Disabled seek better deal

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 21

Disabled seek better deal

A determined effort to gain more equitable Government assistance for disabled people nof covered bv the Accident Compensation Commission will be made by the New Zealand Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Federation. Commenting after a meeting of the federation’s executive: in Christchurch, the president, Dr N. R. Jefferson, said that the present rate of Government help to disabled people not under the A.C.C. was creating a “sadly large group of very disadvantaged people.” “It is bad enough that many thousands of disabled people are unable to cope fully with life because of their disability, but they are also being hit badly by not getting the same level of assistance

as that given to people covered by the A.C.C.,” Dr Jefferson said. The federation was preparing a detailed report, about the often “hopeless” position faced by many disabled people in regard to finance and other Government help, for submission to the Government. Removal of the means test on disability pensions, and a general equalisation of benefits, were among major points on which the federation would seek action from the Government.

Dr Jefferson said that as disabled people were becoming more aware of their rights and responsibilities, far greater pressure could be expected from them to see that a fairer share of the Government help for disabled people was given.