The consultation is open now until 31 July 2026, and it covers areas that directly affect the people we work with every day.
As a provider of equipment and assistive technology, we want to make sure our partners, therapists, and the clients they support know this is happening and get the chance to have their say.
DSS has been working to stabilise and improve the disability support system following an independent review in 2024, which found issues with fairness, consistency, and how funding was being managed. More than 1,800 people contributed to an earlier round of consultation in early 2025, and that feedback has already led to some changes.
This next round focuses on areas the disability community said matter most, moving from system-level changes to how support actually works in practice.
DSS wants to hear from disabled people, their families, and anyone who supports or advocates for them. The 6 key areas are:
You don't need to respond to every area. DSS encourages people to focus on the topics that matter most to them.
For therapists prescribing equipment and assistive technology solutions, several of these areas are directly relevant.
Planning for life changes touches on timely access to the right equipment as a client's needs shift. Whether that's a change in mobility, a move to a new care setting, or a growing child transitioning through developmental stages, having the right funding and flexibility in place matters.
Flexibility of supports is another area worth watching. Clients accessing funded equipment through DSS depend on those purchasing rules being workable. If clients and therapists have more say in how funding is used, that's a meaningful shift.
Feedback and complaints is also significant. Therapists often advocate on behalf of clients who find the system hard to navigate. A clearer process for raising concerns protects clients and supports better outcomes.
DSS has made it easy to contribute in a format that works for you:
In-person workshops are running across New Zealand from 30 June to 30 July 2026, including Auckland South, Auckland Central, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington Lower Hutt, Dunedin, and Christchurch. Online workshops are also available and running now.
The consultation closes at 5 pm on 31 July 2026. Find full details and take part at disabilitysupport.govt.nz
No. The Disability Support Services Bill is a separate parliamentary process to set the legal framework for DSS. This consultation is about how services work in practice. Both are worth knowing about, but they're different processes.
The clients, families, and therapists we work with are part of this system too. The equipment and solutions we provide sit within a broader network of support, and that network works better when everyone has a voice in shaping it.
We encourage anyone involved in disability support to read the consultation documents and share their perspective. Every submission counts.
Have your say at disabilitysupport.govt.nz
Anyone can take part. DSS particularly wants to hear from disabled people receiving funded support, their families and carers, and people who advocate for them. Providers and therapists are also welcome to contribute.
You can spend as little or as much time as you like. The online survey is structured so you only need to answer questions on topics relevant to you. A focused response on one or two areas is just as valuable as a full submission.
DSS will review and summarise what they hear. A summary of feedback will be published on the DSS website, and the input will be used to make improvements to services. Government decisions are expected to follow.
Visit the DSS consultation page for the full consultation documents, factsheets, workshop dates, and alternate formats including te reo Maori, Tongan, and Samoan translations.
Flexible funding is money DSS allocates that clients can choose how to spend. Equipment and modification services are a separate type of funded support, accessed through a needs assessment and delivered through specialist providers. Both are part of the DSS system and both are relevant to this consultation.