HISTORY

1916, 1924/25
Polio epidemics in New Zealand.

1930
Dr Alexander Gillies speaks to the Wellington Rotary Club on the needs of people with disabilities.

1932
Resolution adopted for all Rotary Clubs to work for children with disabilities.

1935
New Zealand Crippled Children Society established. Rotary approves draft constitution and rules of the Society. Lord Nuffield gifts £60,000 to the new Society. Mr and Mrs Wilson offer their Takapuna home and an endowment for use by 'crippled children'. Mr Dadley leaves an estate worth £180,000 to provide a home for children with disabilities in Auckland. First Annual General Meeting of New Zealand CCS held in Wellington - delegates from 17 branches attend.

1936/37
Another polio epidemic- 1,409 children registered with New Zealand CCS.

1938
Welfare officers appointed (changed to field officers in 1949).

1954
Establishment of the Visiting Therapist Service- to visit homes of children with physical disabilities.

1956
Registration of cases in branches reaches 7,283.

1960
Silver Jubilee celebrated Pierce Carroll appointed as first full-time Secretary. William Herewini appointed as first Maori representative on the National Council.

1966
Standards Association forms committee to undertake task of designing code of building practice.

1971
International Symbol of Access adopted.

1974
First 'Crippled Children Day' held.

1975
Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act passed. National Advisory Committee on Recreation for the Disabled set up.

1977
Operation Mobility parking scheme launched. First Building for Disabled Persons Design Award given.

1981
International Year of Disabled Persons Architectural Advisory Service established. First nationwide awareness and House-to-House appeal.

1985
Golden Jubilee.

1987
First Philosophy and Policy document and Mission Statement adopted.

1988
First Working with People with Disabilities Course held.

1989
Partnership with the tangata whenua and recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi. CCS adopted new name and logo - New Zealand CCS Inc.

1995
National Strategic Plan 1995-2000 adopted. Diamond Jubilee.

1997
CCS adopted the Millennium Charter at the Annual General Meeting.

2003
National Strategic Plan and Direction for 2003 - 2008 adopted.