Parent to Parent

08/10/2026

Kia ora whānau! Sessions will run on Saturdays from 14 November to 12 December at:

📍 Taitā College: morning sessions
📍 Redwood School: afternoon sessions

Find out more and register here 👇
https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/532497

16/09/2026

💙 Low-Sensory Hours at Huia Pool

Huia Pool is offering a quieter, more sensory-friendly swimming session for autistic and neurodivergent people and their whānau.

🏊 Sundays, 4:30–5:30pm
💡 Lights are dimmed
🔇 No music
📍 Learn to Swim Pool, Huia Pool

These sessions are currently nice and quiet, with only a few whānau attending each week, so it could be a great option for anyone who finds the usual pool environment a bit overwhelming.

15/09/2026

05/09/2026

This we're celebrating 20 years of Altogether Autism! This family’s journey through their daughter's diagnosis, childhood and early adulthood precisely tracks Altogether Autism’s 20-year history 💜💙💜. When interwoven with MaryAnn’s 15-year Parent to Parent role as peer support to whānau, their story gives on-the-ground insight into the landscape travelled over the past two decades. Link in the comments 👇

This family’s journey through their daughter's autism diagnosis, childhood and early adulthood precisely tracks Altogether Autism’s 20-year history. When interwoven with MaryAnn’s 15-year Parent to Parent role as peer support to whānau, their story gives on-the-ground insight into the landsca...

04/09/2026

Looking for fun, inclusive activities for your kids through the rest of the year? Check out the latest schedule from dsport!

Who it’s for: Tamariki and rangatahi aged 5–18 with a physical disability or visual impairment.

Siblings welcome: Brothers and sisters are warmly encouraged to come along and join in the action too!

What’s on: A jam-packed programme of community events and sports designed to build confidence, try new things, and make connections.

Specific session timings and venue details are sent directly to registered families prior to each event.

Take a look at the attached flyer to see what’s coming up. To register your interest, get on their mailing list, or ask any questions, reach out to the dsport team or visit their website:

🌐 Website: dsport.nz

📞 Phone: 04 387 9640

19/08/2026

A way to flip the script, relieve stress and hopefully raise a smile at mealtimes! 😄

04/08/2026

Many Parents have been asking us about IF recently, Here is a workshop run by the awesome team at Flying Kites. Register asap :)

Individualised Funding sounds great on paper. Then we actually tried to understand it.
It's really common that people get allocated Individualised Funding and don't spend anything for months, because nobody really explained how it works.
That's what this workshop is for. What you can use it for, how to work with your Host, and why it doesn't have to be as complicated as it feels.

Free workshop on 6 August. Morning and evening sessions.

Register here:
https://flying-kites-qreakf.subscribepage.io/

27/07/2026

Kia ora whānau! for those who cannot make this Fridays Navigating the System workshop, Disability Care Partners are hosting a free information evening for parents and whānau of disabled tamariki.

Come along to learn about disability funding, needs assessments, in-home and community support, and Enabling Good Lives.

💜 Please see the flyer for details and RSVP information.

13/07/2026

01/07/2026

💛💙🧡 20 years! 💜💙💜

Today we acknowledge a milestone: 20 years since Your Way l Kia Roha and Parent to Parent signed a partnership that brought the Altogether Autism service into being.

Two decades on, we're still here, proud to be trusted by autistic people and whānau to deliver information and advice that is authentic to autistic experience and informed by the latest research.

We invite you to celebrate with us over the coming weeks as we reflect on the journey, honour those whose stories and contributions have shaped and given life to our mahi, and look to the future.

25/06/2026

By funding our Canterbury respite programme, The Gift Trust and Columba Fund are showing carers they are seen, heard, highly valued, and that their wellbeing matters. Please join us in showing your appreciation for family carers and these donors, who are changing lives.

Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takatini. My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

23/06/2026

Today we're giving a Sector Shoutout to The Gift Trust and Columba Fund.

Hero family carers are in every street, school and workplace but they are all too often unseen, unheard and unappreciated.

By funding our Canterbury respite programme, The Gift Trust and Columba Fund are showing carers they are seen, heard, highly valued, and that their wellbeing matters. Please join us in showing your appreciation for family carers and these donors, who are changing lives.

Ehara tāku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takatini. My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.

18/06/2026

What is the What's Outside the Box?

The What's Outside the Box? Transition Expo is all about exploring what's possible after secondary school.

This region-wide event brings together organisations, services and information to help disabled young people and their whānau explore future pathways and think creatively about what comes next.

Everyone is welcome, no matter your disability, age, or where you are on your journey.

📅 Thursday 13 August 2026
⏰ 10.00am–2.00pm
📍 Ākau Tangi Sports Centre, Kilbirnie, Wellington

We look forward to seeing you there!

💬 What are you most interested in learning about at this year's expo? Let us know in the comments below.

Alt Text
Promotional graphic for the What's Outside the Box? Transition Expo 2026. The graphic features the event logo and details for the free expo: 10.00am–2.00pm, Thursday 13 August 2026, at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre in Kilbirnie, Wellington. Text highlights information, activities, performances and presentations. Three photos from previous expos show attendees interacting, a busy exhibition space, and a performance group. The website www.well-able.org.nz and sponsor logos appear at the bottom.

11/06/2026

is a timely opportunity to let family carers know how much they are valued by so many, across the motu 🙏. Please like and share to show support for everything they do. And join us in thanking The Gift Trust and Columba Fund group of anonymous donors for funding this getaway programme in Greater Canterbury 🙏.

If you would like to enable more family carers to access fully organised, tailored respite, please contact our funding team.

29/05/2026

Updated 25 May 2026 Skip to FAQ Download our submission guide (Word 355 KB) The Government introduced the Disability Support Services Bill to Parliament on Monday 18 May 2026. Hon Louise Upston, Minister for Disability Issues, says the Bill will bring "clarity and stability" to the

29/05/2026

See you there!

07/05/2026

Join us in celebrating 20 years of NZSL as an official language of Aotearoa! For , we’ve popped links to key resources from our disability sector partners and some compelling reasons to learn NZSL in one place—‘Resources and Reasons to Learn NZSL’ (link in the comments / in our linktree in bio). We encourage everyone to have a go at some new signs this week—each and every one you know helps build connection and inclusion! ✋💛💙🧡✋

Sector Shoutout to Deaf Aotearoa Deaf Aotearoa - First Signs Wellington Association for Deaf Children and TuriTv.com

29/04/2026

For , we have put together entry-level, generalised information on a couple of common topics brought to our Support & Information team, through the Altogether Autism service—‘Outbursts at School’ and ‘School Refusal, or School Can’t’.

Background information often helps reassure families they are not alone and helps to identify where more in-depth, personalised support might be needed. We hope these resources are useful to whānau first encountering these issues and wondering about steps forward.

If the resources spark a question about your own situation, Parent to Parent’s S&I team provide information that relates to families’ specific circumstances; tailored, evidence-based support that can’t be found elsewhere. Free, confidential information can be requested whatever age or stage your loved one is at, as many times as needed.

20/03/2026

Yes 🙌, it’s World Down Syndrome Day! 🙌 This year’s theme is ‘Together Against Loneliness.’ Ruhani's beautiful short story is the perfect example of why connection is key to living our best lives.

At Parent to Parent, we feel so lucky to know this wonderful young woman, as does everyone around her. Please share her story to celebrate the power of recognising a person's potential—and people working together to realise it. As Ruhani says to her young dance student, ‘You can do that! You can!’

Oh, and btw, Ruhani’s dream is to become a model, so we are open to connections that could help make that dream a reality! 💃

World Down Syndrome Day - WEAR ODD SOCKS