Information and advice
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Advocacy
A health and disability advocate can help you have a fair chance to be heard, make decisions and live the way you choose.
You can seek a health and disability advocate if you feel your rights under the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights have been breached and you aren’t sure what to do to resolve the issue.
Altogether Autism
Altogether Autism is an organisation created in partnership between Your Way Kia Roha and Parent to Parent NZ, funded by The New Zealand Government.
Services provided
- Evidence-based autism information and advice on any topic related to autism across the lifespan. Information is provided via website live chat or personalised information packs. Complex information requests are compiled by researchers and/or people with lived experience.
- Articles and annual Journal covering a range of topics, including life stage transitions, school, gender identity, anxiety, and being authentically autistic.
- Face to face and online workshops for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of autistic and neurodivergent children and ways to support them.
- Weekly and fortnightly Zoom meetings ‘By Autistics for Autistics’ providing autistic adults with a safe place for connection and understanding.
- The target audience is autistic people, their families, whānau and carers, and professionals.
Auckland Down Syndrome Association
The Auckland Down Syndrome Association (ADSA) is a family/whanāu support organisation. They provide information and support for people with Down syndrome and their families.
They provide access to a number of local support groups for mums and dads with young babies and children with Down syndrome. This also includes social clubs for people with Down syndrome aged 13 to 17 and 18 and over. They provide ongoing links to other members by creating opportunities for people with Down syndrome and their families to meet regularly through social events such as the annual Community Big Picnic.
You can be an ADSA member for free. As a member you’ll receive a pack about:
- Down syndrome for new families.
- transitioning to school.
- services available in Auckland for people with Down syndrome and their families.
Autism NZ
An organisation providing support, education, and information on autism.
Services provided:
- Autism information and support, including diagnostic support.
- Supported employment programme for adults.
- Education programmes for families and schools.
Carers New Zealand
An organisation providing advice, learning and support for carers.
Services provided
- NZ Carers Alliance – a free membership group that advocates for the needs of carers with other organisations and government.
- Information and advice about supporting someone as a carer, supporting the person needing care, and services available for carers.
- The target audience is people who care for a member of their family, whānau or aiga with a disability or other health condition.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Probably one of the most accessible and recognisable community information centres in New Zealand, many people go to CAB to access JPs, ask information about WINZ benefits, superannuation and immigration queries–all for FREE. They usually hold office in a library or community centre near you. You can also visit their website for a whole lot of information about supports and other financial aid available to you.
Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights
In New Zealand, when you use a health and disability service you have the protection of the Code of Rights.
For example, you have the right to receive good care and support that suits your needs. You also have the right to make a complaint if you are not happy with the care and support you receive. The Health and Disability Commissioner makes sure that your rights as a health service user is protected.
Disability Information Advisory Services (DIAS)
DIAS provide independent information and advice to disabled people, their families, whānau, aiga, caregivers and providers and the general public.
They can tell you about Ministry-funded and non-Ministry funded disability support services, and how you can find them.
DIAS are also called disability information centres.
There are a handful of DIAS in Auckland and we recommend that you get in touch with one that’s near you or feel comfortable talking to.
Explore the Whaikaha website and the Federation of Disability Information Services for more information.
Enabling Good Lives
Enabling Good Lives (EGL) is a different approach in supporting disabled people. The disability sector (which is made up of disabled people, whānau, carers, disability organisations) and government agencies are working together to ensure disabled people and their families are given greater choice, control and flexibility over the supports they receive and the way they lead their lives.
IHC Library
IHC is an organisation primarily supporting people with intellectual disabilities but provides support to people with a wider range of disabilities too. Their online library has resources on a range of disabilities and topics. May be helpful to explain challenging topics to children with disabilities, such as puberty.
A free book for parents is available for parents of a child aged 0-24 with ASD or intellectual disability.
The target audience is disabled people and their families. A person joining the library must be over 18 years old.
New Zealand Disability Strategy and Disability Action Plan
New Zealand Disability Strategy looks at the big picture of how the New Zealand Government will do what it agreed to in the Disability Convention. The strategy lasts for 10 years from 2016 to 2026.
The eight outcomes in the strategy are:
- Education
- Jobs and money
- Health and wellbeing
- Accessibility
- Disabled people as leaders
- Disabled people having choices and control over their own lives
- Protecting the rights of disabled people
- Attitudes towards disability
The Disability Action Plan outlines what work needs to be done to make the New Zealand Disability Strategy happen. The plan explains what New Zealand should do from 2019 to 2023.
North Shore Women’s Centre
Providing support services for women experiencing difficult and challenging times to help them become stronger in their choices and lives. They offer:
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free legal clinic
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free social work service
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low cost counselling
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assessment service
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information and referral.
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association New Zealand
They are an information and support network that aims to enhance the lives of those living with Prader-Willi syndrome in New Zealand by providing advocacy, education and support services to families affected by PWS, and to those who work with people living with PWS.
Their website talks about how to support your teen towards gaining more independence.
The D* List
An online magazine aimed at building the culture of inclusivity and acceptance of New Zealanders with disabilities.
Services provided:
- Stories on people, opinions, lifestyle, and news.
- Options to access content via written, audio, and video mediums.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This is the international agreement on the rights of disabled people. It is also called the Disability Convention.
It sets out what countries have to do to make sure that disabled people have the same rights as everybody else.
Some of the basic ideas of the agreement are:
- disabled people are to be respected for who they are
- everyone should have equal opportunities and equal access
- disabled children should be respected for who they are as they grow up.
Some of the things New Zealand has agreed to are:
- making rules and laws that give disabled people their rights and changing any laws that aren’t fair
- making sure the rights of disabled people to be treated equally are included in all policies
- doing as much as they can to make sure no one discriminates against disabled people.
Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People
The Ministry of Disabled People was set up to give a voice to the disabled community. They are the first government agency in the world established for disabled people. Their aim is to provide disability system leadership across government and focus on removing barriers and bringing about societal changes that improve the lives of disabled people.
Since 2011, they are no longer in charge of Disability Support Services (DSS). DSS is now provided by the Ministry of Social Development.