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 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 […]