About the Author

My name is Glen McMillan, and I am the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Children with Disability NZ. I created the Elections 2026 section of Inclusive World because I believe disabled New Zealanders, families, carers and support providers deserve access to clear, factual and easy-to-understand information about the policies that shape their lives.

This website has not been created to tell people how to vote. It has been created to help people understand the issues, compare policies and make informed decisions.

My Story

Just after my tenth birthday in 1970, my life changed forever following a serious accident that left me permanently disabled. I spent several years in hospital and missed much of my formal schooling while other children were in the classroom.

Those years were incredibly challenging, but they also changed the way I learned. Instead of reading comic books, I became fascinated by medical books and how the human body worked. I was surrounded every day by doctors, nurses and rehabilitation staff, and I developed a lifelong love of learning.

Learning Through Adversity

When I eventually returned to mainstream school, many people probably expected less from me because I was now disabled. Fortunately, they were wrong.

I performed well academically, particularly in reading, mathematics, science and biology. Those years in hospital had taught me how to learn independently, and that has remained one of the greatest strengths throughout my life.

A Career Built on Determination

Leaving school at sixteen, I completed an apprenticeship before qualifying as an industrial wireman. Throughout my career I continued to upskill, becoming an appliance serviceman and later an electronics serviceman.

My career eventually expanded into information technology, website design and search engine optimisation, where I spent more than two decades building websites and helping organisations communicate effectively online.

From Personal Experience to Advocacy

Living with disability has shown me both the barriers that exist and the opportunities that become possible when society chooses inclusion over exclusion.

That experience eventually led me to establish Children with Disability NZ. Today our charity works to improve opportunities for disabled children, promote accessible communities and support families throughout New Zealand.

Our wider network of disability-focused websites provides practical information covering accessibility, inclusion, disability rights, assistive technology, accessible playgrounds and community resources.

Why I Created the Elections 2026 Project

Public policy has a direct impact on the everyday lives of disabled people. Decisions made in Parliament influence disability support services, healthcare, education, employment, transport, housing and many other aspects of life.

I wanted to create a central resource where people could easily find official policies, community perspectives, published submissions and disability-related election information in one place.

Where possible, this website links directly to official sources so visitors can read the original information for themselves.