HDC publishes resources for disabled people, families/whānau of disabled people, and health and disability services providers. Sometimes HDC works with other organisations to develop resources. If you have any suggestions for resources that could be developed, please let the Disability Services Team know.

Resources for people using health and disability services

Are you using home support?

Home support for older people, disabled people, and others may change depending on your needs and what you are entitled to.  Although the support you receive may change, your rights remain the same. 

Receiving support in your home can be a close and challenging experience. Here are some things that may help.

Using Healthcare Services in the Community

Knowing what is available to you in the community and what to expect may help you to get the best from your care. This booklet is for people who are unfamiliar with community healthcare services. It includes tips on how to get the best from these services and is a general guide on what is available to you and what you can expect.

This booklet also contains a glossary of words in English and te reo Māori.   It is also available in an Easy Read version.
View these resources.

Video stories for people with learning disabilities

There are five videos, each with a different story. The videos look at how Sam and his friends use disability support services and how they resolve any concerns that they have. The videos are to help people with a learning disability think about their own experiences with using disability services and their rights under the Code.
Watch the videos.

Know your rights when using a health or disability service - Powerpoint presentation with voice recording

This presentation is for you to learn about the role of the Health and Disability Commissioner and to learn about your rights when you use a health or disability service. Included in this are a number of examples of the Code of Rights in practice.
The powerpoint presentation includes a voice recording (PPT 21.1mb) A word version of this voice recording (Docx 2.2mb) is included along with caption descriptions for images used in the presentation.
You can also view the presentation as a PDF (PDF 1.3mb)

Going to Hospital?

Knowing what to expect when you go into hospital and how to prepare in advance may help you. This booklet has information about public hospital situations from unexpected and emergency admissions to planned admissions and specialist services. The booklet also contains a glossary of words, frequently asked questions with answers and useful contacts.
View this booklet and other related brochures.

The Code and Making a Complaint: HDC and People First video

This video has People First members in it. It looks at your rights and what you can do if you are not happy with health or disability services.
The Code and Making a Complaint - HDC and People First Video

Personal Space: Support workers in your home

This booklet helps you to figure out when it is best to talk to your support worker about personal space in your home.
Personal Space: Support workers in your home

Sorting Things Out: Preventing or resolving problems, and making complaints

Sometimes you and your support worker may have different ideas about things. This resource looks at how you can sort out problems with your support worker.
Sorting Things Out: Preventing or resolving problems, and making complaints(PDF 2.6mb)
Sorting Things Out: Preventing or resolving problems, and making complaints (Docx (124kb)

Starting Off Right: Setting up a good relationship with your support workers

It is important to be able to talk with your support worker about what works best for you. This resource looks at ways you can have a good relationship with your support worker.
Starting Off Right: Setting up a good relationship with your support workers (PDF 1.9mb)
Starting Off Right: Setting up a good relationship with your support workers (Docx 119kb)

What happens after you make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner?

This Easy Read booklet looks at what happens after you make a complaint to HDC. It tells you what HDC will do once it has your complaint.
What happens after you make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner? (PDF,1.2mb)
What happens after you make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner? (Docx, 3.5mb)

For providers

Making communication easy — Useful tips to make it easy to communicate effectively with people with impairments

This looks at stereotypes that can affect how people understand disability. It also looks at what language to use when talking to people with impairments, or about people with impairments.
Making communication easy - Useful tips to make it easy to communicate effectively with people with impairments (PDF 480kb)

 

Last reviewed January 2023