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

World Down Syndrome Day

On Wednesday 12 March the NZDSA celebrated World Down Syndrome Day at Government House Wellington. At our annual T4T event three national achievements awards were presented.

The Dominion Post, in addition to running photographs from yesterday's High Tea, have also included a short video, which can be viewed here:

www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4437362a6479.html
www.gg.govt.nz/media/images.asp

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD)

Click to enlarge

We need your help and support to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD)!!

In 2008, March 21 is on Good Friday so we have decided to celebrate WDSD throughout the month of March.

If you are interested in hosting a T4T event in your region in support of WDSD, 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

The NZDSA is calling for nominations for the 2007 National Achievement Awards

These awards recognise the achievements of people with Down syndrome during the year.

The awards will be announced in March at our National T4T event to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day.

We need to receive all the nomination forms by Thursday 31 January 2008. You can access a nomination form by downloading it from here or emailing national.coordinator@nzdsa.org.nz or ringing Linda or Zandra 0800 693 724.

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 consultation period for the strategy closed on the 17 September 2007.

A short version of the consultation document (six pages) can be downloaded at www.msd.govt.nz (follow links to Carers' Strategy). Or download the complete document from here.