ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the New Zealand context of resettlement for refugees with disabilities, exploring the history of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability (UNCRPD) and the development of the disability subcategory within New Zealands refugee quota. In fact, New Zealand submitted the first implementation report, which acknowledged areas of development, recognized the challenges of providing culturally appropriate disability services, and identified the need for further work. Disability and other mainstream services are not always funded to provide interpreters or where funding is available, certain language groups may not be provided for. In emergency situations this problem can be amplified. English language classes can be inaccessible for numerous reasons, including limited resources such as teacher aides/interpreters and equipment, trauma, and a lack of full funding to use mobility taxis, restricting the affordability of attendance for many people. Dyslexia is difficult to diagnose among refugees learning English, and presents an additional learning barrier.
