Legal help for disabled

Disabled people in Auckland will get a fairer deal from the law with the launch of a new community service funded by the Legal Services Agency.

Auckland Disability Law is the result of development work by the agency and community law centres across wider Auckland.

In 2005, the agency commissioned a research team to identify the legal needs of disabled people in the region which were not being met.

The team, led by AUT University’s national centre for health and social ethics director Kate Diesfeld, consulted disabled people, their advocates and disability organisations, and lawyers and community law centres.

Its findings are the foundation for Auckland Disability Law which will help disabled people access legal services and support lawyers to understand the needs of disabled clients.

Auckland Disability Law solicitor Dr Huhana Hickey hopes to close the gap in awareness by providing knowledge to other lawyers. "Legal service providers face a range of challenges because of the complexity of issues involved, making legal education a key role of the project."

Development manager Nicola Owen says the service will be mobile because the research showed that was essential.

"A desirable legal service for disabled people is one that understands their particular needs, has staff skilled in working with disabled clients and is able to visits clients in their homes or at outreach clinics," she says.

Participants’ recommendations include removing architectural barriers in community law centres, providing sign language interpreters, developing legal information in simple English and providing disability awareness training for lawyers.

Clinics are planned for Te Roopu Waiora in Papatoetoe, Waitakere Community Law Service in Henderson and AUT’s North Shore campus.

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