Have Your Say on the Disability Support Services (DSS) Consultation: National EGL Leadership Guidance for the community Posted by Posted by Jade Farrar on 23 March 2025 Posted on: 23 March 2025

Author: Frian Wadia

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is changing how disability support is assessed, allocated, and provided. This is your chance to shape the system. If you don’t speak up, decisions will be made without you.

Submissions close soon—act now! Even one sentence can make a difference.

Why This Matters

The current system is outdated, unfair, and full of barriers. We need a disability support system that works for disabled people, families/whānau and Deaf/Hard of Hearing, not against them. The National Enabling Good Lives (EGL) Leadership Group believes any changes must be based on:

• Disability rights and EGL principles – Support should help disabled people and their families/whānau thrive, not just survive.
• A person-centred approach – No more one-size-fits-all solutions.
• Fairness, transparency, and flexibility – The system must be equitable and easy to navigate.
• High-trust, low-bureaucracy funding – Disabled people and families/whānau should have real choice and control.
• Proper recognition of carers – Families and whānau need adequate support in order to sustain their caregiving responsibilities and capacity.

What Needs to Change?

Fixing Needs Assessments

• Assessments must be aligned with the vision and principles of Enabling Good Lives, consider the unique context of the person and their family/whānau and consider all contributing factors towards building a good life beyond what is essential
• Disabled people and families/whānau must be the lead voice in an assessment process
• Greater investment is required in self-assessment tools

Supports That Adapt to Life Changes

• Opportunities to re-evaluate resourcing should be open to disabled people, Deaf/Hard of Hearing  and families/whānau at any time, not rigid timeframes.
• People should get the support that makes the greatest difference (e.g., new diagnoses, increased needs, transitions, or new life experiences).

Recognising Caregiving Responsibilities and Carer Needs

• Policy should recognise that disabled people and Deaf/Hard of Hearing can also be carers.
• All carers’ mental health, financial constraints, and overall caregiving load must be factored in.
• Support should acknowledge family dynamics, stress, employment, and social isolation.

Flexible Funding, Not Red Tape

• Disabled people, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and families/whānau should always decide how funding is used.
• The system must be high trust, not burdened with unnecessary paperwork.
• No restrictive lists should dictate how funding is used; EGL principles and disability rights should guide decisions.
• Guidance through examples of beneficial use of supports can be provided for new DSS clients beginning their journey.
• Regional Leadership Groups and kaituhono should be established nationwide to support capacity building of disabled people, deaf and their families/whānau.

How to Have Your Say (Takes 5 Minutes!)

Option 1: Fill out the MSD survey on the MSD website.
Option 2: Email your feedback to DSS_submissions@msd.govt.nz
Option 3: Record a NZSL video or audio submission and email it to NZSL_submissions@msd.govt.nz

Short on time? Just send this one sentence:
 "Any DSS system transformations must align with disability rights and EGL vision and principles."

Submissions close soon. If you want change, now is the time to demand it!