News

With an estimated population of 1.85 billion, people with disabilities (PWD) are an emerging market larger than China. Their Friends and Family add another 3.3 billion potential consumers who act on their emotional connection to PWD. Together, disability touches 73% of consumers.

Together, the disability market controls over $13 trillion in disposable income.

Design Delight from Disability - 2020 Annual Report by analyst Rich Donovan: The Global Economics of Disability.

The annual International Day of Older Persons was established by the United Nations in 1990 to recognise older people as mentors, volunteers, leaders and the foundation of families and communities.

The theme of the 2020 commemoration is “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?”

Congratulations to Chrissie Cowan, CEO of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa and Access Alliance Chair, who has been named as a finalist in the 2020 Women of Influence Awards Programme in the Community Hero category.

Professor Mary Butler talks with Chrissie Cowan, Chair of the Access Alliance and CE of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa, which is the oldest national indigenous consumer group founded as a peer support network in the 1980’s by blind, low vision, vision impaired, deaf blind Māori and their whānau.

Access Matters advocates Chris Orr, who is blind, and Ite Lemalu, who has low vision, recently met with Green MP and Minister Hon Julie Anne Genter via Zoom to talk about how accessibility legislation will improve access to information during a crisis.

Amputees Federation of New Zealand joins the growing number of organisations supporting the Access Alliance.

Watch the video of Access Alliance Chair, Chrissie Cowan, speaking with Vicki on Community Collaborators.

A message from the Access Alliance

We have come a long way and it has been a real team effort. At times it’s been tough, and with your support, we have reached a major milestone in our vision of creating a more accessible Aotearoa New Zealand through the introduction of accessibility legislation.

Changing Places NZ joins the growing number of organisations supporting the Access Alliance.

26 July 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The ADA was written to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

"The ADA confirms the vital role that civil society plays in American democracy; it is a story of civic activism encouraging legislative action that leads to enduring change over time. The ADA has also inspired the world to see disability issues through the lens of equality and opportunity, and influenced actions by international organizations ... to address discrimination faced by persons with disabilities. Overall, the ADA has encouraged equal opportunity and reminded America that their heritage of equal rights for all requires equal access for all."

By Ben Sides. Originally published July 2020, State Magazine.