Ministry of Disabled People a chance to finally prioritise disability rights

Friday, 1 July 2022

My week leading up to the new ministry launch on July 1 is the perfect example of why Aotearoa needs a ministry that prioritises the rights of disabled people, says Stuff Pou Tiaki reporter Olivia Shivas.

Olivia Shivas is a Stuff Pou Tiaki reporter with a special interest in disability issues.

OPINION: As a journalist living with a disability and covering disability issues, I didn’t expect to have to resort to using a hotel pool accessible bathroom during the most exciting week of my career. But here we are.

When I put my hand up straight away to cover the launch of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, it wasn’t from an assumption from my bosses that I should, but because I have the lived experience and would be able to cover it authentically, which would benefit the organisation I work for and readers.

My week leading up to the new ministry launch on July 1 is the perfect example of why Aotearoa needs a ministry that prioritises the rights of disabled people, but time will tell if it will actually make a difference to the 24% of New Zealanders who live with a disability.

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I had been planning this work trip from Auckland to Wellington for a few weeks, lining up interviews and meetings.

I had left the flights and accommodation to the travel agent, but a week before I was due to fly out I discovered my accommodation hadn’t been booked yet.

Stuff Pou Tiaki reporter Olivia Shivas navigates through the halls of Parliament and other areas.

I knew there would be limited accessible accommodation in Wellington – especially for an event that disabled people from across the country were being invited to.

So I picked up the phone myself to book a hotel. I called nine hotels in central Wellington before finding a hotel that was accessible and actually had rooms available.

A week later, I landed in Wellington and showed up to my room, only to discover that the room I was booked into was not accessible.

The hotel manager was very apologetic and was able to secure an accessible room from the next evening. But that meant I had to shower in the hotel pool bathroom that first night.

It’s not really the undignified situation I thought I would be in mere hours before interviewing the Minister of Disability Issues, but sadly, I was unsurprised.

The official launch of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People in the Banquet Hall at Parliament.

I also had to have a laugh over the fact I was too short in my wheelchair to take a press pass photo in front of the standing-height blue screen. Luckily, they did have a portable blue screen for me to use.

After finally moving into the accessible hotel room and having the awkward pool shower situation behind me, I was able to look forward to the launch of the new ministry.

Rolling into the Banquet Hall filled with disability advocates I have admired for a long time, I felt a sense of emotion over the significance of the day. But also a sense of responsibility to ensure disabled people’s positive reactions and concerns were given a voice.

The launch was a great example of what an accessible event should look like. When I think of access, I automatically think of ramps and lifts (and accessible bathrooms!) because I use a wheelchair.

But this event had all access needs covered from what I could see – including New Zealand Sign Language interpreters and each speaker gave a visual audio description of what they looked like for people who were blind or vision-impaired.

I’ve learnt over time to find the right balance of managing my own needs as a disabled person and taking on others’ when I cover their stories.

Having lived experience of disability helps me empathise with the people I talk to, and I hope they trust me with telling their story authentically.

Despite the physical and systematic barriers I face every day as a wheelchair user, I do see positive changes for disabled people, even if progress is slow.

If Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People achieves what it has set out to do for disabled people and their whānau, then I believe we will become a truly inclusive country. And if not, I’ll be here to hold the Government to account.