledges the education system does not work for many disabled learners and starts a long-term programme to fix it. The settlement is the starting point for change following decades of advocacy.
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.
IHC does not support the proposed presumption against financial redress for survivors of abuse in care who have later been convicted of serious offences.
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.
I learnt this week about Fletcher, 10 years old, born with Down syndrome and neuro-disabilities, living in the country with his family and going to the local school. “Going”, I say but actually the thing is, that he has only attended school for half of the school year
IHC and the Ministry of Education have settled a landmark litigation case to enable the New Zealand education system to work better for disabled students.
The New Zealand Health Survey 2024/25 shows that most people consider themselves in good health, while people with intellectual disability experience some of the poorest health outcomes in the country.
IHC National Office
Level 15, 57 Willis Street
Wellington
9am to 5pm
Monday to Friday
