A review of progress made by central government agencies implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy (the Disability Strategy) over the period April 2001 to June 2007 was conducted by Litmus Ltd between May and August 2007.
The review involved an analysis of documents related to the Disability Strategy and in-depth interviews with disabled people, disabled persons’ membership organisations, parents of disabled children, disability support providers, central government agencies, local authorities, District Health Boards, tertiary education institutions and lead implementation agencies. A total of 110 stakeholders were consulted. In addition, the Office for Disability Issues provided a stock-take of central government implementation activity since July 2001.
An outcomes framework was developed to model how the implementation of the Disability Strategy contributes to changes in central government agencies and other agencies’ policies and services, which ultimately result in positive changes in the life outcomes and value of disabled people. The theory of change detailed is one where agencies, whether government, non-government or private, alter their policies, processes and services to foster positive life changes for disabled people. In addition, disabled people themselves, their membership organisations, their families, whānau and friends, and wider society will also experience, and contribute to, change.