Spectrum Foundation

08/06/2026

It's not often we hear about AI being used for good, but this is one of those times.

Kara Technologies has partnered with the National Foundation for Deaf & Hard of Hearing to develop AI-powered avatars capable of delivering real-time New Zealand Sign Language translations. The technology is designed to help bridge gaps when interpreters aren't immediately available, including for public transport updates and emergency information.

Technology can't replace NZSL interpreters, but when it's developed alongside the communities it's intended to serve, it has the potential to remove barriers and improve access to information. We're excited to see innovation being used in ways that support inclusion in Aotearoa. 🎉

AI avatars will provide additional support in situations where the Deaf community may face delays or lack access to interpreters.

26/05/2026

There’s a lot happening right now across the disability community in Aotearoa.

That’s why this kaupapa, led by Disabled Persons Assembly NZ - DPA, matters.

Finding Common Ground is bringing disabled people, Deaf people, tāngata whaikaha Māori, whānau, and carers together to shape a shared Declaration of Disabled People’s Rights in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Not something written about people.
Something built with them.

Spectrum Foundation is proud to support this mahi.

👉 The first public survey is now open: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZ6WNYP

It’s a chance to help shape what this declaration becomes and what it stands for. Please add your voice and share it with your village.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

18/05/2026

$385,000 invested in disabled-led kaupapa. 🤎

Our latest funding round supports five organisations creating change across Aotearoa.

From employment pathways in Whangārei to housing support in Auckland, and strengthening disability rights and connection nationwide, each initiative is grounded in the leadership and lived experience of disabled people.

Take a look at the organisations we’re backing this round, and follow along for the next round opening in June.

🏷️ The D List NZ, Gig Buddies Auckland, Disabled Persons Assembly NZ - DPA, Disability Connect

15/05/2026

Happy Pink Shirt Day! 👚

This is our Head Office whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau. Across the motu, more of our teams and the people we support are marking the day in homes and services. We’ll share those pictures as soon as we have them.

Pink Shirt Day Aotearoa is about noticing bullying and doing something about it.

And for disabled people in Aotearoa, this matters. A lot.

Research shows disabled people experience bullying, victimisation, and violence at significantly higher rates than the general population. At school. At work. In everyday life.

So today isn’t just about wearing pink. It’s about paying attention. Today, tomorrow, and every day of the year.

Our tāngata whaikaha are already navigating a world that wasn’t built with them in mind. How we treat each other within it matters.

07/05/2026

History can be forgotten.
Not because it lost its meaning, but because time moves.

This taonga, now brought back to life as a mural by our kaimahi Paula and Karen, carries the Te Wai Kahukura Atawhai emblem. A symbol gifted to Spectrum Care Trust through the Awhi Group many years ago. A group established to support the needs of Māori within the organisation and strengthen understanding across our people.

Its message is simple, but enduring: to blossom and nurture.

That kaupapa still lives here.

Last month, during the launch of our Whakamanawa programme, the mural was presented back to the organisation on behalf of the Awhi Group. A moment to remember where this mahi began, and the people who helped shape it.

Whakamanawa means to enable the heart. To inspire. To empower.

The programme will help our kaimahi build confidence in te ao Māori, tikanga, and everyday practice, deepening understanding and connection in the work we do.

This mural is a reminder that this kaupapa did not begin today.
It has been carried by many hands.

Ngā mihi to Paula and Karen for bringing this taonga forward again, and to the Awhi Group for helping ensure its story continues.

16/04/2026

How lucky are we to receive boxes like this? 📦✨

Our friends at EUGY by dodoland regularly support our kaupapa by donating these eco-friendly 3D puzzles. From here, they make their way into our services, like our school holiday programmes, where they’re always a hit.

Something to focus on.
Something to build.
Something to take home.

There’s a real sensory joy in them, and so many to collect.

We even have one of our own. The Unicorn Sky EUGY, with 10% of profits going to Spectrum Foundation to support opportunities for disabled people and their whānau.

Thank you again to dodoland for the ongoing support.

01/04/2026

Another beautiful year at the Illuminate Night Market, a kaupapa by Recreate NZ. ✨

Held at the Mt Albert War Memorial Hall & Reserve in Tāmaki Makaurau, the event brought together disabled creatives and entrepreneurs from around the region to showcase their incredible talents.

Spectrum Foundation is proud to help fund this initiative, and it was great to see our wider Spectrum whānau there too, including Spectrum Care, Spectrum Care Media Lab, and Gig Buddies Auckland.

Take a look at some moments from the night, captured by Ignacio Navarro. 📸

15/03/2026

This incredible wahine is traveling from Auckland to Bluff, raising Aotearoa's collective awareness of autism. Check out the community workshops she has planned here: https://www.xabilities.com/events

We're proud to support Xabilities, but even prouder of Tamara. Using one's lived experience to bring about change is never easy, but it's powerful. She shows us that every day. 💗

11/03/2026

Here's something to put in your calendar. ✨

Illuminate Night Market is returning to Mt Albert.

Hosted by Recreate NZ, this FREE community event celebrates the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of people with diverse abilities. Expect handcrafted goods, kai, performances, and activities for the whole whānau.

📍 Mt Albert War Memorial Hall
📅 Saturday 28 March
⏰ 4pm – 8pm

Spectrum Foundation is proud to support this kaupapa alongside the Albert-Eden Local Board. You might even spot a few familiar faces from Spectrum Care services there too.

Learn more: https://www.recreate.org.nz/illuminate

12/02/2026

We’re proud to help fund the mahi happening Glass Ceiling Arts Collective, and wanted to share their upcoming kaupapa.

Ahi After Mahuika is a multi-sensory theatre experience inspired by the Māori goddess of fire 🔥, created with accessibility at its core.

Audiences are invited to engage through sound, light, touch and rhythm, and can move and respond at their own pace. It’s especially well suited for Disabled audiences, including people with high support needs and those who are sensory-seeking.

If you’re connected to a school, disability service or community group, this is well worth a look.

$15 per person, with free companion tickets.

🎟️ Learn more and book here: https://www.glassceilingartscollective.com/events