No Exceptions
Definitions
The New Zealand Disability Strategy, in its introduction, describes disability:
Disability is not something individuals have. What individuals have are impairments and they are disabled by their environments. They may be physical, sensory, neurological, psychiatric, intellectual or other impairments.
Disability relates to the interaction between the person with the impairment and the environment.
The term 'disabled people' refer[s] to the people at the heart of this Strategy 2.
To be consistent, the terms 'disabled people' and 'people with impairments' are used throughout the No Exceptions Strategy.
The vision of the New Zealand Disability Strategy is:
A society that highly values our lives and continually enhances our full participation.
This shapes the No Exceptions Strategy as it envisions 'All people participating in the physical recreation and sport activities of their choice'.
Implementation of the No Exceptions Strategy needs to be consistent with the following principles:
- All New Zealanders have a right to access recreation and sport opportunities.
- Individuals and organisations need to work together in partnership.
- Any initiatives need to be sustainable and have a long-term, community development focus.
- Disabled people participate in sport and recreation for a range of reasons like all other people.
- Disabled people are experts about their own recreational needs, interests and issues.
- Disabled people will take leadership and planning roles.
2. Ministry of Health (2001), New Zealand Disability Strategy, pg 3-5.
>> Next: Benefits of Participation
Updated | 18 Jan 2007.
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