West Coast Disability Resource Service

05/06/2026

The team at Disability Support Services (DSS) are asking for you feedback on how they can improve key service areas.

From 8 June to 31 July, DSS will be running a community consultation focused on areas including:

- outcomes that matter, including how supports make a difference in disabled people’s everyday lives and safety
- earlier, proactive and planned support as people’s needs change over time
- feedback and complaints processes
- better options for carer respite
- more choice and control in services

DSS wants to hear from people who receive DSS funding and their support network.

To find out more and how you can have your say, hit the link below 👇
https://firstport.co.nz/item/article/have-your-say-on-improvements-to-dss

20/05/2026

The West Coast Stroke Support Group runs aqua classes at Westland Recreation Centre on Friday mornings for people who have had strokes or are recovering from other injuries, offering a safe and supportive way to exercise with others.

The social side is just as important, with people often staying for coffee after class. The group also runs dinners, fundraisers, and other activities across the Coast.

To learn more or join the group, contact Denise McPaike at [email protected]

16/05/2026

Please contact our lovely Disability Resource Service Information Consultant Erica if you would like to register for this Touch Tour.

What a fantastic opportunity for blind and low-vision audience members and other community members that would benefit from exploring the set, feeling the costumes and meeting the cast and director prior to the matinee show.

If you may need a ride, please let Erica know shen you register and we will see what we can organise.

Everyone deserves access to theatre, the blind and low-vision community included!

SuperBrain Productionz are once again hosting a touch tour for their show Next To Normal on Saturday the 23rd of May, with support from the Grey District Youth Trust and the Disability Resource Service, to allow blind and low vision people to explore the set, props and costumes up close, and meet the cast and director before the matinee show.

Surtitles will also be available for the 2pm show on May 23rd, which you can use with your own device and headphones.

To register for the event please email [email protected]

15/05/2026

Learn about our furry friends who support people with a range of disabilities.

14/05/2026

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

https://www.complexcaregroup.org.nz/news-updates/a-deeper-conversation-about-the-new-disability-needs-assessment-process-free-online-workshop/

08/05/2026

You may have seen people in our community waving the Disability Pride flag. Maybe you like to display or fly the flag yourself.

This flag was created to represent people with all kinds of disabilities. Each coloured stripe represents different aspects of disability, from physical disabilities to neurodivergence.

Want to find out what each colour means? Head to https://firstport.co.nz/about-disability/disability-flags-and-symbols.

08/05/2026

Find out how you can learn New Zealand Sign Language.

29/04/2026

Have you planned your Hoods Up Volume Down Quiet Hour yet?

The world can be overwhelming when it wasn't designed for you. For someone with sensory processing differences, the world can be loud, bright and overstimulating.

Everyone experiences sensory sensitivities at times. But for many autistic people, sensory overwhelm can be a daily experience. It can make everyday activities like going to school, the supermarket, an office or a movie feel overwhelming.

Introducing: Hoods Up, Volume Down!

Join a nationwide movement for acceptance, understanding and accessibility.

We are asking businesses, workplaces, schools and organisations to participate in a national ‘quiet hour’ on Wednesday April 29th, at 10am. Turn down the lights, turn down the noise and turn up for the autistic community of Aotearoa.

How can you participate:

1. Buy a hoodie

Purchase our limited edition Hoodie or T-shirt. Many autistic people use hoodies as a way to block out overwhelming sensory input, and our hoodies are super soft and comfy, helpful for those who are sensitive to touch and texture. $10 from every hoodie sold goes straight to Autism New Zealand, to help us continue our work to support the autistic and wider autism communities of Aotearoa.

To buy a hoodie, head to https://www.sas.co.nz/ and select 'Autism NZ' in the menu bar.

If this isn't working, open SAS in an external browser (not via Facebook!) and it should resolve any issues.

2. Organise a quiet hour at your school, workplace or organisation

On Wednesday April 29th, at 10am, we are holding a nationwide quiet hour. This is an opportunity to make your environment more accessible to autistic people, and while it might seems like only a moment, it’s the start of a movement.

During this hour, we will show the autistic community that as a society we are ready to truly accept autism and embrace the accommodations needed to create an accessible society.

Check out our guide to creating a sensory friendly environment and other resources to help you with your event here: https://autismnz.org.nz/autism-acceptance-month/

3. Donate to Autism New Zealand

Your donation will go directly to helping us continue the services we provide to the autistic and wider autism communities, including:

-Outreach support nationwide
-Education programmes
-Early support for autistic tamariki
-Employment support
-Autism diagnosis

Autism New Zealand is a registered charity, with a commitment to empowering the autistic community to make informed choices and take action: every step together.