Disability Connect

08/03/2026

Families have told us they've had issues getting SESTA approval for students' travel to and from Special Schools. Other parents are struggling to access the Total Mobility Card for when they're unavailable to take their children to appointments or events.

Total Mobility is meant to support independence - but many tell us it’s confusing, inconsistent, and doesn’t meet real‑life needs.

We’re preparing a submission on the Government's Total Mobility proposal and want to hear from disabled people and their families.

What’s your experience? Is it easy to access? Does it cover the transport you actually need? What needs to change?

Your feedback will help us push for a system that truly supports disabled people and their whānau to live the lives they choose.

Share your thoughts in the comments or email us at admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz with "Transport" in the subject line by Sunday, 15 March 2026.

For more information on the proposal, go to the Ministry of Transport website: https://www.transport.govt.nz/consultations/proposals-to-strengthen-total-mobility

06/03/2026

Feeling exhausted, stretched thin, or unsure of yourself as a family carer? You are not alone!

Join us for our next Parent Support Group event, Overwhelmed to Empowered, a free workshop for family carers.

Counsellor Natalija Isailovic will share practical tools you can use to reflect, reconnect with your own needs, and understand why putting yourself first is not selfish - it’s essential for both you and your family.

We're hosting this in-person only event at Mt Richmond Special School in Ōtāhuhu. Registration is essential.

For more information, including how to register, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1H7Wje49cc/

Image description: A promotional poster for the workshop. Text reads "Overwhelmed to Empowered. Parent Support Group. Free workshop for family carers. Facilitated by Natalija Isailovic, Counsellor. Wednesday 11 March 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Mt Richmond Special School, 30 Albion Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland." There's a headshot of Natalija next to the text. She is wearing glasses and her hair is styled in a bun.

03/03/2026

Our Chinese Support Group, hosted by the wonderful Yoky, celebrated the start of Chinese New Year by making scented candles together.

Why candles? In Chinese tradition, light symbolises hope, warmth, and the driving away of darkness.

Lighting candles during the New Year represents illuminating the path forward and inviting positive energy (yang 气) into the home.

恭喜發財! Wishing everyone a happy new year as we enter the Year of the Horse!

Image descriptions:

Image 1: A collage of two group photos from the event, with about 20 members of the Chinese community smiling together.

Image 2: Group members sitting at tables with candle-making supplies. Yoky stands at the front, guiding the activity.

Image 3: Candles in glass mosaic holders, cooling in a fridge before the wicks are trimmed.

02/03/2026

If you're living with a disability or raising a child with a disability, join us on 19 March for a free information session on Work and Income supports.

Sonja Eriksen, Principal Disability Advisor, and colleagues at the Ministry of Social Development are joining us to cover:

• income and employment supports for disabled people (adults and children)
• how to navigate the application process
• and how to challenge decisions.

This is a great opportunity to hear directly from the Ministry of Social Development about how disabled people and their agents can navigate the system and get the support they need.

There will be time at the end of the session to ask questions related to Work and Income supports and processes.

For more information, including how to register for this free event, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/17Kgepf3zc/

Image description: A promotional event poster. Text reads "Work and Income Explainer. Woe to Go. Understanding supports and challenging decisions. Thursday 19 March 2026. 7:00pm to 8:30pm. 3B Olive Road, Penrose, Auckland. Online via Zoom." There's an image of the backs of a group of people, both adults and children, with their arms around each other. One person is in a wheelchair.

27/02/2026

Fun moments from this month's Valentine's Day-themed Parent Support Group!

Image descriptions:

Image 1: Two Disability Connect team members, Cherie and Asoka, wearing red and pink Valentine’s Day accessories and posing in front of a Valentine’s Day-themed photo backdrop.

Image 2: A mother and her son smiling together, wearing Valentine’s Day accessories and holding artificial red roses in front of the photo backdrop.

Image 3: Asoka standing beside her son Indika, who is seated on a chair in front of the Valentine’s Day-themed backdrop.

23/02/2026

We're developing a submission on behalf of family carers on the new draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan.

So far, the most common themes we've heard from you are:

• Carers feel unseen and undervalued: Agencies judge families, there are gaps in cultural safety, employers don't understand carer needs, and there's lots of information available but no real help.

• Health and wellbeing supports aren’t working: Funding is hard to use, respite is limited and inflexible, there's a lack of counselling/navigation support, social isolation is getting worse, and there's misunderstanding in communities.

• Carers are under constant financial strain: Caring is not recognised as real work, families lose long-term financial security, and there are barriers to employment and education.

• Data is unclear and inconsistent: There's no clear definition of “carer,” coordination across agencies is poor, and there are no wellbeing-focused measures.

In our submission, we're advocating for:

• A Carer Navigator to provide guidance and support
• Flexible, culturally safe respite options
• Financial security (including KiwiSaver options)
• Recognition of caring as real work
• Better data and accountability
• Stronger community and employer awareness

What do you think? Is there anything we're missing, or should change?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments or email admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz by 5pm, Wednesday 4 March.

For more information about the draft plan, visit the Ministry of Social Development’s website: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/consultations/carers-strategy-action-plan/draft-carers-strategy-action-plan.html

Graphic with question marks at the top and the text: “Carers’ Strategy Action Plan. Family carers - what do you think about our feedback?”

17/02/2026

As a parent‑led disability information service, we hear the stories behind the statistics.

Our South Auckland communities have always known that the challenges disabled people and their families face run far deeper than what government indicators capture.

Historic under‑reporting, constant movement between temporary living situations, fear of engaging with agencies, limited access to services, and a lack of clear, trusted information all widen the gap between official data and lived reality.

For people with intellectual disability - and for the families, whānau, and support networks who hold them up - the numbers only ever tell a fraction of the story.

We think of a 22‑year‑old Samoan man we know with an intellectual disability. He moved through six different suburbs across Auckland in just five years: Helensville, Orewa, Clover Park, Botany, Avondale and Papakura.

His life has been reduced to couch surfing and short‑term lodges, often alongside men nearly three times his age. That's not a foundation for identity, belonging, or wellbeing. It's not how any young person should be expected to grow, thrive, or feel part of a community.

At Disability Connect, we envision a world where disabled people and their families can live the lives they choose - with dignity, stability, and real opportunities to flourish. We remain committed to leading and influencing positive change so that stories like his become the exception, not the norm.

For more information on the research report, From Data to Dignity 2026 - Health and wellbeing indicators for New Zealanders with intellectual disability, go to the IHC website:

IHC’s research report reveals people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing poor outcomes in most areas of life.

11/02/2026

We've been asking Disability Support Services for clarification and answers to the questions you asked in our post earlier this month.

Know that we stand with you and will continue to ask for certainty so we can all plan.

We hope to have an update for you in our next e-newsletter - https://disabilityconnect.org.nz/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/

If you have further issues to raise, please leave a note in the comments. We're advocating for your concerns directly with DSS.

Image description: graphic image of the backs of two bears hugging each other from the side, with the text 'Standing with you' below.

07/02/2026

Do you thrive on building relationships, supporting families, and strengthening community connections? Then you might be our next Cultural Disability and Information Advisor!

We’re looking for a compassionate, culturally aware individual to join our family-first, fun team.

This is a part-time role, perfect for someone who understands the disability world personally or professionally.

The role focuses on providing culturally and religiously appropriate information, guidance, navigation, and support to families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds who may be struggling with the complexities of the disability system.

Experience working with families of disabled children or young people is essential.

For more information, check out the job ad on Seek - applications close on 11 February: https://www.seek.co.nz/job/89596575

Image description: Graphic with text "We’re hiring! Cultural Disability and Information Advisor. Penrose, Auckland (hybrid). Apply Now." A side panel shows the back of a woman wearing a dark blue hoodie with the Disability Connect logo in white, with another person’s arm wrapped around them, also wearing a matching hoodie.

05/02/2026

If you care for a disabled family member, join us for an in-person feedback session on the new draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan. We're hosting this at our offices in Penrose at 11am on Thursday 12 February.

During the workshop, we’ll discuss the draft plan and its three priority areas:

1. Recognition and Appreciation: Carers are valued and the support they require is recognised and protected
2. Health and Wellbeing: Health and wellbeing outcomes are equitable between carers and non-carers
3. Financial Security: More responsive financial supports and improved educational and employment pathways to enable carers to meet their needs and plan for the future

We’ll gather your feedback and use it to develop a family-focused submission to the Ministry of Social Development.

This session gives you a chance to share your experiences and influence how the Government supports carers in our community. We strongly encourage you to take part.

For more information, including how to register, visit our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C7pzbsd6P/

Image description: A promotional event poster. Text reads "Have your say. Carers’ Strategy Action Plan. Feedback session for family carers. 3B Olive Road, Penrose, Auckland. Thursday, 12 February 2026. 11:00am to 12:30pm". There's an image of a mother and daughter in the kitchen.

03/02/2026

Share the love, connect with other families, and get creative!

Our free Parent Support Group events are back, and we’re kicking off the year with a fun Valentine’s Day social evening.

Decorate your own journal to capture memories, moments of gratitude, or notes for 2026. Then grab some props and strike a pose at our Valentine’s-themed photo booth.

Whether you’re new to the group or have joined us before, we welcome you to bring the whole family along. We’ll provide the journals, craft supplies, and snacks - just come as you are.

This free event is on Wednesday 11 February in Ōtāhuhu, with Asoka, Cherie and Mike hosting.

For more information, including how to register, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/17yZ13CqVF/

Image description: Promotional poster for the event. There's a graphic of a polaroid coming out of a camera, with a heart on both the photo and camera. Text reads: “Parent Support Group. Free event for families. Valentine’s Day Social Evening. Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Mt Richmond Specialist School, 7 Albion Road, Ōtāhuhu.”

01/02/2026

We’ve heard from families who're concerned about the changes to Individualised Funding and Carer Support affecting their ability to plan for the future.

We feel that disabled people and families are being left out of the conversation about planning for carer wellbeing in the new needs assessment.

How are the changes to Disability Support Services impacting your family?

What would help you plan for 2026 with certainty and confidence?