Happy New Year - let's find hope together
Your Awhi newsletter
Kia ora Awhi friends!
We hope you were able to have some moments of respite and enjoyment throughout the Summer break.
We are back with a newsletter full of pānui, for our community, by our community and about our community.
As always you can find us on Instagram and Facebook and you can read articles on our website. You might notice our website looks a little different. We are working on making it as accessible as possible. We’d love to get your feedback. As always, you can email us at hello@awhingamatua.org.nz
It feels like it has been a difficult start to the year for the world - from wildfires to earthquakes we have seen the impact disasters and climate crimes can have on our disabled loved ones and their families.
What should we do when the news is frightening? When the world seems unjust?
I believe hope is an antidote to despair. Hope motivates us, it whispers in our ear when we are tired that we must keep going. Research indicates that hope can help us manage stress and anxiety and cope with adversity. According to researcher C.R. Snyder hope implies that there is the possibility of a better future.
Courage and confidence go hand-in-hand with hope. Gratitude does too. We need all of four in our life to be the best parents we can be. But it’s a work in progress - it’s an active pursuit.
I was inspired by this poem by Nikita Gill and I hope you are too.
Everything is on fire,
but everyone I love is doing beautiful things
and trying to make life worth living,
and I know I don’t have to believe in everything,
but I believe in that.
- Nikita Gill
I hope wherever you are you can find hope. You’re not alone. We’re with you.
Arohanui, Emily and the Awhi team.
On the Awhi website:
How can I help my pre-schooler at home? Early Intervention is a term for putting in place extra support for children with disabilities or developmental delays from the age of birth to five-years-old.
What is hyperfocus? What is hyperfixation? If you or your family are neurodivergent in some way, you may have come across the following terms: hyperfocus or hyperfixation, special interest, and stimming. Awhi has explainers on them all.
Help! My local school does not want to enrol my disabled child - What can I do?
What health services are available to help my child thrive?
What is available to help my child with their learning challenges?
How do I get ORS funding for my child? And what to do if you’re declined funding…
How do you home school a neurodivergent child?
Five tips to help you advocate for your neurodivergent child at school
Writing from our community:
The desecration of public health via
Nowadays I enjoy beach views via friends shared pictures on instagram.
Home is a safe ‘shadow’ now, it’s familiar and it’s predictable. But home can be a sanctuary and a prison all in one. That’s what my trip to the beach has reminded me.
Why do false claims that vaccines cause autism refuse to die? Here are nine reasons via The Conversation.
Stronger together: The power in community via
Christchurch fights back in protest to funding cuts via
News and views:
Calls to make banking more accessible for people with disabilities
'There will be deaths because of this' - Warning over Health NZ IT cuts
Stretched to the limit: The anguish of families waiting on disability funding
Is it okay to ask someone about their disability?
Hundreds more jobs set to go at Health New Zealand
The hidden toll of government cuts on the disability community
Survivor of brain infection worries disability funding changes will stall recovery
The Remarkable Normalcy of Being Disabled and in Love
Shane Reti out as Health Minister as PM makes major cabinet reshuffle
Whooping cough death highlights failures in healthcare system - Māori paediatrician
New Health Minister: Health NZ executive will have to change
Australia now has a national autism strategy. Here's what's in it and why it's needed
Events for the community:
"Glitz and Glam' is a dance with a light supper and non alcoholic drinks provided. There is a cash bar available for those wanting an alcoholic beverage.
It is open to all people with intellectual disabilities in the Wellington Region. There is a maximum number of 300, so first in best served.
Date: Friday 21st Feb from 6.30pm to 10.00pm
Where: Lower Hutt Events Centre, 30C Laings Rd, Lower Hutt.
RSVP: Required by sending ihc.events@ihc.org.nz the name of the person(s) wishing to attend along with any dietary requirements.
YES Disability are inviting disabled men 18+ years old to join us in discussing our mental health. This group was created by disabled men, for disabled men. This group aims to normalise the discussion of mental health challenges among disabled men.
Our first session of the year will be on the 19th of February, located at YES Disability Resource Centre in Albany. Interested? Email Abdulla at abdulla@yesdisability.org.nz
The Altogether Autism Journal is seeking submissions! The theme for this year is 'Autistic and… making the invisible visible, autism and other health conditions.'
If you have ideas about how your Autistic experiences intersect with other parts of your life? From health to identity, Altogether Autism would love to hear your pitches.
Email them at editor@altogetherautism.org.nz with your article concept. The deadline for concept submissions is 31 January 2025. The deadline for final content is 10 February 2025.
Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono are hosting their third round of Belonging Conversations – an annual series of facilitated round-table conversations led by Tāhono to explore shifts in people’s sense of belonging and inclusion across Aotearoa. More info here.
Arts for Health have an adult art workshop that would be great for parents and carers to join for self care. The class aims to boost your well-being through painting, drawing, and sculpture with expert guidance from an arts therapist. “This is the perfect class for personal reflection and growth using art” - Arts for Health.
Moana 2 sensory screening - EVENT Cinemas are running a series of sensory screenings at many of their cinemas nationwide from January to April. The locations are EVENT Cinemas Albany, Manukau, St Lukes, Westcity, Chartwell, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Queensgate, Tauranga Crossing. The costs are $12 per ticket. More info here.
Please let us know if you have any events you’d like us to share. As always you can contact us by commenting below, replying to this email or you can find us on Instagram and Facebook. You can also email us at hello@awhingamatua.org.nz.
