Kia ora friends,
The end of the year is so close. We know it’s been a challenging year for so many in our community. There’s been joy but also isolation. We hope now the Awhi platform is better set up now to provide a space for our community to come together to support, celebrate, and uplift each other.
We’re grateful for your feedback and would still love to get more feedback from you.
Some events coming up….
Make Your Noise is a grassroots creative variety show in Tāmaki Makaurau. They have created an amazing event that strives to make shows safer for our community. They’re walking the talk by including Covid-19 safety measures at their end of the year show. They’re giving away free tickets for those who return a negative RAT. More info here.
The Family Network NZ is hosting a workshop for parents in Napier on Thursday 1 December from 9.30am to 3pm. The workshop will cover the following:
What does the future look like for you and your family member with an intellectual impairment?
What safeguards are needed to secure the future of your son or daughter with an intellectual impairment?
Successful strategies used by other parents will be shared.
Morning tea and Lunch will be provided and there is no cost to attend. The workshop is at Greenmeadows East Community Hall. Register here.
Altogether Autism hosts fortnightly Zooms for adult Autistics. There are two groups - ages 18 to 26 and ages 26+. You can find information about these events here.
Throughout November for Diabetes Action Month, Diabetes New Zealand has events across the country. Find out more here.
Online Bereavement Monthly Drop-In Group - Child Cancer NZ has a monthly drop-in support group on the last Monday of each month and is open to all parents who have lost their child to cancer. More information here.
In the news….
Pleas for complete overhaul of teacher aide funding system - Schools are hopeful a review into how teacher aides are funded will start changing a cumbersome system that is leaking money and not giving children what they need.
COP27 summit: NZ group lobbies for more disabled people's involvement - A group of New Zealanders is fighting for those with disabilities to have more of a voice and proper support at UN climate conferences.
Disability sector facing critical staffing crisis and calling for more carers - Young people living with a disability say there are not enough workers of a similar age, bringing stigma and shame when out in public.
Siouxsie Wiles: Is New Zealand an outlier on second boosters? - We’re not alone in restricting them to certain sections of the population. But on another important measure Aotearoa is well behind its peers.
Timaru dojo leading the way for people with disabilities in karate.
BayTrust Disability Scholarship: Students urged to apply for share of $100k fund
Awhi resources:
How can you strengthen bonds between disabled and non-disabled siblings?
Five tips to help you advocate for your neurodivergent child at school.
Community action opportunities…
Pharmac is currently consulting on a change to rule 8.1b of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, which could limit access to life saving, changing and extending medicines for Kiwi kids with cancer. Instead of taking medicines away from children with cancer, advocates want Pharmac to extend rule 8.1b to all New Zealand children living with illness. Sign here.
Advocates have a new petition calling for funding for life-saving CGMs for 26,000 people living with Type 1 Diabetes in New Zealand. Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) read blood glucose levels 24-7. The small sensors worn on the body are funded throughout the developed world, including Australia and the UK. Sign here.
Please feel free to get in touch hello@awhingamatua.org.nz or just reply to this email.
Arohanui, Emily & the Awhi team.