Parent to Parent

24/03/2026

don't miss out on this! Altogether Autisms New workshop!

🧠 Free Workshop in Lower Hutt: An Introduction to Autistic Capacity

“But you could do it yesterday…”

Why can an Autistic person manage something one day but struggle with it the next?

Join this free workshop to learn about everyday factors that can impact an Autistic person’s ability to engage and cope. You’ll also explore practical strategies for providing more effective support.

✍️ Registration is required
📅 2 April 2026
⏰ 11 am - 2 pm
📍 Lower Hutt
💙 Free to attend

This session is ideal for parents, educators, professionals, and anyone interested in better understanding and supporting Autistic people.

🔗 Register here: https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/events/an-introduction-to-autistic-capacity-02-04-2026/

11/03/2026

👇Get the key facts you need in this 2-minute read 👇

These DSS changes aim to address feedback from the disability community during the 2025 consultation, and give more say to flexible funding users. Read on for a quick overview that should answer your questions.

03/03/2026

02/03/2026

Marissa Mason, mum to a 5-year-old boy, Blayde, who has the rare disorder Emanuel syndrome, talks about her journey to find supportive connections, which recently led her to employ Ruhani, an 18-year-old with Down syndrome, as a physio assistant.

“Ruhani came and helped out as a volunteer at Blayde’s World Big Day Out, our Te Puke fundraiser on Emanuel Syndrome Awareness Day. And she danced! So she was multi-talented that day.

"Just before that, I had had an appointment at her school to see if any kids might be interested in a support worker role.

“I have a teenager who helps me during the week, and she’s amazing, but I thought it would be great to have some support with Blayde’s physio at weekends, to give a young disabled person their first leg up on the job ladder and to have Blayde involved with more people. A win all round.”

“But I didn’t get much interest. So I rang Jane, Parent to Parent’s Regional Coordinator for CBOP, and I was like, ‘Am I being stupid? I suppose it wouldn’t make much of a difference, a little part-time job.’ Jane disagreed, saying she knew someone who would be perfect. Of course, I hoped it would be Ruhani; she hadn’t been at the special education unit when I made the job offer.

“And it was. Now it’s her third session supporting Blayde and me. She’s everything we need—helpful and caring, and he adores her. The connection is fantastic.”

Marissa’s doubts about whether this job would make a difference are put to bed by Ruhani’s description of what it means to her:

“Amazing, my life is really saved. A proud moment for my parents as well. Sometimes I tell my siblings that I have a job, and they go, ‘Aw, I’m so proud of you!’ That’s what I really want, for them to be proud of me.” 🧡💙💛

Read more here: https://parent2parent.org.nz/news/a-rare-extra-chromosome-connection/

02/03/2026

Marissa Mason, mum to a 5-year-old boy, Blayde, who has the rare disorder Emanuel syndrome, was looking for community connections. Her search led her to employ Ruhani, an 18-year-old with Down syndrome, as a physio assistant. Read on for an uplifting story, in Marissa's words, about finding a rare extra-chromosome connection 💛💙🧡. (Part 1 of 2).

“We found out Blayde had Emanuel syndrome when he was two weeks old. We had markers when I was pregnant, but they didn’t know what it was.

"We had just made it home, and then his airway collapsed. So we had a lengthy hospital stay, and the genetic testing came back in that time, too. And, yeah, it's just been a huge journey ever since.

“Up to three months old, we had to manage Blayde’s airway, give oxygen and hold his airway open when he was tired or upset. Sometimes, keep it open until he regained consciousness.

“It flipped our world upside down. My career was history. I was finally in my life: ‘I really like this job, and I’m really good at it!’ But Blayde came along and had other ideas. You know, I used to think I worked really hard, but I’ve never worked so hard in my life as I have over the past few years. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all for the best. He’s very rewarding, and he’s made so many gains. Now he’s eating, sitting, grasping things for short periods, making choices—progress that makes us realise things will be easier when he’s older, if we keep building—but he still has a long way to go.

“I think Blayde would have been about five months old when I first met Jane (Parent to Parent’s Regional Coordinator for CBOP). I couldn't even speak at the table. I just burst into tears, and she just said, ‘It's okay, whenever you're ready.’

“Meeting Jane has been really cool because since then I’ve been to Parent to Parent workshops about advocating for him, and I’ve met parents in similar, if not exactly the same, situations.

“I tap into the Parent to Parent services when I need to. I’ll look at what’s coming up and think, yep, that’s what I need right now. In May 2024, it was a workshop about navigating the school journey, and that’s where Ruhani comes in. I saw her mother, Neena, get up and speak from the heart about being a mum to a disabled child in the Indian culture, and then Ruhani performed a solo with her inclusive dance group. I was blown away.

“I thought, these are the people I need to be around to know that there are things out there for my son, to help him live his best life.”

Read more here: https://parent2parent.org.nz/news/a-rare-extra-chromosome-connection/

12/02/2026

The Wairarapa Disability Expo is happening Saturday 28 February 2026, at the Wairarapa Events Centre, Carterton, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Explore support, resources, and community connections

09/02/2026

More info can be found on their website: https://www.dsport.nz/sports-and-activities

05/02/2026

Whatever you’re up to this Weekend, please take a moment to cheer on Sam on the Te Araroa trail! He has reached the South Island, and our SoBo SibLeader has ticked off 1,700km (quite the feat!)—only 1,300km to go 😉.

You are an inspiration, Sam, and we can’t thank you enough for all you do for SibSupport NZ.

Please consider donating to Sam’s Walk 4 SibSupport fundraiser—the free Sib events are usually oversubscribed, and it would be great to train more SibLeaders to deliver them across the length of New Zealand.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/walk-4-sib-support

If you would like to train as a SibLeader, please do contact us.

05/02/2026

As we reach the end of the summer holidays with Day, we thought it was the right time for a quick reminder 💛 regular social interaction is a human need, not a luxury! 💛 Having strong community connections and a wide circle of support is key to both mental and physical health—it helps boost happiness, strengthen immunity, and reduce the risk of anxiety and depression.

Our programme of regional support groups for the start of the year is now on our events page, along with some workshops, events, and SibCamps. Time to mark out some you time on your calendar! 💛💙🧡

02/02/2026

After a summer break, we’re back! Young Athlete registrations are now open for our Term 1 weekend programme in Wellington. Find out more! 👇

Our sessions are supportive, structured, fun, and open to tamariki aged 2-10 with intellectual disabilities and takiwātanga – autism. Sign up today to secure your spot 👉 https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/487246

📅 Saturdays | 14 Feb – 21 March
📍 Taita, Lower Hutt
📍 Okowai, Porirua

We hope to see you there!

30/01/2026

Our disability sector partners at IHC New Zealand led a very informative discussion on RNZ this morning about education reform. Trish Grant, Inclusive Education lead at IHC, gave a thorough overview of what the legal settlement of their claim (first brought in 2008) means, in the mission to create a fair and equitable education system for disabled students.

Link to the full conversation below.

After 17 years the government has settled a human rights claim and admitted that Crown education policies and systems have failed disabled children.

29/01/2026

Thank you IHC New Zealand for all your support of the SibCamp programme over the years! 💙💛🧡

Strong Voices - Summer 2025, Dec 18, 2025

28/01/2026

Huge news!

💙💚🧡🎉 We have BIG News 🎉🧡💚💙
We really do have some BIG news to share with you. In a few months we will be opening our first indoor sensory play and therapy space dedicated to supporting families . It will be located in Plimmerton, Porirua.
The lease is signed, building consent approved and tradies lined up to get cracking. We can't wait to keep you updated on progress over the coming weeks. Happy days 🙏

04/12/2025

“Why do I volunteer? Well, I’ve had a bit of time to think about that, while hiking the 3058 km Te Araroa Trail! https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/walk-4-sib-support

“There are lots of reasons, but above all, it’s because I can offer peer-to-peer, lived-experience support to other siblings and give back to a charity that has helped my family over the years.

“My story is like many others. I grew up in a close-knit family with Mum, Dad, my brother, and me. The only difference is that my brother is Autistic and has a severe intellectual disability. I like to see it more as a different way of experiencing the world. Growing up with my brother certainly had its challenges—like the times he accidentally set off fire alarms or broke a few windows! He always kept my parents and me on our toes. But there have been so many precious moments, too, like when he gained independence by moving into his own assisted living home.

“Through everything, we’ve been fortunate to have the support of Parent to Parent. They offer lifelong support to whānau with disabled and neurodivergent loved ones through resources, programmes, and connections with others.

“My connection to Parent to Parent is through their SibSupport programme, which brings siblings together for fun, facilitated workshops, activities, and meaningful conversations about what it’s like to grow up with a disabled sibling. The aim is to provide support from others who get it, having been through similar experiences. I participated in the programme, then trained to become a volunteer SibLeader, and now I help facilitate the by-siblings-for-siblings events and contribute to SibLeader training.

“The best part? It’s as rewarding for me as it is for the Sibs! So great to round out the circle of support.

“Please consider donating to my Walk 4 SibSupport fundraiser—the free Sib events are usually oversubscribed, and it would be great to train more SibLeaders to deliver them across the length of New Zealand 😊.” Sam

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/walk-4-sib-support

Thank you so much, Sam, for everything you do for siblings!
If you would like to train as a SibLeader, please do contact us.

03/12/2025

On International Day of Disabled Persons 2025, let's highlight the scale and potential of the disabled community.

By raising the visibility of and how it can affect anyone at any time, we reinforce that it is an every-person issue. Imagine how much more we could achieve if barriers to inclusion were removed for !* Please share this video to spread the word.

This year's theme for is ‘Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.’ By working together, we all become stronger. Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takatini.

Thanks to all our partners and supporters in this joint mission.



IHC New Zealand Wilson Home Trust Care Matters NZ Altogether Autism Rātā Foundation

*Stats from the Disability survey 2018 and are an average across age ranges, genders and ethnicities.

02/12/2025

This an outstanding opportunity!

Outward bound have reached out to us regarding some largely reduced/FREE courses that you may be interested in.

The programmes they have available for 2026 are:

Youth Activate (16 – 18 year olds with a physical disability or impairment):

21 - 27 September 2026 (7 days)
Scholarships are valued at $3,510 which covers the full course fee
Participants / whānau are responsible for the costs of travel to Picton for course start and cost of a doctor’s appointment to get our medical form completed.
https://www.outwardbound.co.nz/courses/youth-activate


Activate (for people aged 18 years + with physical disability or impairment):

Course dates are 3rd February – 10th February 2026
MSD funding available that covers the full course fee, travel costs and the cost of a doctor’s appointment to get our medical form completed
https://www.outwardbound.co.nz/courses/youth-activate

Youth Horizons (16 – 18 year olds with an intellectual disability or impairment):

30th March – 4th April 2026
Scholarships are valued at $2,808 which covers the full course fee
Participants / whānau are responsible for the costs of travel to Picton for course start and cost of a doctor’s appointment to get our medical form completed.
https://www.outwardbound.co.nz/courses/youth-horizons

Horizons (for people aged 18 years + with an intellectual disability or impairment):

16th February – 23rd February 2026
MSD funding available that covers the full course fee, travel costs and the cost of a doctor’s appointment to get our medical form completed
https://www.outwardbound.co.nz/courses/horizons

If you are interested, please contact [email protected] to get more info or assistance with applications.

27/11/2025

We have a Black Friday/Cyber Monday that won’t cost you a cent! Quite the opposite—as it’s a list of NGO grants and scholarships that individuals in need can apply for.

There are direct links to each trust, fund, and foundation on one webpage to make it easier to check whether your whānau is eligible, along with examples of successful applications to give context 😊. We hope you find one to help you support your disabled family member through the and beyond.

https://parent2parent.org.nz/resource-hub/non-governmental-disability-grants-in-new-zealand/

Non-governmental disability grants in New Zealand

20/11/2025

We are delighted to announce that Jane Ford, our Regional Coordinator for Coastal Bay of Plenty, is a🏅Local Hero Medallist🏅!

From thousands of nominations, the New Zealander of the Year’s independent judges selected 100 outstanding individuals across the country to be recognised as the Tower New Zealand Local Hero Te Pou Toko o te Tau Medallists.

And it’s no surprise to anyone who knows Jane that she is one of them 😊.

Jane joined Parent to Parent as a Regional Coordinator in 2018 and is a beacon of knowledge and hope for families raising disabled, neurodivergent and health-impaired children in Te Moana a Toi, the Bay of Plenty. She organises educational workshops, facilitates peer support groups, and provides individualised guidance—putting in super-human efforts to bridge the gap between families and the support networks they need.

Her dedication to inclusion and empowerment also extends to volunteering as a coach at the Special Olympics every second Saturday!

Having run her own swim school in Papamoa for eight years and worked for the Red Cross as Community Programmes Coordinator—teaching First Aid to under-twelves and delivering a youth drug and alcohol programme—Jane’s commitment to leading lifeline initiatives (both in the water and out) spans decades.

Jane's impact extends beyond the families she supports to inspiring colleagues, mentoring volunteers, and shaping inclusive policies to improve access to services across communities. Not only this, our local CBOP hero is also building networks across the Central Lakes and Manawatū regions. Legend!

See who's making a difference across the motu, and join us in celebrating Jane and all the local legends who were announced medallists today! https://nzawards.org.nz/local-heroes/



Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Tower Insurance Kiwibank

We are delighted to announce that Jane Ford, our Regional Coordinator for Coastal Bay of Plenty, is a Local Hero Medallist!