Awhi: Whaikaha, mental health supports, masking
The Awhi Ngā Mātua newsletter
Kia ora - Welcome to the Awhi newsletter! We hope you’re well and coping OK with winter bugs. In this edition of Awhi we’re sharing info about a range of things we think might be useful for our community and its allies. Feel free to respond to this email with anything you’d like us to include in the next edition.
A lot of parents in our community may relate to this: Why friends sometimes disappear when crisis turns chronic. “When our son was first diagnosed with cancer, his friends came around often and our friends were really there for us. The treatments have been going on for three years now. His friends don’t call very much anymore. We’re down to two really close friends who are hanging in there with us.”
We are very lucky that a friend of the Awhi community has offered his services to our parents providing low-cost counselling. Ross Palethorpe is a counsellor providing in-person and remote therapy. He is offering a sliding scale for sessions - and 30 minute sessions, as well as payment plans.
The wonderful folks at Autism NZ are looking for Tāmaki Makaurau-based whānau to take part in a research project which involves a free 10-week programme called Let’s Play, designed to help families/whānau learn to better connect and communicate with their young child through play.
Who is this programme for?
Children under six who have or are likely to receive a diagnosis of autism and are not receiving 15 hours of support per week
They can be referred through their early childhood setting; be currently on a waitlist for Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education; or already receiving support through either of these agencies
Alternatively, parents can do a self-referral.
What families/whānau will learn
How play is the key element of child development
How YOU can make a difference in the child’s development
How to use the everyday activities and routines of whānau to develop:
Communication
Connection
Sharing attention
Imitating
Having fun
Life skills, transitions, and routines
Planning and problem solving
The Let’s Play Programme is part of a wider research project, led by Associate Professor Laurie McLay at the University of Canterbury. The team are evaluating the Let’s Play Programme to ensure that it is beneficial for children and families/whānau. As such, families/whānau will be required to participate in the programme evaluation, which will include completing an interview and survey.
If you are interested, please email earlysteps@autismnz.org.nz for more information or fill in the service request form overleaf. Alternatively, you can complete the online referral form.
This week, Paula Tesoriero started as the CEO of Whaikaha, the new disability ministry. She said in an interview with Q&A one of her key priorities was to change attitudes toward disabilities and people with a disability.
Education and Housing will still sit within their respective ministries.
Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, asked disability support providers to give feedback within 24 hours on the Government's proposal to "significantly narrow" where masks had to be worn during the still-active pandemic.
IHC Group chief executive Ralph Jones was among those concerned about the short timeframe.
"We are concerned that with this tight deadline, the voices of disabled people on this issue haven’t been properly heard.
"We know that people with intellectual disabilities are a high-risk population in terms of the negative health effects of Covid-19, and we want to ensure that all the incredibly hard work our staff have put in to date to protect the people we support isn’t undone."
We are aware that the prospect of more Covid 19 protections being removed is deeply upsetting to many in our community - particularly our parents with immune compromised tamariki.
Please contact your GP if you’re struggling - we know changes to mask mandates and Covid 19 protections can be extremely distressing to our immune compromised and medically fragile families.
Support:
Parent Help – 0800 568 856 for parents/whānau seeking support, advice and practical strategies on all parenting concerns. Anonymous, non-judgemental and confidential.
Family Services 211 Helpline – 0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community based health and social support services in your area.
Skylight – 0800 299 100 for support through trauma, loss and grief; 9am–5pm weekdays.
Remember: You’re doing great. Times are really difficult right now with this active and ongoing pandemic. It is making life even harder for many families. You are not alone if you’re finding it tough.
Practice self-compassion. The three core elements of self compassion are:
Self-kindness - Remind yourself you’re doing your best and your best is good enough.
Common humanity - Remind yourself that others are feeling the same, you’re not alone. Others are struggling right now too.
Mindfulness - Remind yourself that it takes only a few minutes to think: How can I be kind to myself right now? How can I share care for myself? How can I be gentle with myself?
Treat yourself as gently as you would your own child.
This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need. — Kristin Neff
The Awhi platform is on a break right now but we’re still here to support you in emails and by DM while we work on fixing the bugs!
Arohanui, the Awhi team.
