(COOK ISLANDS) The Disability Action
Team's (DAT) annual conference got under way at the Sinai
Hall on Monday 6 August 2007. This year the theme of the
conference is "Te ara ote ora-pathway through life."
Over 50 people were in attendance. The session leading
up to morning tea saw the keynote speaker Kevin Thomson
from New Zealand deliver his speech by power point
presentation (see separate story), a briefing on the
National Policy from Nooroa Numanga of Internal Affairs
Ministry and Alistair Wilkinson from the UN's regional
office in Suva and a speech by Catherine Temu from
Auckland.
The National Policy and action plan for the disabled
is to be reviewed. The document was intended for five
years. It was introduced in 2003 with Wilkinson's
assistance and now he is back for two weeks to see what
differences have been made. He will also be traveling to
the outer islands.
The Cook Islands is the first Pacific nation to
introduce a national policy based on a regional
framework.
The official opening was conducted on the second day,
Tuesday 7 August with over 70 people present. The guest
speakers included mama TukiWright, Prime Minister Hon Jim
Marurai, Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Ngamau
Munokoa, Catherine Temu from NZ, Vira Tavioni, BJ from
Mauke and Rebekah McCullough from NZ. Mama Tuki thanked
NZ Aid for their assistance and looked forward to their
continued support and also continued support from
government and their ongoing partnership with the
Disability Council. She welcomed the conference
participants. "May your actions speak volumes," said Mama
Tuki. Ay the end of the morning session, Mama Tuki told
participants the Cook Islands is the only Pacific nation
to develop a five year action plan. "Mama Tuki is over
the moon," she said.
Aunty Mau told the Herald government has supported
disabled people. She is thankful to the NZ government for
its funding support for programmes for the disabled. She
said in future proper access for the disabled will be
looked at especially in regards to government buildings.
She said parents of the disabled had a fulltime job
caring for them and she pledged government's assistance.
She said Nooroa Numanga at Ministry for Internal Affairs
had done a good job and the DAT team was also doing a
good job.
Air NZ Manager David Bridge spoke of Air NZ's
commitment to assist the disabled. He said the new
airport lounge would feature better access for the
disabled. He said he was honoured and humbled to be
speaking to participants. He praised the DAT and the care
givers.
Catherine Temu spoke of her work as an operations
manager in charge of 40 staff at an Auckland disability
centre. She was a registered school teacher by profession
but had a passion for helping disabled people. Her son
was disabled. She spoke of seeking a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with government whereby the NZ centre
would assist local care givers. She advised participants
to speak out, to "be a warrior for your own people." Vira
Tavioni spoke of the good work being done by Rose, a
disabled person, at TAVs.
Mauke disabled man "BJ" who uses a wheel chair and who
cannot speak, gave a power point presentation about
coping with his disability. He is 24 years old, was born
in NZ but came to Mauke when nine years old. He has five
brothers and three sisters. He said his interests were
varied but mainly DVDs. He was not a dancer he said. He
understood English and Maori and could answer questions
using certain gestures. He said it was important that
people with disabilities make their own decisions. BJ
attends the learning centre in Mauke. He returns there on
Friday. Participants also saw a series of photos of BJ
coping with everyday life in Mauke.
Rebekah McCullough from NZ spoke about "inclusion."
This meant allowing disabled people to participate, to
contribute and be included in decision making. It also
meant ensuring they were understood and seen as someone
with the capacity to give and receive love. She spoke of
the action plans and policies that had been put in place
through the National Plan, DAT and the Creative Centre.
She also spoke of an increased community presence for
disabled persons through going to shops, schools, work
and taking part in community activities. The disabled
were speaking out and being more visible. She mentioned
increased networking and the formation soon of a Deaf
Club and parents of Autistic children meeting and
supporting one another. McCullough said "Inclusion is all
about learning together."
On Wednesday the conference covers communication
strategies, teaching strategies and task analysis. On
Thursday life skills will be covered and there will be
activities for the deaf. At 4.30pm the Cook Islands
Disability Council will meet. On Friday morning there
will be a wrap up of strategic plans and the conference
is scheduled to close at 10.30am.
Source
www.ciherald.co.ck
