Disabled want action

Press, 1 May 1978, Page 2

Disabled want action

Disabled people in Christchurch want political action to reduce discrepancies in legislation pertaining to the disabled. A seminar on Saturday, sponsored by the Christchurch Co-ordinating Council for the Handicapped, resolved to seek information from the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) about what steps the major political parties propose to take to remove anomalies in provisions made for “accident cases and those otherwise disabled.”

The main brunt of criticism at the seminar, held to discuss financial provisions for disabled people, was the Accident Compensation Act, 1972. This, it was suggested had given rise to “huge discrepancies” between assistance given to those disabled by accident since 1972. and people disabled in other ways. Speakers urged all political parties to recognise that disabled people are part of the community, and must not, through lack of assistance, be separated from it.

The main aim in giving assistance should be to give disabled people the right to live as normal a life as possible, encouraging them to be as independent as their disability allows.

Political parties were urged to re-establish the committee set up investigate widening the provisions of the Accident Compensation Commission legislation.

This committee was set up by the Labour Government in 1974 to review the provisions of the act. but was disbanded by the National Government in 1975.