Disability in New Zealand

Disability Support Services (DSS), part of the Health and Disability National Services Directorate, is responsible for the planning and funding of disability support services, administers the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003 and provides policy advice to the Minister of Health.

Many of the services DSS funds are accessed through a Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC) service. NASCs are organisations contracted to the DSS, which work with disabled people to help identify their needs and to outline what disability support services are available. They allocate Ministry-funded support services and assist with accessing other supports.

The focus of the Ministry of Health's Disability Support Services is based on The New Zealand Disability Strategy: Making a World of Difference - Whakanui Oranga. This document aims to ensure disabled people live in a society that highly values their lives, works to improve their participation in their communities and ensures their needs are considered before decisions that affect them are made.