Hi folks!

Welcome to the official liveblog of the 2010 National Disability Conference, hosted by the Health and Disability Commissioner, entitled “Making It Easy To Speak Up”. This post will automatically update throughout the day, and I’ll be doing my best to bring you all the action from this year’s conference.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, use the comments form below. I’m sure it’ll be a great day!

- Enter liveblog -

Take 300 young people aged 18 to 25 from 98 countries committed to creating social change in their respective communities, bring them together in Delhi, India for eight days, and what do you get? An amazing mix of colours, cultures, incredible diversity, and the Oxfam International Youth Partnerships Kaleidoscope Conference 2010. From November 21-29, I was one of the very fortunate 300 young people to take part in this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime event in a place I have always wanted to

The 3rd annual Attitude Awards took place at a black tie event on Wednesday 1st December, where some incredible people were recognised for their contribution to the disability community.

The winners were:

• Alex Snedden (Youth Award)
• Jayne Parsons (Courage in Sport)
• Adam Hall (Sport Performer)
• Celeste Strewe (Artistic Achievement)
• Don McKenzie (Hall of Fame Inductee)
• Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs (Employer Award)
• ACC Supreme award and Spirit award: Melanie Sloan

Check out the videos of the finalists by clicking ‘More’ below.

Hey folks,

I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be liveblogging the Health and Disability Commissioner’s “Speak Up!” Conference!

So if you’re unable to attend the hui on December 6, you can tune in right here to Walking Is Overrated and I’ll be providing live updates, commentary, photos and so much more!

So don’t forget to stop by on Monday and check out all the great ideas, conversations, and themes that come out of the national disability conference. I’ll be doing my best to bring it all to you LIVE!

What a joke. Lazy, apathetic, despicable attitude from the NZQA.

Story from stuff.co.nz:

A blind Christchurch schoolboy is frustrated he has to miss out on NCEA credits because exam organisers say they cannot accommodate his disability.

Hagley Community College year 13 pupil Dylan Neale cannot sit Tuesday’s level-three National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) drama exam because it requires watching and analysing a DVD.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has said it does not know how to enable that to happen for Dylan, 18. The authority has ruled out providing a reader/writer or speaker.

“If I could just do the exam like everyone else, it’d be good, as I’d get more credits and it sounds like an interesting exam.”

With dreams of being a comedian, Dylan said he enjoyed the freedom drama provided. Being unable to sit the drama exam “loaded a lot of extra pressure on the major production we had to do, which was worth five credits, as it meant I really had to get it right and it was stressful”.

The exam is worth four credits and Dylan needs 42 to reach his University Entrance (UE) goal. He still expects to gain UE, but does not want other sight-impaired pupils disadvantaged in a similar way.

read more...

Hey folks! You’ve only got until November 12 to register for the National Disability Conference, ‘Making It Easy To Speak Up’. Organised by the Health & Disability Commissioner, it’s being held on the 6th of December at the Waipuna Conference Centre, Auckland.

Important documents:

• For registration forms, click here
• Download the conference flyer as a PDF here
• Check out the conference programme here
• Read the conference FAQs over here

Saw this when I was out and about today… Had a chuckle!

Fascinating story in The Guardian regarding crime against disabled people:

The statistics should shame us all. Nine out of 10 people with learning difficulties have suffered bullying or harassment – indeed, even as the thugs from Eccles were being convicted this week, cases emerged of a disabled woman being bottled as she arrived at her home in Essex and a Yorkshire woman tipped from her wheelchair and mugged. And there is at least one trial going on over the killing of a disabled person, with another looming.

There is no official data on hate crimes against the disabled, since the government does not think it is worth publishing. One helpline has fielded a near-doubling in the number of calls from disabled victims this year, but there have been just 576 prosecutions over the last two years, compared with 11,264 for racial and religious crimes over the last year alone.

We need to wake up to this whirlwind of hate, driven by fear of difference and a symptom of a society that fails to embrace those with disabilities. Communities must look out for those in need of help. Teachers must stop tolerating hateful language and bullying. Police and council officials must tackle the low-level abuse that devastates life for so many – and, as in the Pilkington and Askew cases, can end up with a funeral.

What on earth is going on? I know this is a report from the UK, but I imagine its findings are replicated here too.

What’s been your experience with bullying? Have you – or someone you know – ever been attacked?

After blogging about Countdown’s new inaccessible self-service kiosks, I was pleasantly surprised to find the following sign hung up adjacent to one of Countdown’s checkout aisles:

“Great!”, I thought. Low counter, reachable EFTPOS, pretty brunette on deck – here I come! So I made a bee-line for the identified checkout lane, only to discover…

Click ‘read more’ to find out!

The NZ Police have today announced a new text message service for deaf people who wish to report an emergency. It never really occurred to me before that members of the deaf community may struggle to report an emergency if they have to use a telephone to do so. Anyway, I think this is great news. Click ‘read more’ for the full news release!