Nearly a quarter of all New Zealanders identified as disabled in the previous Census, a total of 1.1 million Kiwis!
Some people are born with an impairment that causes a disability, while others experience disability through injury or chronic illness, such as arthritis. For some, disability can be temporary (like recovering from surgery, or a mild stroke), while for others it is a life-long challenge. Disabilities may be physical, sensory, neurological, psychiatric or intellectual.
What’s important to remember is that disability is a natural part of the human experience and there is now a great focus on making our public spaces, schools, workplaces and communities inclusive to all people. Visit the Office for Disability Issues for more information about New Zealand’s legislation on disability, including the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016-26.
