http://www.strongertogether.nz/

Stronger Together Conference NZ, Hamilton (2026)

29/02/2024

Wonderful to have The Lucy Foundation join us at conference and see the interns doing so well making, pouring and serving sustainable, accessible empowering and incredible coffee! Who knew drinking coffee could empower and promote so many people? I’ll raise a coffee cup to that! Thank you team! 🥳🎉🫶

28/02/2024

Thank you to everyone who came by to say hi to us at Stronger Together Conference NZ ! We absolutely loved seeing so many of you who had joined us over the weekend! So huge thank you!!

We can’t wait to continue connecting with you!

Did you attend Show Your Ability yesterday? What was your favourite highlight? Let us know!

ID: Photo shows people gathered around the Kylee & Co and Clipboard table. The Stronger Togetger banner is up from over the weekend.

27/02/2024

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who attended our 2024 Stronger Together Conference!!! 🎉🥳

Whether you were an attendee, volunteer, a contributor, sponsor, speaker, or organiser (or had attended in any other capacity). It is every single one of you who made it everything it was. And for that, as our first ever conference, THANK YOU!!!

We would LOVE to hear your feedback, thoughts and highlights from the day, let us know below, or send us an email to: [email protected]

— Stronger Together Conference Team.

ID: 8 photos sharing highlights through the day. 1. Kylee + Videographer sit and stand next to each other arms folded and smiling. 2. Panel speakers shown from towards the back of stage. 3. Bryony sitting on stage in her wheelchair being thanked by Kylee also in her chair, photo taken from behind Kylee. 4. Annick’s workshop with people around the table as she speaks. 5. Mike & Sarah on stage for their workshop. 6. Panel discussion with 6 panelists and interviewer. 7. Kylee speaking on stage in her power chair. 8. Dylan( Interactionz) graphic draws the morning talks. Finished drawing is on the wall. He smiles with a big thumbs up.

23/02/2024

— INTENTIONAL NETWORKING EVENT —

Our intentional networking event being held from 2.45pm - 3.45pm today as part of our conference — and it is all about engaging and connecting in conversations with others on different subjects.

Each table will run for 20 minutes. There will be 3 different chances top swap tables to different subject options that you are interested in. 🥳🥰

We have 13 table topics include the following:

➡️ Accessibility and Accessible Transport
➡️ My Rights and Speaking up for myself
➡️ Making friends / Dating & Relationships
➡️ The Power of Inclusive Art
➡️ The Power of Managing Supports
➡️ Connecting & Engaging with Maori Communities
➡️ Walking the Walk with Disability in the Whanau
➡️ Connecting into Sport and Activity Opportunities
➡️ Youth Transition / Now & Next
➡️ Connecting into Community
➡️ Engaging with Hamilton City Council
➡️ One to One Friendship
➡️Complex Care Pharmacy Services (South City Pharmacy).

What subjects interest you the most? Whether you are attending conference today or you are following the journey — Let us know what interests you! We look forward to the korero!!

23/02/2024

— LIVED EXPERIENCE PANEL —

We are so excited to have our lived experience panel join us today as they share their insights, perspectives and their wisdom with us all. 🥰💪🏽

They will share with us all from 1.25pm - 2.15pm.

A range of disabled person and whanau voices with the input of female, male, youth, and Maori, we are honoured and excited for this dialogue!!

We have amazing guests that includes:

➡️ Ollie Goulden — Disabled male voice
➡️ Sarah Clarke — Disabled female youth voice
➡️ Mike Fellows — Whanau (partner) male voice
➡️ Charity Smith — Whanau (parent) female voice
➡️ Melissa Janson — Whanau (sibling) female voice
➡️ Rodney Bell — Disabled male Māori voice

Some questions we are going to ask are….

🔥 Can you briefly introduce yourself?
🔥 How has your disability experience shaped your leadership journey?
🔥 What's one misconception about your experience of disability you wish people understood better?
🔥 Why is collaboration crucial for individuals with disabilities?
🔥 What does “Stronger Together” mean to you?

Do you have questions you have always wanted to ask others? Let us know them below! ⬇️⬇️⤵️

23/02/2024

Check out our awesome schedule! Wahoooo!

23/02/2024

— SECOND WORKSHOP OPTIONS INCLUDE —

Our incredible second workshop sessions will take place from 11.40am - 12.10pm. Pick from one of the amazing two workshops to attend below:

1. Knowing our legal rights and how to advocate for them. Nan Jensen and Auckland Disability Law. (Held in the auditorium)

2. Expanding your support circles on your leadership pathway. With Janine Morrah (held in the gymnasium.)

Have a read of more of the detail for these below:

1. Knowing our legal rights and how to advocate for them. Nan Jensen and Auckland Disability Law.

Nan Jensen is a lawyer in sole practice who specialises in Disability Law. She lives in Hamilton with her husband and their dog. Nan is autistic and so are two of her four adult children. She decided to study law after taking a successful arbitration case against the Ministry of Education to retain ORRS funding for her son. Nan is on the Steering Committee of Auckland Disability Law, the EGL Waikato Core Group, the Committee of Parafed Waikato and she is a director of Spectrum Care Limited and of her law firm, Better Lives Legal Limited. She has been a support person for Parent to Parent for many years. Nan has been running workshops about Disability Law for disabled people and their families as well as professionals since 2011. She is also a Director of The Disability Trustee Limited, a company that provides independent Trustee services for family trusts that have a beneficiary with a disability.

2. Expanding your support circles on your leadership pathway. With Janine Morrah.

Come along and experience a fun and creative way to set goals, unpack them into small, achievable steps and with each step expand your circles of support.

23/02/2024

— FIRST WORKSHOP OPTION INCLUDES —

Our first workshop sessions today will be taking place from 10.50am — 11.20am. Pick from one of these two fantastic workshop options below…

1. The Life Changing Impact of Adaptive and Assistive Technology — With Clipboard hosted by Mike Fellows + Sarah Clarke (held in Auditorium)

2. “Knowing your Strengths” — With Annick and Melissa Jensen. (held in the Gymnasium)

The information for these are both below:

1. The Life Changing Impact of Adaptive and Assistive Technology —
Discover the transformative impact of adaptive and assistive technology in the lives of disabled individuals. Hear firsthand accounts of how everyday accessible tech is changing lives. Explore affordable options and future innovations. Join us for an interactive engaging discussion on the life-changing potential of assistive technology.

2. “Find Your Strengths” —
Our strengths are a core part of our identity. We all have different strengths which we bring to the fore in different circumstances. Our 'signature strengths' are our top strengths - they are positive qualities that energize us, that support us to perform well, and that increase our wellbeing and mental/emotional health. Research shows however, that we are not always fully aware of how we choose which signature strength we use to overcome what challenges. Participants receive a fun kit to identify their signature strengths and reflect on how to use them.

Image Description: 4 photo profiles showing each guest speaker: Mike Fellows, Sarah Clarke, Annick Janson, Melissa Janson.

23/02/2024

Hi team!

We are so excited to bring you this event today!!

Our website is loaded with the full programme — this includes our keynote speaker, workshops and the bio of each on offer, our panelists for the lived experience panel, and our intentional networking event with the table topic that we have on offer!

We will be posting the details for key parts of the day direct to Facebook for you today. We will also have some printed schedules just in case as also.

All the hard work and Mahi we have put in is here!!

Let’s do this!!!!! 🤗👏🏽🕺🏻💃🙌🏽🥳 fr

23/02/2024

Have any last minute questions or queeries?Send any of your questions or confirmations to [email protected] and we will be on the answering any last minute emails tonight.

We are super excited to see you all tomorrow!!

22/02/2024

We are excited to have Sarah Clarke join us for our ‘lived experience panel’ session, where she will share insights gained from navigating disability as a youth advocate. Sarah will also join Mike Fellows as a part of Clipboard workshop session as they explore the transformative, life changing power of "Assistive and Adaptive Technology" and how simple things can make the biggest differences.

Have a read of Sarah’s bio below:

Sarah Clarke, a resilient and accomplished young adult, has triumphed over adversity with a spirit of empowerment. As a graphic designer, she draws inspiration from personal experiences to celebrate inclusivity through design.

With a visionary mindset, this twenty-year-old from Waikato aspires to contribute to the world of assistive technology, designing solutions to empower others and foster inclusivity. Sarah believes in seizing opportunities, embracing greatness.

Description: Sarah has a photo taken in a studio. She has long brown hair and wears a Halberg Foundation Youth Council hoodie. There is a plain background behind her. She smiles at the camera.

22/02/2024

Did you know that our upcoming conference has been disabled-led with the support of disabled whanau? Despite not ever being professional event planners, their small team and its ENORMOUS dedication, heart + passion has fueled every aspect of bringing this event to life. We are creating a space where we can together connect, collaborate, get behind one another, encourage, empower, uplift, and support one another — Community is EVERYTHING!

The most exciting part? This conference, as an event, is the beginning of the conversation, not the end of it. So let’s unite for a day of connection, community-building, and mutual support. “Alone we can go far, but together we can go further."

💙✨

22/02/2024

ONE DAY TO GO!!!!

Do you have everything good to go?

➡️ Ticket ✅
➡️ Address ✅
➡️ Time it starts ✅
➡️ Read through the FB page for updates ✅
➡️ Found your favourite workshop options ✅
➡️ Read over our lived experience panelists? ✅
➡️ Read Intentional Networking Event table topics that are on offer to chose from on day? ✅
➡️ Sent us a message or email with questions? 🤭

We can’t wait to see you TOMORROW MORNING!

💃🕺🏻💃🕺🏻💃🕺🏻💃🕺🏻💃🕺🏻💃🕺🏻💃🕺🏻🥳🔥🫶

21/02/2024

Do we have sign language interpreters? We sure do, and this is thanks to the work and heart of Natasha Culetti, who has helped to lead this work to ensure we have sign language interpreters on the day. Because no one should have to miss out!

Natasha Culetti shares her bio with us below:

“Tasha brings over 12 years of experience as a sign language interpreter for the Deaf community. With a personal understanding of navigating complex health challenges due to her own disability, she is deeply committed to ensuring equality of experiences and access to information for all. As a member of the organizing committee, Tasha is excited to contribute to the Stronger Together conference by providing sign language interpreting services."

Description: Tarsha sits on a log swing at a pa and looks up at the camera with a full smile. She wears a navy blue top, and blue glasses with chin length short blonder hair. Her hair is dancing in the wind.

21/02/2024

2 days to go! So let’s celebrate with a giveaway!!

Name 2 things that you are looking forward to about the launch of this conference! 🥳🥰🔥

Winner will be drawn to win one of our spot prizes from Kylee & Co to celebrate our excitement of it!

T&C: Comment below. Each comment is one entry. Tag someone for an extra entry. Every tag is another entry to win. Winner will be drawn before the start of conference. Prize will be gifted on the day of conference. You must attend on the day. *Competition not supported or endorsed by Meta.

21/02/2024

Join us for our LIVED EXPERIENCE PANEL that will join us on the day to answer questions around community, leadership, empowerment and connection and building stronger tied networks.

“How did you do what you do and got where you got? What are challenges you faced and how you have overcome them? What is the importance of connection and community in navigating it all?”

Our panel is made up is disabled persons, whanau (parent, partner and sibling voice), youth and Maori. Come and hear their thoughts and insights.

Hear from a mix of disabled persons, whanau members (parent, partner & a sibling), with a youth and Maori voice perspective in there too:

➡️ Rodney Bell
➡️ Ollie Goulden
➡️ Mike Fellows
➡️ Charity Smith
➡️ SarahClarke
➡️ Melissa Janson

We can’t wait to hear you speak and share input!

21/02/2024

We are excited to have Waikato Regional Council and Hamilton City Council joining us to attend and be part of our incredible conference day. They have both been incredibly generous with a range of products for our conference delegate bags too.

They join us in support of our conference day and will both join our ‘Intentional Networking Event’ to host two table topics for us to connect over:

➡️ ‘Accessibility + Accessible Transport’. This will be hosted by Maurice Flynn, ‘Accessible Transport Coordinator’ for the Waikato Regional Council. This is a fabulous opportunity to meet your local accessibility transport coordinator, navigate your challenges and connect with others on this topic!

➡️ “Connecting and Engaging with Hamilton City Council’. This is hosted by, Michelle Rivers, the ‘Disability + Older Persons Advisor’ for Hamilton City Council. She comes to connect with you, hear your thoughts, and help to support you to know where to go + ways to connect into local council.

20/02/2024

Love your caffeine and looking to pick up a coffee on your way into conference? We have you sorted!

Munoletto Espresso coffee cart will be on site with us on Saturday with 25% off all of all drinks between 7.45am — 10.30am. Get yourself set up for a fantastic start to the conference and support another local disabled whanau member business!

Pick from your favourite whether that is coffee, hot chocolate, tea, milkshakes and cold drinks! ☕️ See their page for their vending truck drink menu!

🥳🥳🥳

Stronger Together Conference NZ

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