Primary aims:
• To inform and support families/whanau whose lives have
been changed by Down syndrome
• To promote and advocate for positive attitudes
• To promote the rights and inclusion of people with Down
syndrome
• To review policies and lobby government, and other agencies
The NZDSA offers:
• new parent support - through trained support parents
• national coordinator
• regional groups - activities throughout thirteen centres
in New Zealand including coffee mornings, family events, guest
speakers and individual support and advocacy
• newsletter - a quarterly update of news, information
and stories, sent to all members
• information packs - for schools, professionals, family
and friends
• website www.nzdsa.org.nz
• freephone number 0800 NZDSAI - so parents and professionals
can easily be linked to support parents or a central information
number
Southern Stars Charitable Trust
SOUTHERN STARS CHARITABLE TRUST, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NZ DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION WILL BE CALLING THROUGHOUT THE GREATER AUCKLAND REGION TO RAISE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO ALLOW THE NZDSA TO HOST THEIR SELF-ADVOCACY CAMP AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE PROJECTS .Your support is greatly appreciated . The campaign will run from the 22 June 2009 until the end of July 2009. Visit www.southernstars.org.nz to find out more about the work of Southern Stars Charitable Trust
Speech and language book online
Speech, language and communication for individuals with Down syndrome - An overview, by Sue Buckley, is now available in full online. www.down-syndrome.org/information/language/overview/?dm_i=319430191
This book examines what is understood about speech and language development for young people with Down syndrome and the principles of effective intervention and teaching support.
This is one of many books in the Down Syndrome Issues and Information Education Series. Further online editions will be available over the coming weeks.
Who gets born?
The Bioethics Council has released a report presenting the findings of the 'Who gets born? Pre-birth testing' project, which was run in 2007 and early 2008. It includes sections on the public deliberation process used for the project, how participants worked through the issues, and the Council thinking and recommendations to the government.
The report is available here.
Collection Of Evidence Of Practices That Prevent Disabled Children Fully Participating At Their Local School.
IHC is currently preparing a complaint to the Human Rights Commission against practices that exclude disabled children from full participation at their local school. Families are invited to participate in this complaint... more
21 March - World Down Syndrome Day
Down Syndrome International has officially designated 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The date was chosen to signify the uniqueness of Down syndrome in the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome and is used synonymously with Down syndrome, hence the date 21/03.
What is T4T?
T4T is a catchy title for a concept which is centred on tea parties. Tea 4 Trisomy 21 refers to the third copy of chromosome 21and the date of World Down Syndrome Day. T4T parties will be an opportunity to raise awareness of Down syndrome in the community.
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD)
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If you are interested in hosting a T4T event in your region in 2010,
please register your interest so that we can send you a quick guide information pack.
Please contact Zandra 0800 693 724 or national.coordinator@nzdsa.org.nz
Announcing the Transition Process DVD
A resource package for parents and educators who are transitioning children into Daycare, Kindy and School.
The NZDSA's objective for this DVD is:
- to provide parents with information and support to facilitate a successful transition process
- to support and present information to educators involved with the transition process
- to provide a generic resource explaining the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Scheme (ORRS) and Transition, and
- to raise awareness and promote inclusion.
The Transition Process DVD follows the stories of the families featured in
We welcome your Baby which is part of the New Parent Pack. It also introduces a few new families.
The DVD consists of the following sections:
- Transition overview (7mins)
- Our stories (33mins)
- ORRS Funding (10mins)
- Daycare and Kindy (15mins)
- Dual Diagnosis (8mins)
- Educators' Perspectives (15mins).
The NZDSA has put together a Transition to Daycare, Kindy and School Pack which consists of:
- The Transition Process DVD
- the booklet Starting School by the Ministry of Education
- a poster Code for New Zealand Schools by IHC.
NZDSA members who have children with Down syndrome between the ages of 3-6 are entitled to one free copy of the DVD pack. Parents may request the Transition Pack from National office - please call Linda te Kaat, the National Administrator 0800 693 724 press 2 or email her.
Parents or educators who are not members of the NZDSA can purchase the packs for $20.00. Please contact Linda as well.
Carers Strategy Update
The Government has launched the Carers' Strategy and we have formally entered the five year Action Plan period. You can access the Strategy and Action Plan document by going to www.carers.net.nz and clicking the homepage Strategy button, which links directly to the document at MSD's website. Or you can access the online document at www.msd.govt.nz
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