Let's get real: Disability

About Let's get real: Disability

Let's get real: Disability is a framework that describes the essential attitudes, values, skills and knowledge needed by anyone working alongside disabled people and whānau, to assist in people attaining their aspirations.
 
The framework is informed by The Treaty of Waitangi and the Human Rights Act 1993. It describes a disabled person driven approach to support which aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and Enabling Good Lives (EGL). The indicators of the framework provide a guide to applying these principles in practice.  

Let's get real: Disability supports organisations to meet relevant New Zealand standards, Ministry of Health audit requirements and the action points of Putting People First.     

Building the skills, values and knowledge described in the framework will also contribute to people studying for NZQA qualifications in Health and Wellbeing.

Let’s get real: Disability was adapted from the Let’s get real framework for mental health and addiction in consultation with disabled people’s organisations, and disability support services.

Let’s get real: Disability is intended to complement, not replace, any existing frameworks and values your organisation has.  

The language we use

The term ‘disabled people’ is used throughout Let’s get real: Disability. It reflects the disabling process described by the social model of disability.

However people have the right to define their own identity and experiences, for example by saying ‘I am Deaf’ or ‘I am a person with a learning disability’.

An Easy Read version of the framework is available to download.

How disabled people or whānau can use the framework 

Disabled people or whānau can use the Let’s get real: Disability framework as a guide for:

• creating a job advertisement or job description when hiring staff
• discussing the values, attitudes and skills that are important for you, with staff (whether employed directly by you or by an organisation)  
• discussing areas of training that might be important
• recognising when peoples values, attitudes or skills have grown stronger.

How disability support services can use the framework 

Services can use the framework in all of the ways that disabled people and whānau can and additionally to benchmark across teams or services or the whole organisation.  

Resources are available to support organisations to incorporate the framework into systems and processes and to support the workforce to reflect the seven Real Skills in their everyday practice.

View the Let's get real: Disability resources.

Te Pou chief executive Robyn Shearer introduces Let's get real: Disability

New Zealand Disability Support Network chief executive Garth Bennie shares his thoughts on the standouts and strengths of Let's get real: Disability