Information is power, and people in our community miss out on basic human rights because they do not know how the law can protect them.

Auckland Disability Law is reaching out to Whakatāne with Rachael Wiltshire, their new National Community Educator giving a seminar here on September 9.

This will be useful for seniors/pakeke, disabled people and people with experience of mental illness, as well as those working in those sectors.

Ms Wiltshire identifies as disabled as she is autistic.

After leaving school she followed her first passion, training in commercial dance.

That has now become a hobby as she moved to work in the disability field, as a researcher for the advocacy organisation, Altogether Autism. Based out of her home in Wellington, she now facilitates legal education workshops across Aotearoa for Auckland Disability Law.

Her seminar in Whakatāne will focus on three areas. The first is supported decision-making and the  Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act, which deals with specific legal decision-making powers such as welfare guardianship and power of attorney.  

This 1988 Act is being reviewed, with some concerns that it can lead to individual decision-making being completely taken over by others.

Another topic will be disability discrimination. Ms Wiltshire has had little personal experience of this.

“I am lucky that I haven’t experienced discrimination myself. My Mum trained as a teacher and my Dad is a doctor, and my step-mum is a lawyer.

"They knew how to advocate to ensure my needs were met at school and university. It is harder for those whose parents don’t know who to ask, where they can tap into for help.”

Aotearoa is now a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but Rachael sees new challenges.

“Social media did not exist twenty years ago, and it is much harder to regulate online bullying.

Everyone involved in the fight against discrimination realizes the negative knock- on effect this can have on disabled people’s mental health.”

The Mental Health Act is the third area Ms Wiltshire will cover in her seminar.  This Act, which became law in 1992, enables the state to provide compulsory treatment for people experiencing mental distress.  It is currently under review to align it with the recovery and well-being approach to mental health services.

The free public seminar will be held on Monday, September 9, beginning at 12.30pm at Knox Presbyterian Church, 83 Domain Road.

It has been organised by People First, the advocacy organisation run by people with a learning disability, supported by Whakatāne Accessible and Inclusive (WAI).  Participants can enrol by email or phone to Yi Small: [email protected] or 027 526 3387