Intellectual Disability Sector on Verge of Crisis

Intellectually disabled New Zealanders and their families could face a precarious future, a new report revealed today.

The National Residential Intellectual Disability Providers Group (NRID) is a national organisation comprising intellectual disability providers who support approximately 6,500 New Zealanders with an intellectual disability.

The Deloittes Review, commissioned by NRID, has shown that the intellectual disability sector could be on the verge of a crisis, due to poor funding, high staff turnover and an ageing workforce, and increasing costs.

Chris Harris, Deputy Chair of NRID, says New Zealanders with intellectual disability will suffer as a result.

“Intellectual disability residential services have been facing increasing difficulties for a number of years.

“If these organisations do not have proper funding in the future, they won’t be able to deliver their services effectively – this could result in significant harm to service users and their families,” he says.

“The dedicated staff working within these organisations would not be prepared to put people with intellectual disabilities at risk, so if these trends continue, the only outcome would be to shut their services down.”

Media release courtesy of scoop.co.nz
Intellectual Disability Sector on Verge of Crisis
Wednesday, 21 May 2008, 12:10 pm
Read full Press Release: Residential Intellectual Disability Providers