DSS Consultations: Have Your Say

The article below was created by Multiple Sclerosis NZ and is reproduced with their permission.

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There’s a lot of activity in the disability space at present, and that brings up a lot of emotions for our community. We’re hearing feelings of anger, frustration, and exhaustion. People are feeling over-consulted and asked to repeat the same messages again and again. 

We hear you. This can feel overwhelming, progress can feel slow, and many people are at the point of disengaging. 

But we’re asking you to keep going. What you do now will help shape disability services you use today, may need in future, or that will affect generations to come. Change can feel slow, but if we don’t engage, decisions get made without us. Even a small amount of input from you matters. 

Advocacy leads to change. Sometimes we need to be the squeaky wheel, and at MSNZ, we’re here to help bring the needs, stories and key messages of our MS community together. 

 

Consultation Open: “Help Improve Key Service Areas of DSS” 

From 8 June to 31 July, Disability Support Services (DSS) is asking the disability community for views and ideas to improve key service areas. 

This consultation builds on what the disability community has told DSS over the past two years, and focuses on the areas people have said matter most. Feedback has already helped shape important changes across disability support services — but there’s more to do. 

Disabled people, whānau, families and carers can share what good support looks like in areas including: 

  • Outcomes that matter — being clearer about the difference DSS-funded supports make in disabled people’s everyday lives and safety 
  • Earlier, proactive and planned support — planning the right support at the right time as people’s needs change 
  • Feedback and complaints — making it easier to speak up about DSS providers’ services 
  • Better options for carer respite — improving respite options so it’s easier for family, whānau and carers to take a break 
  • More choice and control in services — offering more flexibility in funded supports, beyond flexible funding 
  • Improved information and advice — making it easier to get information and access DSS supports and services 

 

The consultation runs until 31 July, with online or in-person workshops, written and recorded submission options, and an online survey. 

DSS will keep the disability community updated on what was said and what happens next. 

Visit disabilitysupport.govt.nz/haveyoursay to take part. 

 

Two Ways to Have Your Voice Heard 

  1. Tell DSS directly. Take part in the official consultation through the survey, a workshop, or a written/recorded submission. This goes straight to DSS. This consultation is specifically for disabled people, carers, and whānau. We strongly encourage you to take part. 
  2. Tell MSNZ and we’ll represent you. At Multiple Sclerosis NZ, we’re actively engaging in the DSS consultation process, sharing the information, lived experience and challenges we hear from our members.  

 

We know that less than 20% of people with MS are accessing DSS services. Across Aotearoa, DSS currently meets the needs of only around 181,000 of the 850,000 New Zealanders who identify as having a disability. 

To make sure we represent your needs well, we’d like to hear from you directly, even if you don’t currently receive DSS funding. 

 

Things we want to know: 

  • Do you receive DSS support? If not, why not? 
  • What are the barriers to accessing support? 
  • What support do you, your family or carers currently access and does this meet your needs? 
  • What support is unavailable but needed? 
  • How are you finding the new assessment process? 
  • Is the information about DSS funding clear? 
  • What can DSS and MSNZ do to make information clearer? 

 Some of what we’re already hearing: 

  • Disability funding is confusing. People want clarity on eligibility, the purpose of funding, what’s available, and more support before NASC assessments to understand what funding might help with. 
  • A need for pre-assessment information, support and specialist assessment (eg. OTs) 
  • Carer support needs to go beyond respite. Carers deserve recognition as individuals with their own health and wellbeing needs, and more financial support. 
  • Support must come earlier, to help keep people working, active, and engaged in their families and communities. 
  • Wider recognition of the unseen symptoms (fatigue, cognitive changes, pain) which can be highly disabling.  
  • Disability support which recognises long-term chronic conditions, like MS, which can often be changeable and inconsistent. 

 

You can share your experience with us (MSNZ) by: 

  • Sending us an email to info@msnz.org.nz or giving us a call on 0800 67 54 63 
  • Talking with your MS Community Advisor and asking them to pass your feedback to us 

 

If you have attended a workshop with us in the past, or shared your comments for one of our submissions, we will refer back to information we have already heard.