17th September 2025 at 07:30 PM Online Support Meeting for Parents of Children with Regression Disorder The NZDSA is hosting another online support meeting for parents of children diagnosed with regression disorder. This will be an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and support one another. Details: Focus: Sharing and support (not for medical advice) Join […]
Focus: Improved Futures-Improved Lives Audience: All It is your North Star Gives power and strength when things go wrong Soon after his birth, Garry and Bridget were determined to create a life for Alex that would follow the same path as his siblings. They wanted him to have a strong sense of belonging in his […]
Meeting ID: 826 6258 2918Passcode: 992960
Meeting ID: 880 8355 1384Passcode: 927886
Focus: Improved Futures-Improved Lives Audience: Parents, whānau and professionals Krissy will talk about her journey as a parent of not one but two sons with Down syndrome. Krissy’s story includes initial birth and diagnosis, to living with a medically fragile child and his influence after a brief time in this world. Krissy also talks about […]
Focus: Improved Supported Decision-Making-Improved Lives Audience: All Supported decision-making is central to people having the support and lives they want, need, and deserve. In this presentation, Brigit will talk about what supported decision-making is and why it is such an important part of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She […]
Focus: Improved Celebrations–Improved Lives Audience: All All people with Down syndrome have talents and treasures to share with their communities. In this presentation, Brian Skotko draws upon success stories in his co-authored national award-winning book, Common Threads: Celebrating Life with Down Syndrome, to enable parents, professionals, and friends to discover the potential of all people with […]
Focus: Improved Health - Improved Lives Audience: Parents, whānau and professionals This presentation will cover what the current level of knowledge is on Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD), including what it is and what to do about it.
Focus: Improved Supported Decision-Making-Improved Lives Audience: All This session will introduce you to Whaimana | Support My Decisions. Whaimana is a new website for decision-makers, supporters, and support agencies to learn about Supported Decision-Making. It has been built by the community in partnership with government, and is the first place to get started with supported decision-making.
Focus: Improved Data-Improved Lives Audience: Parents, whānau and professionals In 2023, IHC released a landmark report using New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), a large government database holding information on nine million people. This research exposed stark inequities faced by people with intellectual disability, including much poorer health outcomes, higher rates of chronic illness, and […]
Focus: Improved Health-Improved Lives Audience: All In this presentation, Dr Brian Skotko reviews all of the questions and concerns that parents most often have about their sons and daughters with Down syndrome. He provides the answers and action steps, stemming from the latest clinical research on people with Down syndrome. Based on his clinical experience […]
Focus: Improved Education/Employment-Improved Lives Audience: Parents, whānau and professionals This presentation explores how education and employment systems can better support people with Down syndrome. Grant will highlight systemic barriers and share practical strategies to create equitable opportunities that value their strengths and contributions of the people we support. He will also spend time exploring ideas that […]