Disabilities Resource Centre Southland

02/06/2026

http://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/haveyoursay

26/05/2026

We will be closed Monday 1st June, Opening Tuesday the 2nd
From the DRC Team

08/05/2026

06/05/2026

This week is New Zealand Sign Language Week. This year is all about 'An Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere'.

Signing anywhere means in emergencies too. That's why in 2022 we teamed up with Deaf Aotearoa and Auckland Emergency Management to create a booklet of 25 signs to learn for emergencies.

Learn important signs for an emergency like:
🏃‍➡️ evacuate
🌊 tsunami
⛰️ go to high ground
🥫 food

Check out the booklet at https://ow.ly/l6ZT50Vq8bz

28/04/2026

ThoughtExchange makes your voice heard on things that matter.

28/04/2026

There's more to than what you see on the surface….🧠💚

One love

20/04/2026

We will be closed Monday 27th and reopen Tuesday 28th
Hope everyone has a safe ANZAC day
From the DRC team

01/04/2026

We will be closed Friday 3rd and reopen Wednesday the 8th
Hope everyone has a safe and happy easter, see you all next week.
From the DRC team

01/04/2026

CHANGES TO FLEXIBLE FUNDING

· From 1 April, disabled people who get flexible funding will have more choice and control over how they use their funding.

· The purchasing rules for flexible funding – including the March 2024 changes – no longer apply.

· Flexible funding must still be used in line with people’s funding plans, budgets and disability support needs – but people will have more flexibility to choose supports that work for them, including respite options for carers.

· A small number of items will remain prohibited or require pre-approval before spending.

· People’s allocated budgets for flexible funding will stay the same – they will not change on 1 April.

· There will be guidance for people to plan and manage their flexible funding. People with hosted flexible funding can expect to hear from their host about this.

· These changes reflect feedback from the disability community.

· They build on work to improve the way people’s needs are assessed, bring more consistency to funding decisions and stabilise the disability support system – making it possible to remove the purchasing rules and maintain people’s current funding.

There is more information on the DSS website: www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/flexible-funding

***The image shows a light green background with two people in the bottom corner. Words Include "More choice and control for people with flexible funding." There are some short sentences about the changes which are described above in this post.

30/03/2026

Christchurch and Dunedin — we’re coming your way next. Enable New Zealand and Firstport will be at the next Show Your Ability 2026 events, and we’d love to see you there.

📍 Christchurch
9am–2pm. Tuesday 31 March 2026
Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre

📍 Dunedin
9am–1pm, Wednesday 1 April 2026
Edgar Centre

If you're disabled, a support person, or just want to learn more about disability support in Aotearoa - we're looking forward to meeting you and helping answer your questions!

Assessors, suppliers, subcontractors - team members will be at the events and ready to chat with you too.