Disability advisory groups
Disability advisory groups help ensure that organisations are making decisions with disabled people’s needs in mind.
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What disability advisory groups do
Local governments, businesses, government agencies, and not-for-profit organisations may have disability or accessibility advisory groups. These groups are there to ensure that voices of disabled people are heard in the organisation’s decision-making.
Disability advisory groups usually include disabled people, family members/whānau, advocates, and subject matter experts who advise the organisation from a disability perspective.
These groups provide advice and input on their organisation’s actions, services, projects, and policies. They highlight barriers and issues that are important to disable people and identify opportunities for their organisation to be more inclusive.
Disability advisory groups meet multiple times a year depending on the organisation. Some meet four times a year, while others meet as often as once a month.
When organisations have disability advisory group positions available, they’ll generally advertise for applications or expressions of interest. Applicants will then go through a selection process.
The number of years someone will serve on a disability advisory group varies between groups.
Local government advisory groups
These groups provide advice to their local councils about improving accessibility and inclusion for disabled people in council services and projects.
Whangarei District Accessibility Advisory Group
Auckland Disability Advisory Panel
Hamilton Disability Advisory Group
Tauranga Disability Advisory Group
Napier Disability Advisory Group
Palmerston North Disability Reference Group
Masterton Disability Advisory Group
Kapiti Disability Advisory Group
Hutt City Accessibility Advisory Group
Wellington Disabled Communities Advisory Group
Marlborough District Council Access and Mobility
Christchurch Accessibility Advisory Group
Disability organisation advisory groups
Enable New Zealand Experience Advisory Group
Altogether Autism Advisory Group
Do you know about other disability advisory groups not listed here? Let us know.
Read about the work disability advisory groups have done around New Zealand