Disabled persons assembly DPA

Glen from Central Whangarei

DPA Northland, what is the goal of DPA Northland. My name Glen McMillan I would like to be the chairperson of DPA Northland, there is a very good reason for this I have first-hand experience of disability my accident was a fall from a pushbike, this was before ACC. I spent four years in Hospital.

I was a pioneer in mainstreaming disabled children into schools the year 1974, the school Mt Roskill Grammar I was the first severely disabled person accepted into Mt Roskill Grammar. I was 14 disabled but gifted, I left school at 16 and started work as an industrial wireman, I went on to become a qualified appliance serviceman and progressed to a qualified TV and video serviceman, by my mid-20s I was running my own businesses in electronic service.

First came Amusement Services in the early 80s I had a round of about 2000 amusement machines such as Space invader, Defender, Buck Rodgers I contracted to the owners to keep these machines running.

Then Auckland Telephones Services, which employed 4 disabled people, Then SEO Professionals website optimisation and design, at the same time I started PlayStation Repairs New Zealand after Sony turned us down as a service agency.

With my website design and optimisation skills, I was quickly page one number one for PlayStation repairs on Google. The work arrived from all over NZ. I have featured in newspapers and magazines. I had a feature spot on TVNZ Success for Auckland Telephone services

During the time I was running these businesses I was also advocating for disability rights, something I now have 34 years’ experience in, my knowledge of the disability sector is gained from a user point of view my interest was mainly accessibility issues, I have experience in fighting and winning legal battles, both with providers and public businesses. I have done these things to improve accessibility for everybody, disabled and non-disabled. I am a strong leader.

DPA Northland needs strong leadership.

A local disabled leader states clearly nothing has changed in the last 20 years, what a statement, it shows acceptance of the status quo. I would have to ask why nothing has changed.

Glen McMillan as chairperson of DPA Northland I will work for change and not accept the status quo. My understanding of business practices, lived disability sector experience and my understanding of law make me the right choice as DPA Northland Chair Person.

I will be pushing for better signage and temporary mobility parking at events.

Free or subsidised visits for the disabled at Northland swimming pools and hydrotherapy pools

More mobility parking and better building access

Bringing to council and government attention the rapid expansion of mobility scooters and the extreme lack of planning, mobility scooter and electric wheelchair users need free charging points around Northland cities, free charging is promoted for cars, I ask that they are supplied for disabled mobility equipment users.

Disabled employment I will advocate strongly for more resources to be put into disabled employment needs.

I need all members to vote for me, a vote for me is a vote for strong leadership that will bring real change for the disabled right down to street level