Disability Connect

The Disability Support Services Bill going into Parliament this week has unsettled a lot of disabled people and their families. It looks like a simple replacement for the old Ministry of Health legislation, but it opens the door to future changes that could seriously affect those who rely on these supports.

For families providing 24/7 care, the Bill removes any chance of redress for existing claims. It also gives government wide powers to change family carer payments later on, without proper public input. That uncertainty is tough for families already carrying a heavy load, especially where there are high or complex needs.

Most family carers are women, already stretched and dealing with the health impacts of long-term caring for family members.

What worries us is how strongly this Bill leans back toward a charity framework from last century. It assumes families will simply absorb whatever comes.

It puts us back in the position of having to ask friends and allies to help us out, as if disabled people and their families are a cause rather than part of the community. Where is our right to be friends without tags or commitments attached?

Whole families get shunned when systems start treating them as a burden. People start thinking "what do you want this time?" instead of seeing us as people who belong like anyone else.

The Bill overreacts to a very narrow Supreme Court ruling about adults needing 24/7 care and some disabled people who may lack the (legal) capacity to be an employer. Instead of addressing that specific issue, it creates a pathway to reshape the whole family carer system. Families deserve clarity about what that could mean.

Disabled people and their families need legislation that reflects real life, respects choice, and supports self-determination. They need clear, accessible information, and a system that recognises the emotional and physical toll of caring for family members. Government wants clarity and cost control. Families still need certainty.

We will keep speaking up for fairness, transparency, and dignity.

What do you want for your family? We will be making a submission to the select committee. Let us know in the comments.

Know we are standing with you.

Image description: a simple illustration of two bears viewed from behind with their arms around each other. Text above reads, "We're standing with you".

“That was super informative. All of the information was so relevant to me going flatting. Thank you.”

We recently hosted our annual housing discussion, Kāinga Kōrero. For this year’s session, we focused on taking the next steps into flatting.

Ainsley from Flying Kites shared practical advice on renting and choosing flatmates. She spoke about finding the right people to live with by advocating for our needs and communicating where we can compromise. She also shared an interesting way to test compatibility before signing a tenancy agreement.

Tessa from Habitat for Humanity helped us understand our rights and responsibilities as occupants. She shared simple ways to keep a warm and dry home, and how to communicate with landlords. We also discovered that their Healthy Homes programme can help assess a home. They even provide lovely winter warming care packages.

If you missed the session, a recording will be available on our website soon. We’ll also share key learnings here over the coming weeks.

A big thank you to Ainsley and Tessa for helping families feel more informed and prepared to take their next step into flatting.

For more information on Moving Out, Flying Kite's guide to help navigate a change in living situation, go to their website: https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/resources/moving-out

For more information on Habitat for Humanity and their Healthy Homes programme, go to their website: https://www.habitat.org.nz/programme/healthy-homes

Image descriptions:
1: Ainsley speaking at the event. She sits next to a large screen with a presentation slide on key principles for flatting.
2: Tessa speaking at the event. She is looking up towards the screen, which has information on occupant rights and responsibilities.

Save the date for this year's Transition Expo: Wednesday 9 September at Auckland Netball Centre.

Transition Expo is always a major highlight for our team - we love meeting and connecting with you all.

Is there anything new you'd like to see at Expo this year?

What did you love about last year that you'd like to see more of?

Image description: graphic of an open envelope with the Transition Expo logo on the paper inside. The text "You’re invited!" is above the envelope and "9 September 2026, Auckland Netball Centre" is below.