Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests

Anne Wilkinson ONZM
Enabling Good Lives (EGL)

Anne’s involvement in the sector began over 30 years ago as a parent. She has a background of working with families and for 25 years worked for and held a number of roles within Parent to Parent New Zealand. In early 2016 she resigned after 12 years as Chief Executive, but continues to be a volunteer Support Parent and member of the organisation. Anne has been involved with EGL since 2011, currently serving on the National Leadership Group and the Waikato Leadership Group. She believes disabled people have the same rights as others to have control over their lives, and that families are an integral part in achieving this.

Jacqui Stokes
Waikato Support Parent

“I found out about Parent to Parent when my son was diagnosed at two years old. It supported me by helping getting assessed for respite care and putting me in touch with another parent whose child had the same diagnosis. “When I moved to Hamilton I started going to coffee mornings. It was nice to chat with other mums who were going through the same things. From there I was asked to join the committee and become a Support Parent.

“Since becoming a Support Parent I have talked and listened, and even met with other
parents who have the same diagnosis as my son. I have been on and off the committee over
the years and have always been willing to support the group that help support me especially
through my son’s younger years.”

Programme Synopsis

• Introduction to Connect, Inform, Support podcast.
• A history of Parent to Parent from Anne Wilkinson who has been with the organisation for almost 30 years.
• Lived experience from Jacqui Stokes who has been actively involved as a volunteer Support Parent for 15 years.

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

Links

• enablinggoodlives.co.nz
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests

Carolyn Jury
Support and Information Co-ordinator

I have been involved with Parent to Parent for 10 years, first as a requester looking for support and information, then as a volunteer support parent and now as the Support and Information Coordinator at National Office in Hamilton. I have previously worked as a medical professional, but in recent years I retrained as a counsellor, graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Applied Social Science from Wintec in Hamilton.

Ruth Taylor
Executive Co-ordinator

Ruth has been connected with Parent to Parent since 2008 as a programme coordinator and trainer. She is currently responsible for coordinating a range of workshops, seminars and support events, including the unique SibSupportNZ programme.

Jo Eastwood
Executive Manager

Jo is passionate about providing the right tools to help people with disabilities and health
impairments live the lives they choose. With a Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing (1989) and working as a Registered Nurse in Australia and New Zealand, Jo met her desire to help people.

Programme Synopsis

• Connecting parents - Parent to Parent operates a parent support network for families raising a child with a disability in New Zealand. We have a network of more than 600 speciallytrained volunteer support parents. We connect families with support parents who have a family member with the same/similar disability or issue. The role of the support parent is to be the ‘listening ear’ who can empathise and understand the challenges and joys of raising a child who is different.
• Sibling Support –The longest relationship a person with a disability has is with their brother and/or sister. Living with a brother or sister who has a disability can be a blessing and a challenge. The SibSupportNZ programme offers young people support to thrive in their own unique family environment through SibCamps, SibShops and SibDays. Our SibSupport programmes are run by facilitators who are assisted by leaders who have also grown up with a sibling with a disability, again sharing that ‘lived experience’ level of understanding.
• Information Service - Our dedicated research team provides free, researched, evidencebased information to families, and those involved in a family’s care, on nearly 4,000 conditions each year, from the very rare to the more common. The information is designed to be easy to understand, written in plain English (also available in different languages) and is tailor-made for your child’s individual condition or issue.
  There is no limit to the number of requests a parent can make for medical conditions
  themselves and related-issues, from diagnosis to adulthood. Parent to Parent can provide information for early childcare learning centres, schools, workplaces and any organisation that works with, and for, people with disabilities and health impairments.

Music

“Retail Blues” by The Mutes (from Mars)

Links

• themutes.bandcamp.com
• facebook.com/themutesfrommars
• enablinggoodlives.co.nz
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests:

Paula Tesoriero, MNZM Disability Rights Commissioner

Disability advocate, former Paralympian and Human Rights Commission’s Disability Rights Commissioner. Working for the rights of disabled New Zealanders, she is an amputee and a mum to a five-year-old son. Paula Tesoriero took up her three-year appointment as the Human Rights Commission’s Disability Rights Commissioner on July 31, 2017. “Ms Tesoriero has a significant record of working to increase awareness of disability issues,” Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell said at her appointment in June. “She is well informed on New Zealand’s international human rights standing and her legal background and understanding of the machinery of government will be advantageous in the context of the Commission’s work.” Since February 2016 Ms Tesoriero has been General Manager, Systems and Partnerships with Statistics New Zealand. From 2010-2016 she was General Manager Higher Courts with the Ministry of Justice. Ms Tesoriero created history with her world record-breaking time in the
women’s 500m cycling time trial at the Beijing Summer Paralympics in 2008, securing New Zealand’s first gold medal at the Games.

Hon Carmel Sepuloni Minister for Social Development and Disability issues

Carmel Sepuloni is our new Minister of Disability issues. Carmel is of Samoan, Tongan and NZ European descent. Born and raised in Waitara, she has lived in Auckland since 1996. Carmel has always been committed to improving social, health and educational outcomes for all New Zealanders, but has especially focused during her career on low socio-economic groups; Māori, Pacific, disabled people and sole parents. During her political career Carmel has brought to the fore the slashing of the training incentive allowance, made public the impact of cuts to ACC funding for survivors of sexual violence, campaigned for better legislation around social workers and fought for the right to privacy for social service users. As the Minister for
Social Development and Disability issues Carmel is looking forward to building a fairer welfare system that treats New Zealanders with the respect, upholds their dignity and supports them and their families to realise their potential.Outside of politics Carmel has worked broadly across the health and education sectors as a Literacy Educator with youth in West Auckland, teaching in Samoa, managing equity programmes at the University of Auckland, managing the Pacific nonregulated Pacific health research project, and acting as CEO of New Zealand’s only National Pacific health provider, Vaka Tautua.Carmel is the mother of two boys aged four and 19.

Programme Synopsis

• Understanding the role of the Disability Rights Commission, its relationship with government, its process in resolving issues and advocating for individuals and change
• Overview of government policy and initiatives in the disability space

Music

“Get up, stand up” Bob Marley

Links

• http://www.labour.org.nz/carmelsepuloni
• https://www.odi.govt.nz/nz-disability-strategy/
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests: Justine Brock

Accredited Facilitator for Vision Education and parent of five boys on the Autism Spectrum
From Vision Education website: I have been working as a literacy facilitator for Vision Education since the beginning of 2013 and as a team leader for Vision Education since 2014. I have experience working with a wide range of schools, who face a variety of complex challenges including low literacy achievement.
As a literacy facilitator, an integral part of my role is to develop and strengthen effective literacy practice across schools. In order to do so, I hold strong content knowledge and experience in many aspects of literacy practice, including but not limited to the following:

Reading

• Writing
• Oral language
• Inquiry
• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
• Mentoring and leadership
• Building leadership capacity
• Assessment
• English Language Learning
• Inclusive education
• Digital technology

I am an accredited facilitator available for centrally funded PLD. Click here to read a summary of practice

Dr David Wales PhD

National Director of Learning Support, Ministry of Education

From Ministry of Education website: We are the Government’s lead advisor on education. Our mission is to lift aspiration and raise educational achievement for every New Zealander. Achieving this means ensuring the education system:

• Enables every child, young person and student to succeed
• Maximises the contribution education makes to the New Zealand economy

Programme Synopsis

• As part of the services Vision Education provides for schools, there is a focus on inclusive practice - particularly supporting schools to review and implement inclusive practices that meet the needs of all learners.
• Just over 25 years ago, a new vision for special education was written into law. The
  Education Act was changed so that schools were required to enrol all children who came
  through their doors, including those with disabilities. In 2010 the public were invited to participate in the Review of Special Education by responding to a discussion document featuring questions on special education and inclusiveness (see info below). This reviews approximately half of schools practiced inclusive education. A review in 2013 showed that 77 percent of schools identified as inclusive.

Music

“We are the same” by Mark Goffeney

Links

• bigtoerocks.com/
• facebook.com/The-Real-Mark-Goffeney-500011805726/
• education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/specific-initiatives/learning-support/
• visioneducation.co.nz/welcome/
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests: Joanne Dacombe

Joanne Dacombe has spent 21 years working at the Reserve Bank in the area of monetary policy. She was diagnosed with autism later in life and has a son on the Autism Spectrum. Joanne currently serves on the Board of Autism New Zealand as well as the Board of the ASK Trust, an autistic-led organisation for autistic adults.

Cat Noakes-Duncan

Cat is the mother of three beautiful children, two with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Recently Cat founded 'Spectrum Playgroup' a community playgroup for children on the autism spectrum, their siblings and families. Cat is trained in Early Childhood Education and is currently undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching: Autism Spectrum
Disorders.

Programme Synopsis

• The difficulties parents have trying navigate the education system with an Autistic child
• Parenting a child on the Autistic Spectrum
• Inclusive Education

Music

“Same Page” Rich Austin, from Memories Forever album

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

Links

• Further information on Joanne Dacombe - https://altogetherautism.org.nz/autism-information/6433/6433/
• Autistic Burnout - https://boren.blog/2017/01/26/autistic-burnout-the-cost-ofcoping-and-passing/
• Further information on Spectrum Playgroup -
  https://altogetherautism.org.nz/autism-information/6390/playgroup-providescare-support/
• https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018617
  601/spectrum-playgroup-a-special-place-for-kids-with-autism
• https://www.richaustinmusic.com/index.html
• https://altogetherautism.org.nz/
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests: Catherine Trezona M.A. Psychology (1st Hons) National manager at Altogether Autism

Catherine joined Altogether Autism as a researcher in 2014, and moved into a managerial
role in 2015. She is one of the programme developers and lead facilitators for PRISM.
Catherine takes the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’ seriously and highly values the
input of Altogether Autism’s consumer reference group. In 2016, Catherine worked with her
son Kieran, a software developer at Powershop, to offer a two-day employment skills
workshop for autistic talent, and from this small seed, the relationship between Altogether
Autism and Specialisterne Australia has developed. Catherine is determined to establish the
proven and successful Specialisterne programme into Aotearoa New Zealand and has the
backing of Life Unlimited charitable trust to achieve this.

Timothy Folkema
Timothy currently works at Progress to Health. He is a Community Support Facilitator,
specialising in advocacy, peer support and peer mentoring for autistic persons and general
support for anyone with a long-term disability. Timothy has been serving the people at
Progress to Health for near-on five years. Timothy is a passionate advocate for the Autistic
community and the Vision-Impaired/Blind community. He chairs the Hamilton speakeasy
Jazz Club, is a keyboard/piano player in a Funk-Hip-Hop band called Funk Therapy, a keen
collector, and is interested in Japanese culture. He is a graduate of Wintec, "A" student
Music Producer and also holds a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of
Other Languages (TESOL). Timothy has previous experience with supporting Taekwon-Do for
persons with disabilities under the International Taekwon-Do Federation (HQ Austria).

Programme Synopsis

• The difficulties faced by Autistic people looking for employment
• They way companies can benefit from employing Autistic people
• Specialisterne

Music

“Just Us” by The Mutes (from Mars)
“For The Funk” by Funk Therapy

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

Links

• Altogether Autism
• Specialisterne
• Progress to Health
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests: Paula Jessop and Jason Edgecombe

Paula Jessop is an autistic woman who advocates for ‘radical acceptance’ of autism as a valid type of neurological difference and supporting autistic people through strengths-based methods. She has been a member of a range of autism reference groups most recently including a Te Pou group aimed at formulating an autism skills framework for the disability workforce. Along with being a founding member of the Consumer Reference Group, Paula works with Altogether Autism in an advisory role as an autistic advocate.
Paula has strong connections with Autistic communities and works as an independent autism mentor through her own business Autism Insights as well as working for Enrich+ co-facilitating an autistic youth group and supporting disabled people living in community. Paula also gives ‘lived experience’ workshops for Altogether Autism or Autism Insights aimed at assisting parents and professionals to understand autism from ‘the inside’.

Jason Edgecombe is an entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, gamer, martial artist, medieval reenactor, husband and father and has high-functioning autism. Jason is the founder and a mentor at One Unique Minds (formerly Breaking the Label), a Tauranga-based organisation that offers one-on-one and small group mentoring and personal development to people on the autism spectrum. The aim of Jason’s peer mentoring service is not to help people manage or accept their ‘special needs’ and its limitations, but to identify and develop the strengths and amazing talents that each person on the spectrum has to offer.

Programme Synopsis

• The language around neurodiversity
• Acceptance and celebration of neurodiversity

Music

“Bird set free” by Sia

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

Links

• Jason Edgecombe TedX talk
• Paula Jessop’s Blog
• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

Research: Rebecca Armstrong
Presenter: Val Ockenden
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

Guests: Rachel Wiltshire

Rachael Wiltshire found out she was an Aspie when she was 12, and graduated Dux of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in 2012. Rachael has completed four years of study at university majoring in History and Earth Sciences, and is currently studying dance fulltime (or was, until she tore a ligament in her ankle- hopefully surgery will be able to fix that, and she’ll head back to dancing next year). She hopes to become a dance teacher, a secondary school teacher, or ideally, both. Rachael currently works part-time tutoring high school students and teaching dance. She particularly enjoys being a dance tutor for StarJam, a charity that provides dance and music workshops for children and young people with disabilities. Rachael tour guides at the Great War Exhibition, combining her interests in history and performance. Education and autism are two of her special interests, and she enjoys sharing her own experiences as a student in the hope that this will help others successfully navigate the education system. Rachael has presented at the Altogether Autism conferences in Auckland in 2015 and 2017.

Programme Synopsis

• Girls and women are not diagnosed with Autism as often as boys and men
• The difference in how Autism presents in girls compared to boys
• How we can support the families around these girls and women with Autism

Music

“Who I am” by Jessica Andrews

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

Girls vs boys brain development, impulse control etc

• https://www.nature.com/articles/srep07272
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40473-015-0031-8
• http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-00025-004

Women on the Autism Spectrum

• Liane Holliday Wiley
• Temple Grandin

Links

• Safesquares
• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only