Catching up on crip time 🕒
Plus: We explore government changes that could affect our communities
Kia ora e te whānau! Anyone else feel a bit knocked about this week because of the end of daylight saving? Incredible how just one hour can make a huge difference in crip time - I’ve felt way more exhausted than normal 😅
So rather than push myself too much and risk channeling Big Supercrip Energy, I’ve taken time to slow down, listen to my body and rest. I’ve spent a bit more time at home watching trashy reality TV and catching up on some craft projects, rather than being a busy body all week.
If you have any advice on slowing down for myself and other D*List newsletter readers, please reply to this email and let us know!
Over on The D*List this week, we’ve been looking beyond the Government’s recent changes to disability funding. Since November, the Government has repealed, disestablished and completed various policies. So we’ve put together a list of seven actions that could impact our communities, including pausing progress on the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill and targeting those on the Jobseeker Support benefit. You can read the full analysis here.
🏡 We know many in our communities have campaigned to keep the Laura Fergusson rehabilitation facility open to those who need it. And this week, RNZ reported that the new Laura Fergusson Trust Board has vowed to rebuild a centre, which is great news for people who want to stay in the community rather than hospital settings for rehab.
💡 In an excellent piece for Arts Access Aotearoa titled We are people, not expenses, Stace Robertson speaks to the transformational impact that flexible funding was having for disabled people. “With increased flexibility in support funding, disabled people who receive funding were able to decide for themselves how they wanted to spend their time; to decide what was of most value; and, after their basic support needs were met, prioritise access to those things. To feel a greater sense of dignity, to have more control, to plan bigger lives.” Read the full piece here.
◐ Many of us know about the disability divide a.k.a. the two-tier disability systems between ACC and Whaikaha funding. This week in The Spinoff, Warren Forster and Henrietta Bollinger wrote a piece to acknowledge 50 years since ACC was founded, scrutinising how the original plan for the scheme to be expanded to cover all disabilities was never realised. You can read the full opinion article here.
🎙️ A group of artists including Jessica Hinerangi Thompson Carr (a.k.a. Māori Mermaid, Ōtepoti Dunedin), Amelia Jacobson (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Niamh Hollis-Locke (Pōneke Wellington) and Rimu Bhooi (Kirikiriroa Hamilton) are coming together for an online event showcasing their poetry in a way that is Covid-friendly. The Covid Safe Showcase will be held on Friday 3 May at 7pm and you can get your tickets here.
🏀 If you’re in Tauranga on April 27 and 28, Parafed Bay of Plenty is hosting the Festival of Disability Sport. The two-day festival will include a range of different sports for anyone to try, including: wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball, bowling, petanque, croquet and sailing. For more information, check out the Parafed BOP website.
✊ Labour’s Disability Issues spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan is hosting a public meeting this Saturday in Tāmaki to discuss changes to flexible funding. The hui is being held 1-3pm at the Fickling Centre, 546 Mt Albert Road. NZSL interpreters will be present.
🐘 The Auckland Zoo has recently upgraded its facilities and now has a new accessible bathroom which includes a large changing table/bed and an adjustable hoist. This particular bathroom operates 24/7 via an intercom system - you can check out the bathroom here, as well at the Zoo’s other accessibility info on the website.
Hope you have a restful and replenishing weekend!
- Olivia Shivas, Editor
