DISABILITY RESOURCES
NEW ZEALAND DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION NZ
The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association Inc’s (NZDSA) mission is to work alongside families, whanau and carers to support
and empower people with Down syndrome to realise their potential and aspirations through all life stages and within all
communities.
The NZDSA was started in 1981 by parents who established the organisation for educational and charitable purposes. The NZDSA
has remained a family/whanau-driven non-profit organisation. We receive no government funding, so we raise all our own funds so
that we are able to:
• Provide support and New Parent information packs to expectant and new parents.
• Inform, support and advocate for families/whanau and people with Down syndrome.
• Promote awareness of Down syndrome to create positive attitudes in the community.
• Advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
• Represent the interests and lobby for the rights of people with Down syndrome and their families/whanau across a range of forums and at Government level.
• Produce and provide resources to inform, educate and empower families/whanau, people with Down syndrome and professionals.
• Create a leadership platform for people with Down syndrome which includes supporting STRIVE - the NZDSA’s self-advocacy leadership group, hosting self-advocacy Funshops and youth development camps.
• Support regional groups across New Zealand to provide support and information to the Down syndrome community in their area.
• Offer support via our Freephone 0800 NZDSAI 0800 693 724.
• Publish CHAT21, our quarterly journal.
• Provide support utilising social media.
Contact us for support or to show your support at:
www.nzdsa.org.nz
RECREATE
Recreate NZ is a registered not for profit charitable Trust established in 2002. We are committed to enhancing the intellectual, social, emotional and physical development as well as the independence of young people living with a disability. We have grown from humble beginnings into a provider of over 400 programmes each year delivering outstanding adventure, recreational, social, educational and work experience programmes to the disability community of Auckland, Christchurch, Waikato & Bay of Plenty.
www.recreate.org
UPSIDES DOWN EDUCATION TRUST
The UpsideDowns Education Trust is on a mission to give a voice to kids with Down syndrome. We provide access to life-changing speech language therapy for over 160 Kiwi kids with Down syndrome across Aotearoa. UpsideDowns was founded by a group of parents of children with Down syndrome and have been parent-led ever since. For kids with Down syndrome, learning to speak can be a huge challenge, but unfortunately many Kiwi families cannot afford the kind of specialist speech language intervention required to unleash their kids’ potential. That’s where we come in! We are a registered charity and receive no government funding, raising all our funds from grants, donations, and our famously awesome fundraising events. For more information or to donate, visit:
www.upsidesdown.co.nz
AKTIVE
Aktive is a charitable trust with the vision of ‘Auckland is the world’s most active city’. Aktive is a strategic partner of Sport New Zealand and Auckland Council. We have the responsibility for leading, influencing and advocating for initiatives and programmes that support and enable our target groups, those who are missing out (tamariki and rangatahi, girls and young women, Māori, Pacific, Chinese and Indian and disabled young people).
We work in partnership with others to advance and achieve positive outcomes for target groups and communities. As the Auckland region’s system lead for play, physical education, active recreation and sport, Aktive’s role involves:
· Leading: Setting clear direction, challenging the status quo and driving positive change for the people and whānau of Auckland· Bringing strategy to life: Setting regional priorities and plans; incubating initiatives with participants and partners; funding and empowering others to deliver community activities.
· Advocating: Championing the sport, active recreation, play and physical activity rights of Aucklanders· Catalysing Best Practice: Creating co-operation and alignment across the sector; empowering other organisations by providing advice, insights and resources so that they can lead their own transformation and change.
https://aktive.org.nz/resource-hub/
Click to Download Understanding Disability Toolkit
FIRSTPORT
Firstport is the go-to website for anyone searching for disability information, advice, and support in New Zealand. It is created with the input and guidance from New Zealand’s disability community and features built-in page readers for people who need them or would prefer to listen to information.
It has new support services and accessible places databases as well as updated and improved search functionality.
On Firstport you can find information about:
•Financial support
• Employment
• Equipment
• Housing
• Transport
• Wellbeing
• Education
• Leisure
• Legal and rights
• Support services
www.firstport.co.nz
NVISION
People with down syndrome are more likely to experience eye problems than the general population, and 50 percent of people with down syndrome have some type of eye disease. Eye issues commonly seen in people with down syndrome include refractive errors, weak accommodations, tear duct abnormalities, and eye misalignment. There are many ways to treat the eye issues commonly seen in people with down syndrome. Depending on the problem, treatment may include prescription glasses, proper eye hygiene, or surgery.
Read more on our website: https://www.nvisioncenters.com/childrens-eye-health/down-syndrome/
Marasco & Nesselbush
Social Security Benefits in the United States of America.
Social security disability benefits can be a complicated subject for many of us. Knowing who qualifies, how to maximize your chance of getting approved, and how payments are calculated is crucial information to know. That's why we made an ultimate guide about navigating social security disability benefits and included just about everything we could think of.
Check out the guide:
Social Security Disability Guide - m-n-law.com/social-security-disability-insurance-benefits-guide/
KINDRED
Kindred is a boutique Talent and Organisational Development Consultancy run by Organisational Psychologists and Industry experts, with locations in Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington. They offer a wealth of experience partnering with public and private sector organisations in the design and implementation of organisational development systems. Kindred are very excited to donate their time to develop these resources to benefit our communities – they are passionate about creating more inclusive workplaces and know the life changing impact that being included in work can bring to an individual.
You can find out more at www.kindredwork.co.nz