Getting Out There 2022-23

2022-23

Light at the end of the Tunnel

Supporting residents

Getting Out There

Accessible services and facilities

Advisory groups

CitySafe

Library services

Parking & mobility

Whangarei District Council has three Advisory Groups that meet monthly: • Disability Advisory Group (DAG) • Positive Ageing Advisory Group (PAAG) • Youth Advisory Group (YAG).

The purpose of these groups is to provide Council with advice about policies, plans and projects from the perspectives of the community sectors they represent. Accessibility for everyone is a key priority for both the Disability and Positive Ageing Advisory Groups.

Inclusion for all young people is one of the key focuses for the Youth Advisory Group.

CitySafe is a collaborative project between Council, the New Zealand Police, and NorthChamber aimed at ensuring a safer and accessible city.

The 0800 258 258 CitySafe toll free number enables people to report safety problems such as graffiti, broken or damaged streetlights, damaged footpaths and trip hazards, bikes in the mall, skateboarders in the CBD or people behaving in an unsafe way. Our friendly CitySafe Community Officers patrol the inner city 7 days a week and, along with the monitored CCTV camera network, are the eyes and ears for public safety. For more information visit www.CitySafe.co.nz

• Large Print • eBooks, eMagazines and eAudiobooks online • Half price rentals on Tuesdays for the over 65s • Hobby groups: Library Craft Group, Creative Colouring-In for Grown-Ups, Flash Fiction and Scrabble 500 Club • Family history research • Book a Librarian for personalised help with using library online services • Book Out home delivery service • Free Stepping Up computer classes.

• 70+ parking fee exemption • Mobility parking • Disability Working Parking Permit • Free about town mobility equipment.

For more information

Whangarei District Council Forum North, Rust Ave, Whangārei P: 09 430 4200 or 0800 932 463 E: mailroom@wdc.govt.nz W: www.wdc.govt.nz

www.wdc.govt.nz Council’s website contains a feature called BrowseAloud.

This ReachDeck.

This is is a free programme that ‘speaks’ web pages or translates into multiple languages for people with dyslexia, lowliteracy, English as a second language, and those with mild visual impairments.

2022-23

Light at the end of the tunnel

Light at the end of the Tunnel

Published by NZME Northland in conjunction with the Tiaho Trust.

ALTOGETHER

Contents 4-5

Information & Services

34-35

Parent to Parent

6-7

Tiaho Trust

36-37

Parkinsons Northland

8-9

Alzheimers Northland

38-39

Stroke Foundation

10-11

Arthritis Northland

40-41

NorthTec

12-13

Blind Low Vision

42

Paper Mill

14-15

Brain Injury Association

43

Volunteering Northland

16-17

CCS Disability Action

44

Spectrum Care

18-19

Deaf Aotearoa

46

Special Olympics

20-21

Northland Down Syndrome Support Group

47

Miriam Centre

48

Idea Services

50

TLC4U2

51

Blomfield

52

Kind Hands

22-23

Epilepsy NZ

24-25

Huntington's Disease Association

26-27

Muscular Dystrophy

53

Forget Me Not

28-29

MND New Zealand

60-61

30-31

Northland MS Society

No Problem, You're Welcome

32-33

NorthAble

62-63

2022-2023 Calendar of Events

DELIVERING REAL ESTATE WITH HEART

3

Real estate professional Jess Barnes understands the strong connection that people have with their homes. She is a proud Whangārei local and has forged a reputation as a real estate agent with heart. She truly partners with her clients on their property journey, listening to their needs and then delivering the results they desire.

Looking to sell your home? Give Jess a call today!

Jess Barnes 027 695 8330 jess.barnes@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Information & Services

March 2022 Edition 14

Relating to disability in Northland Linking people, families and carers living with a disability to information, advice and support in their community.

Visit www.tiaho.org.nz/support find out more about what services these organisations provide in Northland.

In Northland, there are a range of organisations providing a Disability Information Advisory Service.

These are known as the ‘Northland DIAS Collective’.

Tiaho Trust supports these organisations by helping to improve the access to and utilization of their information and services in Northland for you and your families/whanau. Tiaho Trust is your first point of call if you are unsure who to contact or have any questions, call us on: FREEPHONE: 0800 430 3406.

The DIAS Collective provides various services about a specific disability, or disability in general, such as: • • • • •

Advice and information Advocacy Community education and awareness Support groups and networking Home visits

• • • • •

Access to health professionals Referrals and assessments Equipment Seminars/workshops Resources

Together, Tiaho Trust and the DIAS Collective, empower the Northland community by promoting the disabled community as valued citizens who contribute, participate and add to the diversity of New Zealand society.

For DIAS contact details please refer overleaf

Information & Services

Relating to disability in Northland

A Tiaho Trust Project

Your A - Z directory of disability support providers: Alzheimer’s www.tiaho.org.nz/alzheimers 112 Corks Road, PO Box 7027, Tikipunga, Whangarei 0144 0800 004 001 Whangarei (09) 438 7771 Dargaville 022 691 6068 Kerikeri (09) 407 3010 Kaitaia (09) 408 1123 northland@alzheimers.org.nz www.alzheimersnorthland.org.nz Arthritis New Zealand www.tiaho.org.nz/arthritis Unit B, 383 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland Freephone: 0800 663 463 info@arthritis.org.nz www.arthritis.org.nz Blind Low Vision NZ www.tiaho.org.nz/blind_foundation 277 Kamo Road, Whangarei Phone: (09) 437 1199 Freephone: 0800 243 333 info@blindlowvision.org.nz www.blindlowvision.org.nz Brain Injury Association www.tiaho.org.nz/brain_injury 98 Cairnfeild Road, Otangarei PO Box 4001, Kamo, Whangarei Phone: (09) 459 5013 northland@brain-injury.org.nz www.brain-injury.org.nz CCS Disability Action www.tiaho.org.nz/ccs 291 Kamo Road, Whangarei PO Box 8035, Kensington, Whangarei Phone: (09) 437 1899 Fax: (09) 437 0209 Freephone: 0800 227 2255 Northland@ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz www.ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz

Deaf Aotearoa Northland www.tiaho.org.nz/deaf_aotearoa 1A Deveron Street Phone: 0800 332 322 national@deaf.org.nz www.deaf.org.nz Down Syndrome Support Group www.tiaho.org.nz/down_syndrome Kara Road, RD 9, Whangarei Phone: (09) 434 6723 Freephone: 0800 693 724 national.coordinator@nzdsa.org.nz www.nzdsa.org.nz Epilepsy Northland www.tiaho.org.nz/epilepsy Civic Arcade, Level 1 37-41 Bank Street, Whangarei PO Box 1074, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240 Phone: (09) 438 5498 Freephone: 0800 374 537 northland@epilepsy.org.nz www.epilepsy.org.nz Huntington’s www.tiaho.org.nz/huntingtons PO Box 16181, Sandringham Auckland 1351 Phone: (09) 815 9703 Freephone: 0800 432 825 huntingtonsakld@xtra.co.nz www.hdauckland.org Motor Neurone Disease www.tiaho.org.nz/mnda Yarnton House, 14 Erson Ave, Royal Oak, Auckland PO Box 24036, Auckland 1345 Phone: (09) 624 2148 Mobile: 027 202 8166 teamldr@mnda.org.nz www.mnda.org.nz Multiple Sclerosis Northland www.tiaho.org.nz/ms Civic Arcade, Level 1 37-41 Bank Street, Whangarei Phone: (09) 438 3945 Mobile: 027 539 9883 nthlndms@xtra.co.nz www.msnz.org.nz

Muscular Dystrophy Assoc NZ www.tiaho.org.nz/muscular P.O.Box 300429, Albany 0800 636 787 Phone: 09 415 5682 Mob: 021 824 018 info@mda.org.nz www.mda.org.nz NorthAble www.tiaho.org.nz/northable 40 John Street, Whangarei Freephone: 0508 637 200 northable@northable.org.nz www.northable.org.nz Equipment Showroom: 73 John Street, Whangarei (09) 430 3469 www.equipmentplus.org.nz LYNKZ: 0508 637 200 42 John Street, Whangarei Parent to Parent Northland www.tiaho.org.nz/parent2parent Mob: 027 808 3942 Freephone: 0508 236 236 northland@parent2parent.org.nz www.parent2parent.org.nz Parkinson’s Northland www.tiaho.org.nz/parkinsons PO Box 11067 Manners St, Wellington 6142 Freephone: 0800 473 4636 info@parkinsons.org.nz www.parkinsons.org.nz Stroke Foundation www.tiaho.org.nz/stroke Whangarei & Districts Freephone: 0800 459 954 northland@stroke.org.nz Mid North/Far North Freephone: 0800 566 383 far.north@stroke.org.nz www.stroke.org.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

6

Tiaho Trust

E

ach year Tiaho Trust produce this magazine ‘Getting Out There’ to highlight what disability services are available throughout Northland. Not only do we profile 16 disability support organisations, we also provide stories about people who use their services.

This year our magazine theme is “Light at the end of the tunnel” – Positivity through diversity and adversity.

It has been an especially hard year for everyone due to Covid and this has caused a lot of anxiety in the Disability community. We were not able to host our biannual Getting Out There EXPO this year or last year due to Covid restrictions but there is “Light at the end of the tunnel” we will be hosting this event on Friday 11th August 2023 from 10am – 4pm at Forum North in Whangarei. If you would like to be involved whether it be an entertainer, stall holder, volunteer on the day or have a general enquiry please contact us.

This event is the only EXPO in Northland that specifically concentrates on Disabled and Senior Citizen’s needs be it equipment or services available.

Tiaho Trust offers free independent advocacy services to disabled people or their family members. If disabled people or their family members feel like you’re being treated unfairly because of your disability or you feel you aren’t getting the supports or services you are entitled to, contact Tiaho Trust.

Tiaho Trust endeavours to make our community more inclusive and user friendly to disabled people by providing their “No Problem, You’re Welcome” Disability Awareness Customer Service Training to a variety of organisations. We utilise facilitators with lived

experience of disabilities to deliver this training using examples of their own lives to educate organisations on how to deliver excellent customer service to the large disability market segment in our community. We also provide training for Health Professionals which is endorsed by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP). We now offer this training via Zoom which makes it even more accessible.

In addition to the above we also offer Accessibility Audits for organisations who would like to make their services and venues Accessible and welcoming to everyone.

The word Tiaho translated into English means “Shining, radiating light”. We hope that this magazine with articles about people’s various journeys and tunnels will give you Light at the End of Your Tunnel.

Tiaho Trust Ground Floor, Tai Tokerau Maori Trust Board Building 3 - 5 Hunt Street PO Box 374, Whangarei Phone 09 430 3406 Freephone 0800 430 3406 Email info@tiaho.org.nz Web www.tiaho.org.nz Facebook Tiaho Trust

WHEN:

Friday 2nd December 2022 10am - 2pm WHERE:

To be confirmed, advertised in November 2022

For more information: 0800 430 3406

Light at the end of the tunnel

7

Cecelia O’Dell Cecelia O’Dell was one of the founding Trustees of Tiaho Trust. She was on the Board of Trustees for over 12 years. Cecelia is a Mediator with the Human Rights Commission.

She is from Terarawa decent. She has been through many tunnels, some, with light at the end of them. I asked her about some of them.

Where did you get your exquisite cultured English accent from?

I got it from my Catholic upbringing at St Josephs Convent in Panguru, during a period of time when I felt that the nun’s primary goal was to get these Maori natives tuned in to civilisation by ensuring we spoke and acted just like them.. For me there was no “light at the end of this tunnel” as I recall is my parents telling us they weren’t allowed to speak in Te Reo at home anymore, that we had to speak English if we wanted to get on in this world.

At the impressionable age of 5 I felt we had our Maoriness drummed out of us. From the convent school I went to high school where school certificate was the highest qualification you could achieve. My siblings, unlike me, went to boarding school to further their education as I refused to agree with my parent’s wishes.

My accident happened in January 1974 on our way home after my brother’s 21st birthday party as a passenger in the car. We believe the driver either fell off to sleep or had a blackout as the car went off the road and hit a power pole. I was pulled out of the car in a hurry, (not by paramedics) which resulted in a major spinal injury. I was 19 years old. Rehabilitation over 6 months involved, learning how to use a wheelchair, to transfer from/to the wheelchair, car or bed, to eat independently and write, draw etc as I lost the use of my hands and legs.

The surgeon told me almost immediately after the accident that I would never walk again so I fantasised that I would prove him wrong by walking out of hospital one day.

Life after that was very different. My whanau, friends and workmates weren’t sure how to act around me. I was young and there was an expectation that my parents or a family member, would take me home to care for me. Six months into my rehab, my employer (UEB Industries) created a new position for me to enable me to return to work. The job entailed scanning hard-copy documents onto microfiche which wasn’t all that stimulating and certainly not long-term. But the ‘light at the end of this tunnel’ was that it got me back into the real world and gave me a purpose to live.

From there I decided to return to school as an adult student to get my University Entrance as I wanted to be a teacher (remedial English) at the time. When looking for colleges that would accept me with my level of injury, it became apparent that the Colleges weren’t geared up to accommodate anyone in a wheelchair.

Hillary College was the only college in South Auckland which would accept me. Fortunately for me, there were whanau at the school who were willing and able to support me in terms of access to/from classroom prefabs.

I met my husband while I was in hospital, so he’s only known me with my disability which made it easier for a relationship, without any preconceived ideas or expectations, to grow.

We married two years after my accident in the middle of my University Entrance exams. As employment wasn’t a viable option in those days, I undertook voluntary work (helping children with literacy skills) at a local Primary School nearby and another school with children with disabilities. I also helped adult students at home which subsequently led to paid employment working with Maori, Pacific Island, European and new migrants in South Auckland. I was here for ten years.

How did you start your career at the Human Rights Commission?

I heard from a friend that a position was being created with the Human Rights Commission for a person with a disability and funded by the State Services Commission. (mainstream).

At the interview I was asked what I needed to do the job and the necessary support was subsequently put in place. I also became aware that, ‘disability’ was about to be included as a prohibited ground under the Human Rights Act. The role involved taking all calls of alleged discrimination. Thirty years later I’m still working with the Commission as a mediator. While this role can often be stressful, over the years, it’s taught me to be a better listener, to be more patient and empathetic, to be non-judgemental and to maintain ones professionalism when dealing with challenging behaviours. Off course, I stuff up at times but that’s part of being human.

Has there been an increase in complaints to the Commission as result of Covid 19 and is there “Light at the end of the tunnel?”

The Commission has seen a huge increase in complaints over this period. I’ve also heard how traumatic its been for many people, for the disabled community especially in relation to care during the lockdown period. There were many individuals who were denied access to services because of the non-acceptance by some businesses of the mask exemptions for a number of reasons. For me it can involve something as basic as people putting themselves in each other’s shoes – seeing it from their perspective, people who genuinely have difficulty wearing a face mask by being challenged for not wearing a face mask or the legitimacy of the exemption, as opposed to businesses trying to survive in the current climate, having to abide by various policies, regulations, laws etc.

Your husband is a builder and as a result you have had many new houses and experience of shifting is that stressful Shifting is stressful and we should be guru’s at it by now considering the number of houses my husband has built and moved from over the years but the positive from these experiences is that you learn not to hoard things.

You have just moved into another new house is there “Light at the end of the tunnel?”

We consider ourselves very fortunate as we have a roof over our heads unlike many, we have our health and I’m able to continue working from home. We’re still unpacking and finding where things should live and my husband is also involved in another building project in Mitimiti. For me personally, this the biggest “Light at the end of my tunnel” as it’s back in my hometown. (turangawaewae)

Light at the end of the tunnel

8

Alzheimers Northland

A

lzheimers Northland supports people with all forms of dementia. Advisers are based in communities throughout Northland to provide a long-term point of support.

General Manager Kevin Salmon said support is often needed for many years.

The organisation offers one-to-one support over the phone and in person, offering expertise, practical knowledge and support.

There are also support groups for carers, where they can share experiences and gain strength in the knowledge they are not alone.

Home carer seminars also help to give caregivers, who are often spouses, further understanding of dementia and tools for coping with everyday challenges.

Day programmes are popular, providing a safe, fun and stimulating environment for the person with dementia as well as giving the full-time carers a much-needed regular break. Once clients have been approved by the District Health Board, sessions are provided free and transport can be arranged.

Social activities include sing-alongs, music therapy, baking and cooking, apple peeling, soup making, science experiments and craft projects.

Activities often involve nostalgia as clients can often recall memories from long ago rather than short-term.

Staff also promote and encourage clients to maintain familiar skills, independence and self-worth by assisting with staff helping set tables for meals, folding washing,

drying dishes, helping clean up after lunch, maintaining the vegetable garden, setting up activities and in some cases assisting staff with leading an activity.

Alzheimers Northland also offers education sessions for professional care providers, community groups and businesses that want to be more helpful to people with dementia.

The one-day courses, called Understanding Dementia, are held in different areas of Northland, and sessions provide opportunities for discussion, interactive exercises and printed resources.

WESTECH AUTOMOTIVE Proudly supporting Alzheimers Northland

Alzheimers Society Northland Inc Address 112 Corks Road, Tikipunga, Whangarei Postal PO Box 7027, Tikipunga, Whangarei 0112 Phone 0800 004 001 Whangarei (09) 4387771 Dargaville (022) 691 6068 Kerikeri (09) 407 3010 Email northland@alzheimers.org.nz Web www.alzheimersnorthland.org.nz

Getting Out There Disability & Seniors EXPO

It’s been 3 years!!

All Automotive Computerised Systems European Specialists Robert Street, Whangarei • Ph 459 6670 www.westechautomotive.co.nz

Friday 11th August 2023

Light at the end of the tunnel

9

Gaye Chaplin

F

ive years ago, Gaye Chaplin knew little about Alzheimer’s Disease so she never would have predicted her current role as an Alzheimer’s community advisor. But after travelling the tumultuous journey with her beloved mother, she wanted to put her newfound knowledge toward helping others so underwent a radical career change.

“I helped mum when she had Alzheimer’s and she came to live with us,” says Gaye. “We had a hard journey with it, as we didn’t know anything about it until we were going through it with a family member.

“When mum passed, I thought it would be really good to use the knowledge I had gained to help someone else with their journey that Una Moir and Gaye Chaplin they’re about to go through.”

Things became more apparent when Gaye’s mum Una Moir lead an extremely Una would get halfway through a sentence active life. The mother of four often had and forget what she was talking about so foster children and Gaye remembers there Gaye took her to the doctor where she was once being 15 living at their house. So when diagnosed, age 72, with Alzheimer’s. she started showing signs of slowing Eventually Una went to live with down, Gaye thought she deserved Gaye and her husband and sons at the break. their rural home, in a purpose“Mum had a really busy life built house on their land. and she was always giving to “I was still working then,” other people. Once she got says Gaye, whose roles have into her sixties and started previously involved admin, not wanting to do things, like accounting and pay roll. giving up dealing with banking, “However, it became really insurance companies and apparent that there was no way anything to do with the phone, I I could work. I gave up my job and thought, right, I’m going to step up Una Moir became fulltime carer for mum.” and help, and didn’t think much of it.

Gaye describes the following three years as an “isolating journey”.

“Everyone’s journey is different but it’s a very isolating journey to go on for a carer. Some days you don’t even get to have a shower or do anything for yourself as it is just full-on. But, even if I had known what I was about to go through from the start, I still would have done it as my mum was amazing and it was a privilege to look after her in her later years. And we did have fun at times – we’d have lots of laughs with her.”

Una lived with Gaye and her family for three years, spending her final months in fulltime care, before she passed away in February this year, aged 76.

Gaye, meanwhile, had begun as a community advisor with Alzheimer’s Northland to help other families on similar journeys “I’d been through the practical side so can empathise with them,” says Gaye, adding that she has also partaken in many training courses.

“A lot of my clients are husband and wife and I know it’s difficult for them as they’re watching their life partner fade away. I know it was my mum but she was the woman I respected the most in life and I watched my mum fade away for five years. We were really close, I’ve got so many good memories of mum so I try and focus on those.

“I love my job and I like helping people – I’m probably a bit like mum like that – so I can see myself being here for a while. It’s probably my forever job now.

Light at the end of the tunnel

10

Arthritis

Supporting people with arthritis

A

rthritis is a painful and debilitating condition for anyone but for those who are trying to earn a living the difficulties can be even greater.

They may have problems getting time off work to go to specialist appointments. Workers may have to use up all their sick leave or take leave without pay when coping with a ‘flare’.

Sometimes it’s the physical demands of the work itself (standing or lifting) that are difficult.

Or it may be the negative perceptions of work colleagues that add to the stress.

On the other hand, flexible hours, modified equipment, understanding colleagues and managers who take a positive lead can go a long way towards making sure that workplaces are accessible and welcoming for people with arthritis.

At least 700,000 New Zealanders are affected by arthritis and 49 percent of those

Whangarei Support group were delighted that local MP Emily Henderson-(back row second right) attended their meeting in June discuss their concerns and answer questions, particularly around the issue of drug impaired driving legislation.

are of working age. Musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis are among the leading causes of disability and represent a huge financial burden to the New Zealand health system and the economy.

Arthritis New Zealand provides information and support for people with all forms of arthritis, at any age. While there is no cure, most people can live fulfilling and productive lives with early intervention, good treatment and self-management tools.

We also advocate for all those affected by arthritis, including families, and provide training for health professionals through workshops and seminars.

Arthritis Assist and Peer Support are available on 0800 663 463 or info@arthritis. org.nz during business hours. These services can provide information on types of arthritis, treatments, pain management, nutrition, employment issues and access to other support services. There is an active arthritis support group in Whangarei and water-based exercise classes are run independently at the Aquatic Centre.

Contact Arthritis New Zealand Phone 0800 663 463 Website www.arthritis.org.nz Visit our Facebook page Email info@arthritis.org.nz

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Light at the end of the tunnel

11

Jodie Grey

M

y name is Jodie. I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis at 37 years old, it was a shock to me as I always thought Arthritis was something that at only affected someone who was 60+ At the time of my diagnoses, we had an Arthritis Educator that would come into my GPs practice once a week. I was booked in to see her and found out a lot about arthritis and was told about a 20+ support group that was run in Whangarei.

I didn’t attend the group as much as I wanted to because I was in a form of denial about my condition. Over the following years my arthritis got worse. My knees were the worst. I was struggling to walk and was in so much pain. I reconnected with the 20+ support group and started attending the arthritis swimming group at our local pools.

It got to the stage that I needed two knee joint replacements, but no orthopedic surgeon would touch me because of my age, as knee joint replacements were only given in your 50s and I was too young. I couldn’t walk relying heavily on crutches. I was in so much pain and my knee joints were bone on bone.

I was finally referred to an orthopedic surgeon in the hospital who was amazing. Light at the end of the tunnel! On my first visit he apologized to me for the terrible time I had had with the orthopedic surgeons. He also said that having surgery should not be based on your age but on how the condition was affecting my quality of llife. I had my first knee joint replacement aa the age of 46 and my second one done at the age of 47.

I am now an advocate for arthritis supporting others, as I found through my experience that having support is very important, whether it be from other people with arthritis or the medical profession. Arthritis is not something that you should do on your own it affects your life in a big way, sometimes in a way that can become so very overwhelming.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS

LOCAL SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS The first Saturday each month at New Hope Church on Nixon Street 10am to 12pm Contact: twentypluswhangarei@gmail.com

Light at the end of the tunnel

12

Life without limits is the aim of

Blind Low Vision NZ

E

very day, an average of six New Zealander’s turn to Blind Low Vision NZ for support with sight loss.

The organisation advocates for accessible and inclusive communities because they believe people with sight loss should be able to get around public spaces like any other member of the community, access the same information, and pursue the career of their dreams without unnecessary barriers.

Age-related conditions in New Zealand are rising as our population ages, so we also want New Zealand to do better at taking eye health seriously.

The four most common eye diseases causing blindness and partial sight are age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Blind Low Vision NZ help people who have limited useful sight, making it challenging to do some day-to-day tasks even with the best corrective lenses.

Three quarters of the people they help have some vision (which they call low vision), and the remainder are blind.

Blind Low Vision NZ is New Zealand’s leading providing practical and emotional support for people with vision loss. Our vision rehabilitation are personalized to meet your needs and goals, however big or small.

Clients can register online or over the phone to gain access to a wider range of support and resources.

Blind Low Vision NZ offer cultural support for Māori and Pacific clients and their Whānau,

Kyren Andrews

community and friends, as well as services to help businesses and educational institutions cater for employees or students who are blind or have low vision. Some clients experience dual sensory loss, so deafblind services are also available anywhere in New Zealand.

Blind Low Vision NZ has an extensive library, with collections and services including the EasyReader app and the Amazon Alexa Echo device. Help with daily life and travelling around the community is an important service, including training with a cane or guide dog on public or private transport. Blind Low Vision

NZ also provides advice on making the most of technology to help with independence.

If you have any questions, call our team on 0800 24 33 33 or email generalenquiries@ blindlowvision.org.nz.

You will find us at: 277 Kamo Road, Whangarei Phone 09 437 1199 Office hours Monday – Friday 9am to 2pm Website www.blindlowvision.org.nz

Emily Henderson MP for Whangārei

For enquiries about government policy through to taking up casess on behalf of constituents, my electorate office can provide information, advice, support and assistance for a wide variety of issues.

Get in touch: (09) 430 7922 | Emily.HendersonMP@parliament.govt.nz 66a Bank St, Whangārei /EmilyHendersonMP Authorised by Dr Em mily Henderson MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Light at the end of the tunnel

13

Steve Bradley and GD Archie

H

aving lived almost 15 years with a guide dog, Steve says that guide dogs are his life.

Steve didn’t always feel this way though. He says he initially “rebelled” to the idea of getting a guide dog, due to accepting his vision loss.

When Steve was 16 years old, he was diagnosed with glaucoma. He says he didn’t pay much attention to it until about 15 years ago when his vision started to get worse.

A good friend of his suggested he get a guide dog. It took a lot of convincing to get Steve to be open to the idea. Now he says he would be “dead in water without a guide dog”.

Steve and his guide dogs have been going to and from his place of work at Inland Revenue in Whangārei for many years. They travel frequently on planes too.

As an active person, Steve says he wants to be out walking every day until he can’t walk anymore. His guide dog, Archie, makes that possible for him.

Before Archie, Steve had two other guide dogs, Casper and Hadley. He explains that each guide dog served a different purpose in that point in his life.

Steve describes how he finds it difficult in between guide dogs and has to go back to using a white cane. That transition period in between can be tough as he is so used to having a guide dog. He says nothing compares to having a guide dog.

“I don’t want to be without a guide dog ever” Steve exclaims.

Not only does Archie help Steve get around safely. Archie also gives Steve a confidence boost. Having a guide dog has changed the person Steve is. Having a sense of security that Archie provides him with allows him to move through spaces with confidence.

Steve says that Archie is a very social and playful pup.

“When he has his harness on he is wellbehaved, without his harness he’s a nutter”

ARE OUR FOCUS • Ophthalmic Eye Examinations • Cataract Extraction and lens implant • Pterygium Excision plus conjunctive graft • Injection for wet age related Macular Degeneration • Glaucoma treatment • Cataract surgery

FOR ALL DISEASES OF THE EYE

Guide dogs are like family, Steve says their companionship and their relationship is hard to explain in words.

“For a seriously visually impaired person, a guide dog is like having a car. Putting the harness on is like turning the key in a car, it gives you mobility and you can essentially go to most places. The difference between having a dog and not having a dog is as big as the ocean.”

EYE CENTRE WE ALS CONSU O LT IN KERIKE RI

PRIMECARE Eye Specialists:

David Dalziel and Andrew Watts Phone: 09-972 7022 12 Kensington Ave, Whangarei Email: pceyes@xtra.co.nz Website: www.bit.do/EyeCentre

Help is only a phone call away 0800 11 0030

Light at the end of the tunnel

14

The Brain Injury Association

T

he Brain injury association Northland is a Not-for-profit organisation that provides support for people living with the effects of brain injury. Support is also extended to family members and carers, or anyone associated with the person’s care, or rehabilitation. We cover from Wellsford to Cape Reinga in the far North.

The effects of a Brain injury on people can be life changing- a person may have memory loss, fatigue to name a few. Personality changes can lead to relationship breakdowns, loss of employment, financial problems, and homelessness. The issues can be very complex and often there is no easy fix.

We offer practical support- to understand brain injury and its effects. We provide people with the skills to cope and navigate during this often-confusing time. We can advocate on client’s behalf and make sure they have access to appropriate services as with a brain injury often find it very difficult to engage with social agencies, they can become overwhelmed and often give up.

Statistics tell us that 99 people a day will sustain some form of a brain injury in NZ, that is one every 15 minutes. Northland is overrepresented in these statistics.

Brain injury is often referred to as a “silent epidemic” or “Hidden injury” as often there is

no visible physical changes to a person. This means the clients behaviour is often being questioned without looking at the reason behind it.

Over the last year, our organisation has seen some changes. Mandy Forbes has been appointed as Office Manager and Fundraiser.

Mandy comes with a nursing and business background. Brenda Williams has also joined our team as a Liaison Officer working fulltime alongside of our other Liaison Officer Vikki Herdman. Brenda brings with her 27 years of experience in the Health and Disability Sector.

The organisation runs monthly support group meetings for our clients throughout Northland. Regular support for Carer’s be via Zoom. We also produce regular informative newsletters. We are continually raising public awareness- we can visit schools, talk with Community organisations and we are involved in Road safety educational programmes. We have recently hosted a seminar for health professionals, as part Brain Awareness month and hope to do this again.

Contact details: Address 98 Cairnfield Road, Whangarei Postal Po Box 4001, Kamo.

Phone 09 459 5013 Email northland@brain-injury.org.nz Web www.brain-injury.org.nz On left is Mandy Forbes office manager & Brenda Williams Liaison officer

Bennett & Associates Chartered Accountants

PROUD TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE NORTHLAND BUSINESS COMMUNITY NORTHLAND owned, focused and operated accounting firm providing services in: • Audit, Investigation & Forensic Research • Office of the Auditor General Approved School Auditor • Small to Medium Size Direct Business Support and Tax Services • Business Recovery, Turn Around & Insolvency Management • Maori Business Advisory & Mentoring Contact us at: 57 Clyde Street, P O Box 627, Whangarei 0140 Ph: (09) 438 2312 Fax: (09) 438 2912 Email: info@bennettca.co.nz Web: www.bennettca.co.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

15

Maurice Lambert

M

aurice Lambert vividly remembers the sequence of events leading up to the almighty collision on open road before he and his beloved Harley Davidson landed in a creek. Then it all went blank.

The Far North 58-year-old father of seven was heading home from work in 2018 when a 4WD pulled out in front of him.

“He suddenly shoots across the road and there was absolutely nowhere to go. I hit him on the driver’s door and flew over the handlebars. The bike was attached to his 4WD, I was still attached to my bike with my hips wrapped around the t-bars. He was still accelerating because, by then, he was unconscious.”

They didn’t disconnect until the vehicle went over a bridge and Maurice and his bike ended up in a creek.

“I woke up in the drain and somebody had already turned my bike off and I was talking to an ambulance driver,” he recalls. “I had a broken leg, smashed shoulder and a brain injury.

“I kind of wish I couldn’t remember as it’s pretty scary.”

He was taken to Kaitaia Hospital and being prepared to be ambulanced to Whangārei, when he stopped breathing and was revived the rescue helicopter was called instead.

Maurice now has a titanium right shoulder so has become left-handed, and has learnt to cope with his brain injury. The Stop Smoking practitioner for Te Hiku Hauora needs regular

breaks from his computer, is easily-distracted and forgetful.

“I avoid my computer and, when I start to feel fatigue, I go and have a lie down and just close my eyes and then I’m good as gold,” says the former truck driver who fought fatigue for 30 years.

“I may have triggered the old premature dementia too,” he laughs. “Because I’m constantly forgetting things. I’ll walk down the hall into a room and forget why I’ve gone there and then have to retrace my steps. I have to keep repeating ‘Socks, socks, socks’, all the way there and then my wife will call from the kitchen, ‘Socks!’”

His wife has also had to cope with Maurice’s mood swings, in the early days, taking a five-week break from each other. These days, when she notices Maurice getting tetchy, she suggests he have a lie down.

“My grumpiness was getting out of hand.

(My wife) had to put up with my whinging and rants that went nowhere so the break was a marriage-saver.

“I know I’m not going to be the way I used to be and it’s not going to get better but I’m quite lucky as I’m in a great support group with the Brain Injury Association of Northland and some of my mates there are in dire straits so I’m more than happy to be where I am now.

“I found the support from my clinical psychologists, therapists and work colleagues helped me to understand that I don’t have to be exactly how I was before the accident. I am enough, I am still alive, I am very grateful.”

Maurice, whose six sons are rugby players, has rediscovered his love of reffing but hasn’t been so quick to get back on his Harley.

“I decided I’m not quite ready yet. My Harley’s still bent up but I start it up from time to time and it’s still got that lovely rumble.”

Light at the end of the tunnel

16

CCS Disability Action CCS Disability Action is the largest pan-disability support and advocacy organisation in New Zealand. We have a long, proud history of working in partnership with disabled people, families and whānau to provide dedicated and flexible support services.

As well as creating individually tailored supports, we work in communities to identify and remove barriers so that all people can lead positive and connected lives. We also advocate for local and national policies that ensure that disabled people’s rights are upheld.

What we offer Our model is based on putting people first and finding ways to support the choices they want to make and the lives that they want for themselves.

At CCS Disability Action, we believe that all people have the right to be included in their communities and enjoy the same rights and opportunities that every New Zealander might expect.

CCS Disability Action is a pan-disability organisation, which supports people with a wide range of impairments.

These services include: • A range of respite options designed to provide a break for families and a positive and rewarding experience for your child.

• Community Support Coordinators who provide advocacy and support to remove

any barriers to accessing the quality education of your choice.

• A dedicated youth team who can offer tailored support with education, employment and can connect you with friends, youth groups and your community.

WESTECH AUTOMOTIVE Proudly supporting CCS Disability Action

• Support to access paid and sustainable employment by providing individualised support for potential employees and employers.

• Ongoing vocational support service to assist disabled people to participate in training, work or community activities.

• Providing ongoing support, information and options for young people preparing to leave school for further study or employment.

• Working in partnership with disabled people to support them to lead independent lives.

We provide community-based support and support people to transition from residential care into their own home.

• A Karanga Maha group who support people of Māori and Pacific Island descent to engage with their own cultural identities and develop personal leadership.

• Administering the mobility parking service in Northland, supporting people to park in accessible spaces in the community.

CCS Disability Action Northland Address 291 Kamo Road, Whangarei Phone (09) 437 1899 Freephone 08000 227 2255 Email Northland@ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz Web www.ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz

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Friday 11th August 2023

Light at the end of the tunnel

17

MingMing lights up the room

M

ingMing Edgar lights up a room with an infectious energy. The 32-year-old hails from Dargaville and describes himself as outgoing and ‘up for anything’.

MingMing is blind but has yet to meet a musical instrument that he can’t master.

It’s a passion that began when he was just eight.

“I loved listening to music, so I thought I would give piano a go. I had lessons for a long time. I play piano, violin, drums and I also sing and dance.” he says.

MingMing plays for the residents of the local hospice once a week as well as regional events. “It’s important to me that I give back.

People do seem to like my music, so it I enjoy it,” he explains.

Fitness is another passion. He has been powerlifting since he was 16 and is a regular fixture on the local competitive circuit. He’s also training for half marathon and is also highly competitive in Aikedo.

“We are only here on earth once, so you have to make the most of every opportunity and adventure that comes your way,” explains MingMing.

The only thing missing in MingMing’s life is a paid job, something he has been working

towards for some time. Community Support Coordinator for CCS Disability Action, Phillip Campbell recently came on board to try and help MingMing make this a reality.

MingMing has his CV at the ready and often door-knocks at local businesses to see if there are any unadvertised vacancies.

“MingMing is an incredible person and would be an awesome addition to any team – particularly in any work that’s customerfacing. It’s a true privilege to work with him.

He has this tremendous energy and I want to take this and use it in my work with him.

I’m determined to help him find a role that matches his purpose and drive in life,” Phillip explains.

Both agree that MingMing’s on-the-jobsupport needs aren’t any different to nondisabled people. With his Support Worker on hand to help him navigate any new environments, he’s hoping he’ll find someone willing to give him a go soon.

“Someone needs to snap me up!” A sentiment that is hard to disagree with, even after only a short time in MingMing’s company.

“I loved listening to music, so I thought I would give piano a go. I had lessons for a long time. I play piano, violin, drums and I also sing and dance.”

Looking for a family home?

Choosing the right school is just as important as choosing the right home.

OneRoof Suburbs gives you detailed information on schools in the area, so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next family home.

Find the right school in the right suburb at www.oneroof.co.nz/suburb

Light at the end of the tunnel

18

eaf Aotearoa is the Disabled Persons’ Organisation representing the voice of Deaf people, and the national service provider for Deaf people in New Zealand. It is also the New Zealand-representative member organisation of the World Federation of the Deaf.

Deaf Aotearoa’s services are available from 13 offices nationwide, including Northland. These services include: First Signs Connecting families who have a deaf or hard of hearing child aged 0-5, with New Zealand Sign Language, the Deaf community and Deaf culture.

Youth Engaging with Deaf youth and promoting positive Deaf identity and leadership in young Deaf people.

Hauora A service focused on improving lives and supporting independence, including coordinating access to other services and assistive technology.

Employment A specialist employment service for deaf and hard of hearing people, offering a transition service for school leavers, pre-employment support, job-seeking, and supporting employers of Deaf staff.

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NZSL Week New Zealand Sign Language Week is held each year in May. This year it is being held from Monday, 10th May to Sunday 16th May 2021. Taster classes are available to register for organisations, businesses and schools. Keep an eye out for our NZSL Week Heroes! iSign iSign is a nationwide New Zealand Sign Language interpreter booking service.

Translation NZSL Translation provides access and participation for the Deaf Community by providing clear communications for those whose primary language is New Zealand Sign Language. Providing access to your information in NZSL means Deaf people can be better informed about your information or services.

Deaf Aotearoa also works to advocate for the Deaf community, engaging with government departments and other agencies to improve access for Deaf people.

Fully funded hearing aids*

Free hearing checks

Free 10-day trials

Hearing aids from $1 a day

CALL TODAY: (09) 438 6222 1 Kowhai Court, 27 Rust Avenue, Whangārei * Subject to ACC approval. Contact us for full information. T&C Apply.

Deaf Aotearoa Address 1A Deveron Street, Whangarei Open Monday to Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday by appointment Phone 0800 33 23 22 Web www.deaf.org.nz Service enquiries and urgent support duty@deaf.org.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

19

Robyn Ogatau

By Glennis Walkinshaw (previous Northland Facilitator for Deaf Aotearoa)

T

he work we do in the North is very varied and we never know from one day to the next what we may be asked to help out with.

Recently an ex staff member from Deaf Aotearoa came to the office to ask for help.

Robyn moved to Nuie Island with her husband over 12 years ago as it was his homeland and they wanted to live there. Robyn is very involved with the community life on the island where they live.

Robyn Ogatau at the Rock Vets in Auckland completing her training

Over the years she had become friendly with Vet Sasha Farr from Rock Vets who had been visiting regularly to give veterinary care to the island animals. They have also been trying to assist with the cat and dog population which is out of control and decimating the wild bird life. Due to Covid, the Vets are now unable to make regular visits to Nuie. Over the last few months Robyn and Sasha have been liaising to have Robyn do some training to enable her to micro chip animals on her island to control the breeding of the cats and dogs.

Robyn came to the office to ask for assistance to book an interpreter. She is a NZ Citizen but not a permanent resident here even though she travels to NZ often to see her mother and family and visit the family home.

Initially I approached the booking agent for interpreters - iSign. As Robyn was not a permanent resident here the funding was declined. I then approached Workbridge in the

capacity of training funds to cover the interpreting costs but as Robyn was not going to go into paid work (her work on the island is voluntary) she was denied funding here also.

My third option was Work and Income but they advised we had the right to apply but as their criteria also stated ‘permanent residency’ it would likely be declined and there would also be a 5 week waiting list to have a decision.

I then approached VIS Service and whilst this would have been an option it was decided that because the training was over 3 full days, the availability of interpreters and the lack of a suitable screen and link to wifi in the Veterinary surgery this may not be the best option.

I re-approached iSign and after further discussions it was decided that if I could get proof from the NZ High Commissioner that the work Robyn was training for could be justified and there was proof of this then they may be able to help. I made several telephone calls to Sasha (a very busy person!) and finally we were able to secure a letter from the High Commissioner. This was relayed to iSign who were then able to provide interpreters for the 3 day training and after this Sasha then provided me with photos of a very happy Robyn.

This is one example of the way Deaf Aotearoa provides information and advocacy the Deaf people in New Zealand and sometimes further abroad.

How does it work?

For interpreter bookings and queries: 0800 934 683 FREE TXT: 3359 bookings@isign.co.nz www.isign.co.nz

iSign interpreting services are provided in every setting, including: • health • disability support services • government agencies, eg: Work & Income, ACC • schools • legal appointments • work places • conferences • social events, eg: family reunions, churches, funerals, tangi and weddings.

Light at the end of the tunnel

20

A

Northland Down Syndrome Support Group Charitable Trust

diagnosis of Down syndrome - whether during pregnancy or birth - can be a shock. We are available to chat if you have had a recent diagnosis. We are nonjudgmental, supportive listeners.

Long-time volunteer Kathy Sadgrove says Down syndrome can sometimes come with extra challenges that parents might not be expecting. Around 40% of babies with Down syndrome are born with some form of heart condition that range from mild to severe.

Thankfully things have changed considerably for the better since her son had his operation 28 years ago. We can help parents begin to understand the implications that having a child with Down syndrome may have for their family and to connect them with other families if they wish.

The support group uses a range of different media to keep in touch, and its Northland Down Syndrome Support Group Facebook page is a good way for parents to connect with each other, as well as being a valuable resource with up to date information on Down syndrome.

Our Great M8s social group for young adults meets fortnightly for social outings such as Ten Pin bowling, mini golf, dinners, arts and crafts and games nights.

Monthly gym sessions held at the Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics are also popular for all family members of people with Down syndrome. The children and their

programs tailored to a student’s needs and networking opportunities sharing ideas and good practice with other teachers.

We also have a wide range of educational books, reading programmes and numeracy resources to loan.

Our Northland families celebrate World Down Syndrome Day 21st March. In 2021 our Lots of Rocks Loop Walk was held. Around 250 families, supporters and community members came together, dressed in our colours Purple and Orange, to celebrate and walk the Hatea Loop. Children had fun placing decorated rocks while they walked around the Loop. Unfortunately, this year due to covid we were unable to hold our walk we celebrated instead on our NDSSG Facebook page.

An important role for the support group is to promote and advocate for positive attitudes in the wider community, to promote the rights and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to raise public awareness. siblings enjoy the activities and the parents enjoy the social networking opportunities and sharing successes.

The NDSGT aims to support ECE centres, schools, and training centres/ tertiary colleges working with learners with Down syndrome. We provide professional development days, learning

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General enquiries 0210 814 3744 Email ksadgrove@xtra.co.nz Schools enquiries 021 0822 4584 Email NorthlandDSSG@gmail.com Web www.NorthlandDSSG.org Facebook Northland Down Syndrome Support Group

Light at the end of the tunnel

Lucas Balsalubre

21

By Brodie Stone

L

ucas Balsalubre’s entrance into the world was anything but ordinary. His first days earthside showed clearly that he’s a fighter. After birth through an emergency c-section, Lucas then battled dilated kidneys, a hole in his heart and high thyroid function for 20 days in the neonatal unit. But despite the trials, Celyn, Lucas’s mother says at now twoand-a-half years, all her son does is “light up the room wherever he goes.”

A diagnosis of Down Syndrome is a stressful time for expectant parents, something Celyn experienced early in her pregnancy with Lucas.

At 12 weeks, herself and her husband were told that their unborn child was high risk for Down syndrome. The remainder of the pregnancy was spent at scans that discovered something wrong each time.

Celyn says she feared she may not accept her child during her pregnancy, but when she clapped eyes on her new-born son, she reflects, “it was just pure love that I felt.”

Since then, Celyn has kept involved with Northland Down Syndrome Support Group and says seeing the stories of other parents of Down syndrome children has been reassuring.

“Just seeing their kids thrive, that helped us a lot. We realised Lucas can thrive as well.”

But it hasn’t always been easy. Last year, Lucas was hospitalised with Respiratory Syntactical Virus (RSV), fighting in Whangarei Hospital for 12 days, oxygen tube and all. But since then, his journey has been smooth.

Lucas, Mum Celyn, Dad Jerico

“Bubbly, fun and loving” Lucas is hitting milestones well and attending various therapies that have enabled him to thrive.

He continues to flourish with support from the Northland Down Syndrome Support Group, their local church group, the Filipino community, friends, and family. It might be a cliché, but the term ‘it takes a village’ very clearly applies to the

life of this extraordinary little boy.

The future looks bright for her son, and Celyn’s hopes for him are that he reaches his maximum potential, “whatever that is.”

“In his little ways he will be able to impart something to the world,” says Celyn, “we want his story to inspire people, especially families with disabled children.”

WHEN:

Friday 2nd December 2022 10am - 2pm WHERE:

To be confirmed, advertised in November 2022

For more information: 0800 430 3406

Light at the end of the tunnel

22

Epilepsy Support Group

J

Sam Morgan

ust being able to get on with Life with Epilepsy being no more than a background consideration. So what does this mean for the person diagnosed and living with Epilepsy during a pandemic?

Living a well-balanced life seems to be turned on its head with the advent of COVID and Omicron and the impact as a result is hard.

For many the over whelming feelings of not being able to cope, increasing anxiety, fear, and social isolation, to name a few were all influencing factors having a significant impact on health and wellbeing.

Covid restrictions also meant many did not access the health care systems when needed.

Dealing with everyday stress and challenges appeared to be exhausting leaving one with little time and energy for others.

Epilepsy can impact on people with epilepsy and whanau in different ways. Everyone is in it together, yet everyone experiences it differently.

Relationships were often stretched during the different Covid levels with whanau experiencing a range of mixed feelings in having to navigate the system.

The stress and pressure of having to navigate health care, cancelled appointments, or not being able to see their regular GP. In addition, the impact of feeding whanau, housing, and financial constraints As an Educator, one of the most important areas needed to address was optimum seizure control and medication management.

Having an adequate supply of medication on hand, for people in rural areas or those needing to isolate after exposure or infection.

The awareness of potential triggers for stress and anxiety leading to increased severe Seizures.

Ensuring the person with Epilepsy and whanau were informed with the most accurate up to date vaccine and epilepsy management information possible was important.

Working collaboratively with other Services within the regions of Northland was essential in meeting the needs of people with epilepsy and their whanau.

For the person with Epilepsy knowing the people out there made a difference in helping to get a perspective on the challenges or problems faced.

Northland seems to have re surfaced with the lifting of certain restrictions and the feeling of some normality is returning. Life goes on and as the saying goes there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Contact Details Address Level one upstairs Civic Arcade, 37 Bank Street, Whangarei Phone (09) 438 5498 Freephone 0800 374 537 Hours 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday - Friday Email northland@epilepsy.org.nz Web www.epilepsy.org.nz

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Light at the end of the tunnel

23

Epilepsy has changed Estelle’s life immensely.

“Before 2001, I had freedom. Now I have stigma, fear, embarrassment and restrictions.”

E

stelle believes she started having ‘Absence seizures’ as a child after hitting her head. This stopped after a while. But it was not until she was 35, that she had a fullblown Tonic-Clonic seizure one day at work.

Eventually she was diagnosed with epilepsy and put on medication. “Both have slowed me down, and caused some memory and concentration problems,” tells Estelle, now 56.

“It has not been easy. For years, I didn’t accept that I had epilepsy. There’s a lot of people that I haven’t told because I was embarrassed. It just rocked me so much, I went through all the different emotions, as well as self-pity.

“I was afraid of the stigma attached to it and afraid of going into public places in case I had a seizure. It’s always in the back of my mind if I’m going to have a seizure or not, and, if I do, what will that be like for the people I’m with.”

Estelle’s seizures can be controlled by her medication but appear to be associated with stress.

She describes: “Having a seizure is very disorientating and hard on my body and I’m often left bruised and very-tired.

“Perhaps one the hardest things for me are the driving restrictions, as it has taken away some of my freedom and, at times, I have to rely on others.”

Joining the Epilepsy Northland support

BREE & CLINT WEEKDAYS 3PM–7PM

Estelle Graham

group has helped me immensely, says Estelle.

“It is such a kind, supportive and understanding group. Seeing how other people cope, their acceptance and being able to talk about epilepsy has helped me open up more about my condition, after denying it for a very long time.

“Having a sense of humour helps too.

Gradually feelings have changed and I have become more accepting.

“But what I want people to know is that, as much as the medical side of me has changed, the other side hasn’t, I’m still me.”

94.8FM

Light at the end of the tunnel

24

T

Huntington’s Disease Association

he Huntington’s Disease Association (Auckland) Inc is currently working with 900+ people living with symptoms, or at risk of developing symptoms, of Huntington’s Disease in the Auckland and Northland regions. With the hard work and dedication of the Manager, Jo Dysart and Cheenee Mandawe (Support worker), they support the carers, family members, GP’s, medical specialists, and other agencies to support people with Huntington’s.

Family Liaison Service Our professional staff are Huntington’s Disease (HD) specialists who help families and professionals respond to the unique challenges of HD. The clients of the Individual and Family Services programme are the person living with HD, their caregivers and family members including people at risk.

Support Service The staff provide services which include: • Assessing people’s needs through one-toone consultation’s • Educating clients about HD • Giving information about community services • Finding sources of support • Facilitating appropriate referrals and then following up.

The service can involve setting goals with the clients, strategizing and solution focused problem solving, either working individually with clients or in groups.

race. Primarily, HD affects adults. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 35 and 45 but there is Juvenile HD which appears in children and late onset HD in adults in their 60’s.

Jo Dysart, CEO/Manager

Education and Awareness For over 30 years we have been providing information about Huntington’s Disease to those living with HD, their carer’s as well as the support agencies and medical professionals.

Information ranges from symptomology of HD to how to manage the symptoms.

What is Huntington’s disease?

Huntington’s disease is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by and expunction in the IT-15, or Huntington’s gene on chromosome 4. Each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of developing the disease.

Most people with HD develop symptoms in their forties and fifties although around 10% of patients have onset of symptoms before age 20 and 10% have onset after age 60.

Who Gets It? Huntington’s is a genetic disorder. About six in every 100,000 people has HD. It is not discriminative can affect both sexes and any

What are the Symptoms?

There are three main types of symptoms in Huntington’s disease: physical symptoms including involuntary movements and diminished coordination; emotional symptoms including depression, irritability, and obsessiveness; and cognitive symptoms, including loss of ability to recall information, loss of attention and difficulty with decision making.

HD Community Connectors We are privileged to work alongside clinical experts and DHB’s offering a multi-disciplinary team approach to the individuals and family/ whanau affected by HD. Along with this we have tight links with the Auckland University Centre for Brain Research and our Patron Sir Richard Faull. We therefore have ongoing updates on clinical research and research to help develop treatments and one day, a cure.

Contact Details Address PO Box 16181, Sandringham Auckland 1351 Phone 0800 432 825 Mobile 027 432 8255 Email huntingtonsakld@xtra.co.nz Web hdauckland.org

Getting Out There Disability & Seniors EXPO

It’s been 3 years!!

Friday 11th August 2023

Light at the end of the tunnel

25

Kate Key

F

or 30-year-old Kate Key, there was always a 50 per cent chance she would have Huntington’s Disease. Having watched her mother endure the crippling symptoms, she wanted to prepare for her future so took the test as soon as she could.

She was 22 when she tested positive for the hereditary neurodegenerative disorder which each child of an affected parent has a 50 per cent chance of developing.

“Going into testing, I was 50/50 in terms of how I felt, I wasn’t leaning to either way,” she reveals. “I was upset but also relieved because I’m the sort of person that needs to know. It wasn’t the result I would have wanted but it means I can make a plan.”

Kate’s mum kept her own diagnosis on the down-low. Her father, who’d passed away when she was 16, had Huntington’s, so she took the test as soon as it became available in 1995. However, with no apparent symptoms, which commonly develop during one’s 30s, she carried on with life. It wasn’t until she was 45 that they began to manifest.

“I noticed my mum started changing when I was around 16 but she didn’t tell me she had it until I was 21. She was quite secretive and think she was just trying to protect us and also a little bit in denial,” explains Kate.

“Mum’s symptoms started off with slurred speech and she was a little bit clumsy and emotional but it was quite easy to hide that.

She’s also quite eccentric so it kind of went alongside those symptoms but, as time went

Partner Rob, son Jackson and Kate

on and other people started asking if she’d had a few drinks, I noticed that something wasn’t quite right. I was starting to put pressure on her, asking questions, and then the Huntington’s Association spoke with mum and encouraged her to tell me and my brother. I got tested when I was 22,” she says, adding that her brother opted not to.

While Kate hasn’t experienced symptoms yet, watching her mum’s decline has given her

insight into the road ahead.

“It’s a gradual process and normally, once you start, the life expectancy is about ten to 15 years and mum’s past 15 now.

She’s 61. It starts off slowly and there’ll be slurring, stumbling, loss of co-ordination and swallowing can become difficult. From a cognitive point of view, it’s more mood swings and short-term memory goes and then it’s not being able to talk so my mum can only say a couple of words. She can still walk a bit but is mostly chair and bed-bound. She’s very stubborn though.”

As expected, Kate’s own outlook on life has changed.

“I plan things a bit more, whereas before I took it for granted that I would be around forever as most of us do so, when I found out, it was a bit of a wake-up call how important it is to make the most of what you have and ensure I did most of the things I wanted to. But, in saying that, I can’t really plan for the future so have planned short-term and how I want my life to look.”

This involved marrying her long-time partner, honeymooning, buying a house and having kids through IVF, all in her 20s.

“As much as you try to be positive, there is this weight on my shoulders but I try not to think about it too much. I won’t be around as long as I can for the kids but we make the most of this time we have together, though I keep hoping for a preventative or prolonging treatment in the meantime.”

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Muscular Dystrophy About Us The Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand Inc. (MDANZ) began in the late 1950’s as a support group for families affected by muscular dystrophy. Since then, MDANZ has broadened its scope to include many other neuromuscular conditions.

Our logo is a person shown in the form of DNA. This double helix represents the genetic component to many of our conditions and reflects our commitment to families and the acknowledgement of whakapapa or family histories, which are woven through the stories of our members. Our unique governance structure ensures leadership of the organisation by individuals or family members with lived experience of a condition.

We have three regional branches - Northern, Central, and South Island - that are supported by the national office based in Auckland.

MDANZ supports individuals, families and whānau by providing specialist information, practical resources, personalised support and Fieldworker services, social networks, campaigns for public awareness and advocacy.

And through our research trust, we work to MDANZ National Branch Contact Phone 0800 800 337 (MDN Support) Email info@mda.org.nz Website www.mda.org.nz

improve care standards and facilitate access to potential treatments for neuromuscular conditions.

Our organisation is a registered charity and we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations from the general public, trusts and other businesses/ organisations to continue our work.

What are Neuromuscular Conditions?

Neuromuscular condition is a broad umbrella term that describes a variety of muscle disorders. The conditions covered by MDANZ are rare and mostly genetic.

Progressive muscle wasting leads to loss of mobility and independence, and there are often major impacts on organ systems, which can result in early loss of life. Symptoms can appear at birth or for others not until much later in life. These conditions can be unpredictable and there are limited treatment options.

Fieldworker Northern Branch Contact Michael Schneider Phone 021 824 018 or 09 415 5682 Email Mike@mdn.org.nz

• Scooters • Mobility aids • Bathroom aids • Competitive pricing

For all your Mobility & Daily Living Aid Requirements 84D Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri In The Service Lane opposite Bunnings Trade Entrance Ph: 09 407 6701 or 027 4468545 email: kerimobility@yahoo.co.nz www.kerimobility.co.nz

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Ronelle Baker

H

aving a degenerative condition hasn’t slowed mother of three Ronelle Baker’s ambition.

The career-focused newly-appointed Northlander simply finds ways to adapt to living with muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy is a hereditary condition which is degenerative - meaning it gets worse with age as muscles waste away over time. Progressive weakness, fatigue and pain are common symptoms. Ronelle is the third generation of her family with the rare facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) which, for her, was diagnosed aged eight.

She recalls her childhood as fairly ordinary and says she was an active kid who played netball. The slow progression of FSHD meant she lost the ability to walk throughout her 30s and 40s before transitioning to a powered wheel chair.

“Now that I’ve reached 50, and a higher level of mobility impairment, it’s more challenging,” says Ronelle, who celebrated her milestone birthday in April.

However, her career has thrived, including roles with Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland Council, the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand as chief executive and her current position as an Accessibility Advisor for the next census.

“I am technology-competent, though I am starting to lose strength in my arms so a little

ALTOGETHER

Ronelle and her husband Bevan at Marsden Cove

bit of adaptation is needed,” she says. “I have an ergonomically set-up desk and now work mainly from home.

“The great thing about this role is it’s made it possible to leave Auckland and live in Northland,” says the One Tree Point resident.

“It’s lovely and I have good access to local spaces. We got a new puppy in January so I’m just really enjoying my whānau and pets and reconnecting with whakapapa. We love being in the north.”

DELIVERING REAL ESTATE WITH HEART

Having witnessed family members experience FSHD, Ronelle had a fair idea of how the condition would develop, so she has learnt to adapt as her body changes.

“When you’ve been a working mum and it’s been your role to pick up the kids from school and cook tea, that was always my role, and now it’s my husband’s. I am now the main bread-winner as I have focused on my career development.

“I am bringing home the bacon, so to speak, and now my husband cooks the bacon.”

However, she misses the freedom of being able to do certain things.

“It’s the everyday things I miss, like being able to kick off my shoes and walk along the beach, cook for my family, or take a spontaneous trip. I’m right near the beach but I can’t get down to the sand easily or swim – I haven’t swum for at least a decade.

“My strongest message is to figure out what’s important to you and focus on those things.

For me, it’s my whānau, my overall wellbeing and contributing to the community while having a satisfying career and I achieve these things regardless of the fact I use a powered wheelchair and am losing ability every day.”

“Everyone’s generous support has allowed me to strive to be the best in real estate and also be a super women for my family. It’s a privilege I take great pride in and to pass on your support I proudly donate $250 from every sale completed with me to Muscular Dystrophy NZ”

Jess Barnes 027 695 8330 jess.barnes@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

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MND New Zealand

K

Kia ora and Welcome

ia Ora. MND New Zealand is here to help and support people with Motor Neurone Disease and those who care for them. We concentrate on three key activities: • Providing support to people living with MND and those who care for them • Providing community education and awareness • Promote, identify and develop research opportunities, including the New Zealand MND Registry.

Basic Facts Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of closely related disorders that affect the motor neurones. Motor neurones are nerve cells that control the voluntary movement of muscles.

Degeneration of the motor neurones result in progressive muscle wasting and weakness because the nerve supply to the muscles is impaired.

This causes progressive loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing, and breathing. The progression varies significantly from person to person. The most common type of MND is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS. In some countries, including North America, MND is called ALS. Key Facts • MND is an uncommon, but by no means rare disease.

• MND affects people from all communities.

Scott Arrol Chief Executive of MND New Zealand receives an icy challenge, raising funds to support those impacted by MND.

• MND can affect adults at any age but most people diagnosed with MND are over the age of 40, with the highest incidence occurring between the ages of 50 and 70.

• Slightly more men than women get MND. • A person’s lifetime risk of developing MND is up to 1 in 300.

• Most people with MND live for 20 to 48 months after symptoms begin. Five to ten percent of people with MND live for ten years or more.

New Zealand Statistics • In New Zealand an average of 144 people* are diagnosed with MND every year • Approximately 400 people in New Zealand are living with MND.

• Worldwide, 4 to 5 million people now alive today will die from MND. • The median age of onset of MND in New Zealand is 67 years old*.

• 35% of people with MND in New Zealand are aged under 65.

• 58% of people with MND in New Zealand are male. 42% are female.

• Each year MND causes the deaths of an average of 120 people in New Zealand.

Sally King Support Advisor Northland I truly appreciate it when I am invited to walk alongside folk for a while.

Whakawhetai ki a koe.

Work days Monday - Thursday Phone 027 202 8166 or 09 280 3196 Web www.mnd.org.nz Email: sally.king@mnd.org.nz

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Light at the end of the tunnel

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29

When we got married, we said in sickness and in health

otor Neurone Disease (MND) is commonly regarded as one of the most challenging diseases to live with.

It is a degenerative disease, where the motor neurones, the nerve cells that control voluntary movement of the muscles start to waste away.

While this is a tragic disease, Judy, who lives with MND, still sees the beauty and positivity in her life.

This is her story.

Judy was diagnosed with MND in January 2022. She thinks that she had MND for two years prior, but it was just slight changes that

she noticed. Judy loves bike riding on her E-Bike, but now she is unable to get her legs over the bike to go riding, and the disease has progressed so quickly she is now in a wheelchair. She cannot pick things up, or open bottles, and has trouble with her speech. Judy says her condition has deteriorated quickly since January.

Judy now relies on her husband of 27 years, Bill for support and help with basic tasks. Bill has had medical difficulties of his own, but he harps back to Judy; “when we got married, we said in sickness and in health.”

Judy and Bill McCoid

If it’s important to you, you’ll find it in northeradvocate.co.nz

Judy says she is fortunate to have lots of help, her sister-in-law and cousin visit once a week, and she only has to ask if she wants anything done for her. But she does not want to encroach on people’s lives, yet she knows they are there if she needs them.

Before her MND diagnosis, Judy loved volunteering at her local Hospice Shop which she did for 11.5 years. Judy would cycle into Whangarei from her home to work there.

She started out re-arranging the shop and sorting the inwards goods and when she was unable to do that, she moved to Antiques and Collectables, which she loved. Although she misses her work and friends there, she loves to catch up with them when she can, describing them as a great bunch of people.

Judy would tell anyone who has recently received a diagnosis of MND that they must be positive. MND is a death sentence, but there is no point in getting upset about something you cannot fix.

Judy has a full life as a busy Gran and wife.

Described as a positive and can-do person who likes to help others, Judy is a notable example of someone who always sees the light and love in the world, no matter the situation.

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Northland MS Society

N

orthland Multiple Sclerosis Society offers a wide variety of services to people with MS, family/whanau members and carers. The Northland area extends from Wellsford, coast to coast to Cape Reinga.

The service provides information, education and support, encouraging a proactive approach to managing this disease. If you have MS the Society provides for you and your family and/ or carers: • A MS Field Worker who is a NZ Registered Nurse.

• Home visiting service. Support and information to you and your family about your condition or in your role as a caregiver.

• Educates you, your family and other health professionals about MS and related disorders.

• Advocates for you with other support agencies and health professionals and informs you of services available in the community.

• Provides education material and books, both available from the MS office.

• Library Books covering all aspects of MS are available to take out on loan • Holds monthly support groups for those with MS. • Offers a free weekly MS exercise class • Bi-monthly newsletter which includes useful information on research and development of MS and advice on staying well.

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple Sclerosis is one of the most common

diseases of the central nervous system. A fatty substance called the myelin sheath covers the fibres of the nervous system. The myelin protects the nerves and helps the messages move between the brain and the rest of the body. In MS, the myelin sheath covering the nerves in the brain and spinal cord become scarred in scattered patches. This is multiple scarring, or sclerosis. Essentially this distorts or prevents the flow of messages from the brain and the spinal cord to other parts of the body.

The distortions to the messages travelling through the nervous system cause a range of problems for the people with MS. Although it is important to note that there is no typical set of MS symptoms, the following are common (in varying combinations or severity): Difficulty with legs, arm and hand movements, numbness and pain, problems with thinking and remembering, blurred or double vision (often only affecting one eye), bladder and bowel problems, loss of balance and co-ordination, fatigue.

What Causes MS? At this time the cause of MS is still unknown.

However, research suggests it is likely to be a combination of the following: a reaction to a virus, possibly years after infection; exposure to an unknown environmental agent before puberty; an auto-immune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissue for an unknown reason; or a genetic susceptibility to the above triggers.

Wende - MS Office Manager & Belinda - MS Fieldworker

How is MS Treated?

While MS still cannot be cured, much can be done to help manage the condition. There are MS-specific treatments available. These directly target the immune system. A Neurologist determines whether these are relevant for each person. Generally the person with MS works with their GP on the day to day management of the condition.

Contact Details: Level 1, Civic Arcade 37 Bank Street, Whangarei 0110 Phone (09) 438 3945 Mobile 027 539 9883 Email nthldms@xtra.co.nz Web www.msnz.org.nz/ms Facebook Northland Multiple Sclerosis Society

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Multiple Sclerosis

L

iving with Multiple Sclerosis means that there are many tunnels you need to navigate your way through, the very first and perhaps the darkest one, is when you are told that you have MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. A good place to start is by contacting the Northland MS Society who will help navigate you through those early days and throughout your life-long journey with MS. Talk to as many people as you can who also have MS., do some research, and you soon realise that Life can go on. The first thing to say yourself is I HAVE MS, BUT MS DOES NOT HAVE ME, this is when you see the light and feel better about your life. There will be more tunnels along the way but there will be light spots also. Live life, smile every day, try new things, make plans, learn to laugh at yourself, be ready to adapt, put yourself first and set targets. If you do not hit

those targets, no worries – you did well to set the target in the first place and you can always try again later.

My name is Phil Langley and I am 61 years old. My symptoms began in my mid 20s and I was eventually diagnosed with MS in my early 30s. I am now in a powerchair after having stopped driving 4 years ago. I am chauffeured around by my ‘Bestie’ Frances in my vehicle, I can drive the powerchair into it, then off we go on another adventure, along with my service assistant dog named Pilot. I have lived a full life up until now, and there are still things to do.

After being diagnosed with MS I undertook a 2-year course in Landscape design and construction. Once qualified I started up my own landscaping business.

When people asked why was I doing this, I replied “because I can now, but who

PAK’nSAVE Whangarei are proud to support The Northland Multiple Sclerosis Society.

WHANGAREI Walton St, Whangarei, 0110 Phone 09 438 1488

knows for how long?” After 3 years (and many wheelbarrows full of concrete) my strength began to go, so I went back to selling cars, eventually running a car yard and arranging finance for car buyers. Moving to Whangarei in 2000 I was asked to help start up a new car yard. I agreed on the proviso of 9a.m. to 3p.m. work hours.

Within two months I was working 7a.m. to 6p.m. 6 days a week. This is not good for anyone with MS and I ended up in Hospital, making the decision then to stop working. When my right hand eventually became too weak to use, I trained my left hand, and later took up painting as a new found and enjoyable hobby.

I couldn’t let MS win, so joined the local Riding for Disabled club. I had been riding horses since the age of 10 and was still doing this up until a few years ago. For now, keeping in contact with Horses and their owners can still provide a great deal of enjoyment. I joined the Committee at Riding for Disabled, the Paper Mill and was a Trustee for CCS. Currently I am serving on the Committee of Northland MS. A friend and I once decided to charter a launch and go Trout fishing on Lake Taupo.

Not much thought was given to the logistics of getting me on board, and there were plenty of laughs while attempting this. We had a wonderful time and also enjoyed two smoked Trout at the end of the trip.

I live in an accessible house in Ruakaka with Frances and Pilot and as you can see there is always Light at the end of the tunnel.

WE’RE LOCALS SUPPORTING LOCALS

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NorthAble

Matapuna Hauora DIAS – Disability Information Advisory Service NorthAble DIAS can assist with providing free information and advice to people with a disability, their families, whanau, aiga, caregivers, providers and the public. Information can be accessed in a variety of formats, including in person at our office, by phone, website, or email.

We also distribute an electronic newsletter – to subscribe or post a notice email dias@ northable.org.nz.

Navigation NorthAble currently has funding available through the MSD Community Connection Service to provide Navigation support. Our Navigators can work with all people and families requiring assistance to establish and work on goals relating to employment, education, community engagement, access to health services and more.

Covid Response NorthAble receives funding via MSD Community Connection to support people with disabilities to make emergency plans, or who are selfisolating with Covid 19. To access this service, contact our main office via phone or email.

Facilitation – NASC/VHN/Transition Our facilitation team works with people aged 0-65 who require long-term support due to

Supporting Northlanders Since 1994

Proudly 100% Northland owned

a physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory disability or autism. Our Facilitators can also support you with finding the next pathway when leaving school, and if you have MSD Very High Needs funding, we can work with you to develop a holistic plan incorporating all aspects of your great life. You can check your eligibility for this service and make a referral through our website, or simply give us a call and have a chat with one of our friendly team.

LYNKZ – Northland-wide Our LYNKZ programme is available to individual aged between 16 – 64 who have a cognitive, physical, sensory disability or a combination.

LYNKZ is a community based service that works with it’s whanau members to improve their life skills and increase employment awaremess and opportunies. Our main programme operates in Whangarei from Monday-Thursday. We also run an Outreach service which operates one day per week in Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, and Rawene. For more information check out our website, LYNKZ Facebook Page, or contact our main office.

EQ+ - NorthAble Equipment Plus EQ+ is Northland’s largest supplier of rehab, aged care and disability equipment/products that support people in all areas of daily living.

We also have a range of hire equipment and great advice. Service is provided throughout the whole of Te Tai Tokerau, with agencies at

Far North Pharmacy in Kaitaia, Unichem Orrs Pharmacy in Maungataroto, and a mobile van service. Check out our full range on our E-commerce site at www.equipmentplus.org. nz – we deliver nationwide.

Whangarei Budgeting Services Whangarei budgeting service is dedicated to offering people advice and support with their finances. Whether its demystifying your income and outgoings, trying to make some savings or experiencing financial difficulties, we can help with it all through our personalised, 1 on 1 service. Our aim is for people to be able to independently manage their own finances and create a brighter future for themselves and family. We can create and tailor a budget plan to your specific needs. We can create cash flow forecasts and even help in negotiations with current and potential creditors. Request an appointment through our website or by phoning our main office.

NorthAble Matapuna Hauora 40 John St, Whangarei NorthAble Equipment Plus: 73 John St, Whangarei Phone 0508 637 200 or 09 430 0988 Email northable@northable.org.nz Website www.northable.org.nz www.equipmentplus.org.nz www.whangareibudgeting.co.nz

Home Sa non-profit upportcommunity North Corganisation haritable Trust Do you require a little help at home?

We can help with that! We are Northland's largest provider of Government-funded home-based support and can also help with your individualised funding services. We have offices in Whangarei and Kerikeri to provide local assistance.

Visiting Nurse Co-ordinators Service Plans tailored to your needs Trained Support Workers

For more info on how we can help:

Phone: 09 430 2090 | Out of Area: 0800 832 383 Email: officewhg@homesupport.co.nz Web: www.homesupport.co.nz

FREE

ASSISTANCE where eligible

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LYNKZ at the Races!

A

t NorthAble’s LYNKZ programme, giving people new experiences within their community is a key focus. Activities and trips are selected by the LYNKZ whanau members, and NorthAble’s LYNKZ Facilitators support them to arrange these activities, taking into account all logistics such as travel requirements, and cost.

One of the whanau’s favourite activities is to attend a day at the Ruakaka Races.

Preparations for race day start in advance – with hats and fascinators being made for the event so whanau can look the part. Come the day itself though, it is the horses that take centre stage. Whanau enjoy seeing them thunder down to the finish line, and though their ‘flutter on the gee-gees’ is made with funny money, the competition is no less fierce as everyone cheers their favourites on.

On returning to base at 40 John St, the air fills with happy chatter about the fun day out with friends had by all.

Ultimately the day is about connecting the whanau in with their community and providing experiences that many of us take for granted.

With this event particularly, there has been an element of community education as well – with the whanau in regular attendance, organisers noticed there were issues with the current facilities not being accessible to all and are looking to include accessibility requirements when they next have an opportunity to upgrade their buildings.

Uncertainty around travel restrictions has kept the LYNKZ whanau pretty local in the

past two years. Fortunately, Northland holds some great places to explore; with day trips to Kerikeri to see the parrots, exploring our numerous beaches and parks, and a camp at Coopers Beach among other things on the agenda.

Now the whanau are again looking further afield – with a trip to see the sights of Auckland in the pipeline. As with anyone planning a holiday, cost needs to be considered. To meet this, the whanau are planning together how they will fundraise – with everyone contributing in their unique way. Because valuing everyone’s contribution is the LYNKZ way, and whatever they achieve, they achieve together.

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Parent to Parent Northland

E

very year hundreds of Northland whānau face the unique challenges of caring for a baby/child/teen with disabilities and health impairments. Parent to Parent has been supporting these families for the past 37 years with its three core services:

Information Information on anything that is disability related. We have an information team that can provide answers to your questions regarding approximately 3600 different disabilities and health issues. This includes providing information and learning through workshops opportunities Parent Support We are a parent-lead organisation with a group of trained support parents who have lived experience and who we can match closely to your needs. This is through phone support.

Sibling In Northland we provide one day sibling activities that are fun at no cost to families.

The highlight of our programme is the seven day Sibling Voyage for 13-18 year olds that we run every two years. SibSupport acknowledges the extra effort their ‘different’ home life demands and connects siblings with others that “get it”.

Don is based in Ōkaihau, working from home. Our service is free, not time limited and

confidential. The central location is perfect for providing services to the whole of the Northland region.

Referral is easy regardless of whether you are a parent or a professional, all it takes is an email. This will be followed up on most occasions with a phone call.

We are committed to and provide services aligning to the Enabling Good Lives principles.

Our workshops are community driven and include: • Renew Connect & Reflect – support for the carer • Support Parents – intensive training (and refresher courses) for parents volunteering to support others • SibCamps/SibShops/SibDays – for the brothers/sisters aged 8-18 of people with disabilities • Sibling Leadership training – for those brothers and sisters wanting to help children in the same situation • Championing Your Needs – for families and professionals to learn how to be heard and advocate for a child’s educational and living needs • Anxiety Workshops – for parents of children with anxiety issues and anyone else.

• Individualised Education Plan seminar – for parents wanting the best learning outcomes for their child.

• Navigating the System seminar – for parents who need support accessing services.

• Second Generation – a workshop to support disabled people and their families/whānau to plan what the future could look like Other support services include: • Altogether Autism – It provides autism-specific, evidencebased information • Care Matters – web-based resources and a freephone service for family carers. Many of our workshops are funded by Care Matters.

• The Wilson Home Trust.

Don is the local Far North representative to discuss grants to families who have a child with a physical disability ages 0-21

Don Martin - Regional Coordinator Mobile 027 808 3942 Freephone 0508 236 236 Eamil northland@parent2parent.org.nz Website www.parent2parent.org.nz Facebook www.facebook.com/ parenttoparentnorthland

THE GREATEST HITS HAVE A NEW HOME 89.2FM 729A M

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Manga Tangaroa

T

he first time people meet Manga Tangaroa (Mungzy) they are taken by his animated expressions, the smile in his eyes and his movement to music. Music and waiata are Manga Tangaroa’s happy space where his wairua affects all around him. Especially when it comes to performing duets with his Aunty Tisha. When he has the mic in front of him, he knows what to do.

Manga Tangaroa has superpowers.

Although Manga Tangaroa was born with a severe rare brain condition, Holoprosencephaly among other issues, which means that he is unable to walk or talk, Clara and Manga have a relentlessly positive spin , “we focus on his extraordinary capabilities and want him to be able to be the best he can be and support him with our all.”

Clara, his whaea says.

The Aperahama-Kopa whānau have five tamariki, Manga Tangaroa is number 4. They have had many challenges in recent years and have many challenges yet to come, however each day the sun comes up.

Disability is not a term often used by the whānau. Words such as superpowers, super capabilities, learning diversities and tama ariki replace it. For many families the shift in mindset to these positive descriptions is a huge challenge. It is easy to see that this whakapono (values and belief) is the special extra that

Clara and Manga with their tamariki

has resulted in the Kaupapa of Te Puna Reo o Manga Tangaroa.

Clara and Manga were faced with a dilemma. There are two types of wonderful facilities in Kaikohekohe, Kura Auraki (mainstream ece) and Kohanga Reo. Although beautiful, neither were able to cater completely to the complexities of care and culture needed for Manga Tangaroa. The answer came from Clara’s Nanapā “Nōna tēnei whare, nōna tēnei kura, this is his house, this is his school.” Her great grandfather and godparents’ had built this home.

Clara walked around the home and

immediately saw her vision come to light. She talked to Manga and he said, “why not” and the project began. One can only imagine the challenges that this presented but the positiveness is infectious and soon they developed a team to make their vision happen. What is this vision?

Te Puna Reo o Manga Tangaroa will be the first full immersion te Reo Māori Early Childhood Centre in Aotearoa NZ to prioritise tamariki with superpowers. There is a full sensory room, accessibility throughout including sleeping, bathroom and kitchen facilities. The centre is registered for 35 tamariki and has a waiting list already, months before it opens this year. Always caring for our community Clara and her whānau didn’t stop there. The centre will also be available for respite care on Saturdays, initially one per month but the plan is to extend this to most Saturdays.

There was never a doubt in their minds that they could achieve this, and they would like to thank everyone who has supported them, through the Mungzython, the donated goods for auction and of course Mungzy’s live concert.

Tēnei mātou e tuku ana i te reo aroha, te reo maioha, e mihi ana ki a koutou katoa

The Wilson Home Trust

Supporting physically disabled children, young adults & their families is our top priority Supporting families from Turangi to the top of the North Island by offering the following support:

• Grant funding • Information and support • Hydrotherapy • Parent and caregiver activities • Equipment demonstrations For more information please contact Don Martin who is contracted by the Wilson Home Trust to cover the Northland region and can be contacted on donm@parent2parent.org.nz Our Auckland based team are also available to provide information and support.

Contact us today on 0800 948 787 or email info@wilsonhometrust.org.nz. Information is also available on our website at www.wilsonhometrust.org.nz.

Facebook page www.facebook.com/wilsonhometrust

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Living with Parkinson’s

P

in Aotearoa

arkinson’s is now Parkinson’s New Zealand the fastest growing Charitable Trust neurological condition We are here to help. Parkinson’s in the world with nearly New Zealand Charitable Trust is 12,000 New Zealanders the only national charity providing diagnosed. The average age information, education and support of onset is only 59 years old. to people living with Parkinson’s Parkinson’s as well as their carers, whānau and is a progressive health professionals. neurodegenerative This year Parkinson’s New Zealand Vicki Sadgrove – Parkinson’s is supporting 381 people who have condition caused by Nurse Northland insufficient quantities of been diagnosed with Parkinson’s dopamine - a chemical and carers in Northland. We offer in the brain. When dopamine levels fall, a range of services including visiting people movements become slow and awkward. with Parkinson’s in their homes or virtually The most common physical symptoms to provide comprehensive, personalised are tremor, stiffness, rigidity and slowness assessments. There are various activities of movement. Other symptoms include available in Northland including social groups depression, anxiety or apathy, disturbance and exercise sessions. These can include of normal sleep, constipation, and trouble activities such as walking, hydrotherapy, swallowing or speaking. Although there is no physiotherapy, voice and movement classes, cure, treatment is available.

Tai Chi or Counterpunch groups.

We also offer: • Support Groups • Carer Groups • Regular educational and social meetings.

Parkinson’s New Zealand is available for support, education and information for families living with Parkinson’s in Northland.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s you can get support by registering with us online via our website www.parkinsons.org.nz. Parkinson’s New Zealand charitable trust is reliant on funding from grants, bequests, and donations.

Parkinson’s New Zealand Free phone: 0800 473 4636 Eamil info@parkinsons.org.nz Website www.parkinsons.org.nz

Free bowel screening now in Te Tai Tokerau • People aged 60 to 74 will be invited every two years • The test will be mailed to you • It’s free, easy and you do it at home This little test could save your life • For assistance call 0800 924 432 If you have hearing difficulties email info@bowelscreening.health.nz • When asked why someone with a disability should do a bowel screening test, Jonny Wilkinson, Tiaho Trust CEO, replied “Because we already have enough to deal with.”

Light at the end of the tunnel

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Allen Smith

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llen Smith may have relinquished his competitive level of table tennis but, almost 30 years after developing Parkinson’s Disease, he can still hold his own.

The key, he says, is in the mindset.

The 67-year-old began noticing symptoms in his late 30s/early 40s but it was around a decade later that he was diagnosed.

“I experienced tight muscles, loss of sense of smell and tiredness but always put it down to something else,” says the father of three who was active in table tennis and kayaking.

He attributed the tight muscles to overuse, temporarily relieved by regular massages.

However, he often noticed a strange scent, a now-recognised common early symptom.

“I would ask my wife, ‘Is something burning?’ and she would look at me strange.”

His condition deteriorated amid frequent doctor visits until his left arm ceased functioning while using the computer for his managerial role. Further investigations finally led to a result over a year later turning up Parkinson’s and “it all made sense”.

With the average age of Parkinson’s diagnosed at 59, Allen’s was called ‘early onset’.

“It’s not uncommon these days, think Michael J. Fox. There’s no family history, it was out of the blue. Having said that, both my wife’s sister and her husband and my neighbour have it so it’s becoming more common.”

Allen’s symptoms include shaking, tight muscles and loss of movement. He also has

several non-motor symptoms, adding to the daily challenge.

“Then you start taking dopamine replacements, even knowing there is a high chance, as time goes on, that this will cause symptoms of twisting and contorting of the body, which you then have to treat with another medication and it’s a bit of a snowball.”

However, a defining moment in Allen’s attitude and subsequent abilities occurred early on.

“When I was diagnosed, I thought I’d have to give up table tennis. I went to the North Shore Table Tennis Centre and said to the guy, ‘I’ve got Parkinson’s, I’ll have to give it up’, and he said, ‘Why?’. I got back to the car and thought, ‘Yeah, why should I have to give it up?’.

Not giving up became his mantra. He continued playing his beloved sport and says, until recently, he was still a contender.

While he’s only recently, reluctantly given up entering competitions, he still plays at his club twice weekly.

“Looking back, the thing that’s important is not to make radical changes just because you’re given a diagnosis. By (Parkinson’s) nature, it is progressive so it’s important to put that to one side and just enjoy what you do. Do what you can, while you can.”

Depression is also affiliated with Parkinson’s and Allen recommends good nutrition, exercise and sunshine. Parkinson’s New Zealand offers a range of exercise classes and Allen had just attended his first group movement class and come away feeling invigorated.

When asked if his condition effects his cognitive abilities, Allen, who still drives, says with a chuckle that he still partakes in regular quizzes with his wife and gets his fair share of answers correct.

Light at the end of the tunnel

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T

Supporting life after stroke in Northland

he Stroke Foundation is the national charity in Aotearoa solely dedicated to the prevention and recovery from stroke.

For over 40 years, it has actively promoted ways to avoid stroke and dedicated itself to working closely with stroke survivors, their whanau/ family and carers.

A stroke is a brain attack where the blood supply in the brain is stopped by either a bleed or a blockage. A stroke can happen to anybody and can be devastating for many people and dramatically change their life. The effect is certainly wider than just the person who has had it.

Supporting life after stroke is the role of the Stroke Foundation’s two Northland based Community Stroke Advisors. This free service is available throughout Te Tai Tokerau to work with stroke survivors and those around them, providing experience, support and hope that is designed to achieve the best possible outcome after stroke.

Community Stroke Advisors, Lynelle Ngakuru (Far and Mid North) and Gabi Zundorf (Whangarei and Kaipara areas), work

closely with those who have been affected by stroke, making hospital and home visits, supporting whanau/families and caregivers, and advising on accessing care relief services and support. Their mahi is focused on getting the stroke survivor back into the community and assisting family/whanau and caregivers to not only understand a stroke, but to adjust to their changed circumstances.

Community Stroke Advisors provides support, information and advice to build knowledge and skills that not only assist people to adapt the effects of the stroke but to also minimise the risk of further strokes.

Information includes the nature of stroke, its causes and risk factors, prevention tips, the role of treatment and rehabilitation and how to optimise life after stroke and manage aftereffects such as fatigue and depression. This free information, including the comprehensive book “Life After Stroke,” provides advice about stroke and managing life afterwards and is readily available through both the Lynelle and Gabi and also through the Stroke Foundation’s website and social media channels.

OUR MISSION:

We work to prevent stroke, improve outcomes, and save lives

Community Stroke Advisors can also link people to a variety of local support groups and recreational activities. These include exercise groups, sports clubs, accessible gyms, art and craft groups, therapies, caregiver, partner or family support groups and younger stroke survivor groups.

These groups provide support to people with stroke, and those around them. They enable people to share experiences, understand more about stroke, meet new people and participate in social activities and special events.

For those people who have a communication difficulty as a result of a stroke or traumatic brain injury, the Word Masters Whangarei Aphasia Gavel Club provides valuable support.

Community Stroke Advisors in Northland Lynelle Ngakuru Far and Mid North (Cape Reinga to Kawakawa) Freephone: 0800 566 383 Email: far.north@stroke.org.nz Gabi Zundorf Northland (Kawakawa to Wellsford) Freephone: 0800 459 954 Email: northland@stroke.org.nz Web: www.stroke.org.nz

at any sign of stroke

CALL 111

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Phoenix Ruka

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hoenix Ruka was only 30 years old when his life took an expected turn on June 18, 2020.

“I was out on a run with some colleagues through Waitangi, and I was suddenly gripped by a spell of dizziness,” Phoenix remembers.

Although his first instinct was to “tough it out like any Kiwi bloke”, Phoenix credits two female colleagues for intuitively calling an ambulance and getting him to the hospital fast.

Phoenix, who works part-time as a personal trainer in a community-focused gym in Whangarei, could never have anticipated that he was suffering a stroke.

Once he reached the hospital, his symptoms took hold, paralysing his entire left side and blinding him in his left eye.

“Those first few days were rough, I went down a deep rabbit hole of thinking that this was going to be my life now, that I was finished,” he remembers gravely.

Unbeknownst to Phoenix at the time, a tiny hole in his heart had caused a blood clot to travel to his brain, causing an ischaemic stroke.

Remarkably, Phoenix was walking again, a mere five days after his stroke.

“I was in a dark place initially, but the unrelenting support from my whanau helped me come out the other side,” he recalls with gratitude.

& USED

MAGIC TYRES

NEW SHOP

“I was in a dark place initially, but the unrelenting support from my whanau helped me come out the other side ...”

Two years after his stroke, Phoenix is quick to admit that sensation on his lefthand side remains weak and that he is still partially blind in his left eye.

The blindness is a strain on his active life, as Phoenix must depend on his friends and family to get about, as he cannot pass his eye test for getting back his driver’s license.

Phoenix also reveals that he gets stressed when he experiences bouts of dizziness while working out, as he fears he could be suffering a stroke again.

As hard as his stroke journey has been, Phoenix believes that the experience has brought his whanau closer than ever before.

Phoenix, who has committed his working career to the health and wellbeing of Māori, wants to remedy the health inequities that cause stroke to be more prevalent in his community than any other ethnic group in New Zealand.

FREE SILAGE & GARDEN TYRES!

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY

HUGE RANGE OF TRAILER RIMS AVAILABLE 103 P 103 Port ort Road, Road W Whangarei | Ph 094383534, 094300055 or 0800 867 897

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A

We want to help you succeed at study

t NorthTec, we allow you to stay close to home by studying locally right here in Te Tai Tokerau Northland. With us, you can gain the qualification to get the career you want without having to leave your friends, family, or support networks behind.

NorthTec puts learner wellbeing and health at the top of the priority list. Our Student Support Services and Student Voice teams work together to provide support for ākonga in each step of your learning journey. If there’s something holding you back from enrolling in study, or if you need support to achieve your aims, our team is there to help.

We offer academic support where we can help learners plan their studies, seek extensions or extra attention from tutors, and navigate their options with their Kaiako (tutors). We work with you, to make sure your needs are met and cater all help to the individual.

Whether your needs are physical, mental, emotional, or health dependent, we can help make learning work for you. Our services are on offer at any point of your study journey.

We also offer financial support, by giving advice where needed and connecting students to funds, such as the Hardship Fund for Learners (HAFL), which supplies funds for necessities like housing, food, clothing, and more.

A Karakia group is available for all ākonga every morning at 8:45 am, currently through zoom, offering whanaungatanga and supporting our students’ hauora.

Our teams work around the clock to email, call, text, and zoom ākonga to touch base, offer help, set up support and funding, and otherwise support our learners every step of

Our Student Support Services and Student Voice teams work together to provide support for ākonga in each step of your learning journey.

LEARN ONLINE WITH

NORTHTEC

NorthTec Powered by eCampus gives you the opportunity to learn online from anywhere at a time that suits your lifestyle.

the way. Pastoral care is a priority, our Health Care Centre offers medical advice and aid, as well as internal counselling services, working with learners for the best options for them.

NorthTec | Te Pūkenga Freephone: 0800 162 100 Web: www.northtec.ac.nz HOURS: 8.00am-4.30pm Mon - Thurs 8.00am-4.00pm Fri

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Student Profiles Cindy Carson

C

indy Carson had a long-term career as a nurse helping her community in the best way she knew how. That all ended abruptly when she suffered a stroke in 2013.

Under the advice of her doctor, she medically retired herself from nursing. Since then, it has been a long road to recovery.

“A lot has changed for me since them. I have short-term memory issues and other barriers now, along with a diagnosis of ADHD. But I wanted to get back into the care industry.

That’s my passion.”

Cindy is now enrolled in the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing in the Mental Health and Addiction Support Strand. She wasn’t sure if she was going to be capable of studying again, after her stroke. To make matters worse, the

Covid-19 pandemic hit just after she enrolled.

She advised she would need more support to make it work and contacted the Student Support team.

“Things were a bit chaotic when Covid-19 hit and if it wasn’t for NorthTec’s Student Support team I don’t think I would have made it through. They checked in on me and helped me manage the transition to zoom. If I was struggling, they were there.”

“I can’t sit for long periods and get very uncomfortable, so the team made sure I had a special chair to help me once we were back on campus. With ADHD, I find small print hard to read, so they provide me with my own booklet of larger print to help with that. They’ve been incredible the whole way.”

Liam Astbury

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iam is a NorthTec Graduate who completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in June this year. At first, Liam wasn’t sure if he should enrol, his academic ability wasn’t at the level needed for tertiary study and he knew he had many barriers to overcome to get there. But that didn’t stop him from contacting NorthTec Support Services to see if they could help him.

“There were a few barriers I had to overcome before I studied the Bachelor of Applied Arts. I needed to build up to the workload and improve my academic ability. I did other design courses at the Design School Whangarei first, which helped me improve before I started a bachelor’s degree.”

Due to Liam’s needs, NorthTec’s Student Support team made sure he had wrap-around support both in the classroom and out so that he had the best opportunity to succeed.

“The tutors were very understanding and helped me get my work to where it needed to be. They helped push me out of my soft boundaries to get me through to graduating. Support Services helped me with the academic side of study, especially the essays and the research. They helped push me to improve.”

Since graduating, Liam has gone on to create his own business ‘Cattitude by Liam’ on Facebook. He is also taking his business out to local markets. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without NorthTec, I’m thinking about going back to do some business papers to help me better manage my business. It’s given me a way to get out into the world. If I can do it anyone one can.”

“You just have to be willing to give it a go.

You might surprise yourself. No matter what barriers you’re facing, the support is there at NorthTec.” Cindy is going well in her courses and can’t wait to get back out there and help in her community again in a new role. She thinks anyone who’s studying should give it a go.

“You just have to be willing to give it a go.

You might surprise yourself. No matter what barriers you’re facing, the support is there at NorthTec.”

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The Future is Ours ‘The Future is Ours’ with an emphasis on reducing, reusing and recycling is the theme for 2022 at The Papermill. Every year The Papermill has a theme that provides the inspiration for the end of year annual exhibition, wearable arts entry, cards and products made and any other art projects undertaken.

2022 has also been the year when the Hundertwasser Arts Centre opened in Whangarei and Matariki was celebrated as a public holiday for the first time. In celebration of both these events the Papermakers created a Hunderwasser inspired Matariki mural that now takes pride of place the front porch for visitors to admire.

This was a project that everyone contributed to and involved several different techniques using handmade paper as well as including pieces of museli bar wrappings and chip packets collected from rubbish pickups during monthly community walks!

The Papermill was established in 1989

by Rhonda Rutherford-Dunn who through extensive research settled on papermaking as a therapeutic medium to build self-esteem and confidence in people with intellectual disabilities, empowering them to participate to the best of their abilities in their personal lives as well as in their wider communities.

Over 30 years later The Papermill is still going strong, providing a vibrant, safe and nurturing environment. Today, just as much focus is placed on creating paper art as creating the paper itself.

The Papermill, a unique vocational service, operates as a small business following a structured and routine based philosophy. This is integral to fostering a team environment where everyone’s contribution is valued. After completion of the daily morning meeting, The Papermill welcome is practiced in sign language. The welcome includes the words “We are a group of people on an adventure in an inspiring place to find out what we can do really well.” This fittingly sums up what The Papermill is all about.

Visitors to The Papermill can purchase paper, stationery and paper art, tour the studios and interact with the artists at work.

Papermaking workshops are available on demand. Bookings for group visits are recommended.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Reasserting courage through volunteering Story By Susan Merriman

S

tarting a new volunteer role may not seem to take a lot of courage, but what if it’s the first time you are putting yourself out into the world after a life-changing accident? What if you’re not stepping into a known and comfortable space, but rather rolling your wheelchair into a room of ablebodied strangers?

Ray Eyre has been volunteering his entire adult life. Just about every role is one that has combined excitement and challenge, starting with St John’s as a teenager, eventually moving on to skippering the Whangārei RSA fishing boat.

In a volunteer role that makes most of us shiver with fear, Ray was a Coast Guard volunteer working on the dedicated rescue vessel. His voice is pure calm as he describes his proudest moments of being ‘tea-bagged underneath the local rescue helicopter’ during a training exercise and ‘going out well beyond the harbour to rescue a broken down fishing boat that was breaching on a savage night.’

Born in Papakura and spending his formative years in Rotorua, Ray moved to Whangārei at 38 years old after visiting on holiday. He has been here ever since, growing his family to include his wife, five kids, twenty grandkids and one great grandchild.

Ray had an accident after a day’s fishing which damaged his spine and put him into a wheelchair.

43

Change Change your your life life and and the the lives liives of of others otthers “We are like one big family, with lots of laughs.”

Refusing to stare at the four walls, Ray built up the courage to get back out in the world and do something while asking himself: ‘I used to volunteer; why can’t I do it now?’

Recognising that ‘I have a disability now and have to work around it,’ Ray contacted Volunteering Northland to learn about appropriate opportunities. After an initial not great fit, Ray persevered and answered the advert from Habitat for Humanity for an Electrical Goods Tester.

Ray now volunteers 2 half-days a week, checking the large volume of donations that come through the door. He runs clean and suitable items through testing machines, then spits, polishes, and prices them to go into the

shop. If not up to scratch, he cuts the leads and throws them in the bin.

In addition to the satisfaction of reducing waste and advancing the cause of Habitat, Ray’s favorite part of the job is the other people.

The wide variety of volunteers and paid staff acts ‘like one big family, with lots of laughs,’ an atmosphere conducive to confiding in each other, and the camaraderie that comes with working together on a shared mission. 2.5 years on and Ray still loves every moment with his Habitat for Humanity family.

What would Ray say to others considering volunteering? ‘Get out there and give it a try.

You may not like what you first come across but there is always another opportunity. Make it worthwhile and you’ll likely find a new life for yourself.’

If you would like to know more about volunteering in your community, you can visit the Volunteering Northland website www.volunteeringnorthland.nz or email them at info@volunteeringnorthland.nz

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A life of one’s own – it’s a simple human need For many of us, it’s a given. But for thousands of New Zealanders living with disability, it’s something that can only be achieved with support.

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t Spectrum Care, ours is no ordinary job.

Many of our customers are non-verbal, but they have plenty to say if you know how to listen. More than a few have substantial physical challenges to meet.

Many of the families we work with have been tested to the limits before we even meet them.

Their strength, their resilience and their love for the people we are asked to support is without question, as is the respect we have for them.

What’s our work? To help identify the unique potential in every one of the people we support, then lend a hand to help them realise it. No matter how complex someone’s challenges may be, they are worthy and they are of immense value. In our books, to not see this is the true disadvantage.

Our Vision

Every person with a disability deserves a life of choice, freedom and independence.

Our Purpose

To help maximise the potential of the people we support.

Our Promise

Wholehearted optimism, every day.

Contact us today to find out more!

09 634 3790 or info@spectrumcare.org.nz www.spectrumcare.org.nz

How can we help you?

We offer a wide array of flexible support options in the Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Wellington regions, which can be structured to suit each family’s unique needs.

Our aim is to ensure people have choice, control and flexibility in the supports they receive and have the opportunity to co-create their own support options. We also offer a navigator service 0508 NAVIG8 aimed at helping families new to disability support.

Contact us today to find out more spectrumcare.org.nz info@spectrumcare.org.nz 09 634 3790 | 0508 NAVIG8 (0508 628 448)

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W

How far is far? How high is high?

I will not know, unless I try.

e are special – Special Olympics Whangarei. We have been providing sporting and social opportunities for persons with an intellectual impairment in Whangarei and the Kaipara District for almost 40 years. Each week our coaches and dedicated volunteers provide training sessions in athletics (seasonal) or football (seasonal), indoor bowls, swimming and tenpin bowling, and we are hoping to begin basketball and bocce very soon.

We call ourselves Special Olympics – yes we’re certainly special, special people, but we’re not all great athletes. We cater for people literally from 8 to 80. Getting out there, playing together and supporting one another is our greatest pleasure, and eventually we find that the person we’re really competing each time against is ourselves. What do they say?

Whether you say “I can!” or whether you say “I can’t!” you’re correct.

Almost 60 persons with an intellectual impairment in Whangarei and Kaipara are presently discovering that they can.

Our mantra is “By the athletes – for the athletes”, and we are committed to growing our people. They are also learning that volunteers work “with” them not “for” them, that their voices are heard, and their opinions are valued. Our ultimate aim is for our athletes to run their own activities one day, with appropriate support.

Finally, like many other organisations we’re short of volunteers. If you like getting together with special people, come and join us.

Finally, like many other organisations we’re short of volunteers. If you like getting together with special people, come and join us: Martin Barrie Phone: 021 118 2422

Sporting and recreation opportunities for persons with an Intellectual impairment We are multisport athletics: equestrian, football, indoor bowls, swimming and tenpin bowling Athletes from 8 to 80 years old Developing self esteem — encouraging initiative Activities developed by the athletes, for the athletes

DOUG THE DIGGER

loves working in the Community assisting people with disabilities Proud patron of

Special Olympics Whangarei For all enquires contact Martin Barrie Phone: 021 118 2422 – Like us on Facebook.

Whangarei

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The Miriam Centre

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ife is difficult for many young people. At the Miriam Centre we work with young people struggling with all sorts of life issues and we support and work with them to find solutions that are positive, less stressful and constructive for each young person.

Sometimes there are personal or family or school or peer issues which are distressing and overwhelming. Frequently we support young people with issues of anger, abuse, violence, intimidation and neglect and disempowerment. Young people may feel their situations are insurmountable, but there is always a way through.

Patsy of the Miriam Centre, our multidisciplinary team of men and women,

Maori and pakeha specialist counsellors and social workers, work with the young person, their family whanau, school, Oranga Tamariki, Police, Youth Justice, Courts, or whoever is involved (or part of the problem) to find the solution which will enable the young person to move forward in ways that are good for them.

That offer them a chance of a better, fairer life outcome. We help the young person find their voice and to be heard. Our services are provided free of charge across all of Northland. We operate In schools, homes, medical centres, marae, in cafés, in the Miriam Centre 22 Mill Rd Whangarei and 26 Puckey Ave Kaitaia, or where ever the young person feels most comfortable.

You can contact us at: 22 Mill Road, Whangarei Phone: 09 437 6010 Facsimile: 09 437 6672

PROUDLY SUPPORTING THE MIRIAM CENTRE 96 Bank Street Whangarei | 09

430 4350

www.hendersonreeves.co.nz

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IDEA Services

For opportunities and experiences

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DEA Services is New Zealand’s largest provider of services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

At IDEA Services we will support you to: • Set goals and achieve them • Have great experiences and take advantage of opportunities • Have as much independence as possible balanced with the right support • Make meaningful connections with others • Live the life you want

Our Services The specialist – and sometimes intensive – support we provide for people with intellectual disabilities (including round-the-clock care) can includes following services: Supported Living Through Supported Living we can support you to: • Manage and learn new daily living skills,

• • • • •

such as cooking, cleaning and managing money Meet new people and make friends Keep in touch with family and friends Join community activities (e.g. sports and art) Look for a job Access other community services, such as the doctors or Work and Income

Living with support – Residential We provide support for people with intellectual disabilities who require a level of care and want to live in a supportive community.

Support is based on what you need If you live with us you will: • Have your own bedroom • Live in a home you share with a few others • Be encouraged to take part in the running of your home and make decisions with others about what happens there

Specialist Services IDEA Services provides supported accommodation for individuals who endure mental health issues alongside their disability.

These needs include mental health challenges, intellectual disabilities or a dual diagnosis.

Services for people in compulsory care IDEA Services provides compulsory care that focuses on rehabilitation.

This is a Regional Intellectual Disability Supported Accommodation Service (RIDSAS), contracted by the Ministry of Health to provide rehabilitation services for people with high and complex needs who have committed an offence.

Accommodation Services: In residential services small groups of people live in a home in our community.

In Te Tai Tokerau we have 31 residential homes throughout our beautiful region.

At IDEA Services we are all about People. Throughout Te Tai Tokerau we employ more than 230 people to work alongside people that need our support.

If you love people and supporting people to reach their potential, then you should consider working with IDEA Services. Our Support workers are well supported with training and development opportunities that lead to a formal qualification. Contact us on careers.ihc.org.nz

Or call Sally Hume Area Manager on 09 470 2008 or 027 223 8335

Complex Rehab Permobil’s range of Complex Rehab products include Power Wheelchairs, Manual Wheelchairs, Power Assist Devices, and Seating & Positioning products.

See the full range here.

Permobil New Zealand Ltd | 0800 115 222 | permobil.com/en-nz | sales.nz@permobil.com

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tlc4u2 in home care provider

LC4U2 – tender loving care for you too provides quality care services from Cape Reinga to Auckland and beyond. tlc4u2 provides ACC funded care for clients who have sustained an injury, whether it’s assisting taking a client to an appointment or 24/7 care for clients who have traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.

With their locally based team, tlc4u2 provides 24-hour support to ensure you receive the level of support and care you need that is delivered with compassion and understanding. tlc4u2 works alongside clients and families to individualise care needs and incorporate a holistic approach.

Having forged close relationships with allied health services (hospice, social workers,

district nursing, home based support services, GP’s) tlc4u2 has access to health care resources to ensure high quality delivery of services. tlc4u2 also offers a broad range of privately funded home-based care options assisting clients with post-operative, rehabilitative, respite, palliative, and overnight care.

Identifying the appropriate level of care with the goal of maintaining and enhancing lifestyles to promote independence is what tender loving care is all about.

Should you require some tender loving care for yourself or a family member, whether ACC or privately funded give tlc4u2 a call and one of our lovely coordinators will arrange a no obligation visit to see how we can assist.

Some comments from our clients: “Very easy to talk with.

I never felt a nuisance and am very appreciative of the help I have received. Took away so much stress I felt.”

“If I was feeling unwell my home help supporter was always considerate. Very very hardworking lady.”

“The caregiver is great which reflects on your company.

I consider myself fortunate to have met a clean efficient caring support worker”

tlc4u2 specialises in providing live-in care in your own home, enhancing your life style and independence.

IN HOME CARE PROVIDER

• • • •

ACC funded Care Private Care Respite Care Palliative Care

• Overnight care • Post/Pre Op Care • Long Term Care

For further information contact P 0800852482 W www.tlc4u2.co.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

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51

Blomfield School What have we been up to?

isible and valued and generally very enthusiastic- that is the essence of our students, as they are out and about in the community. At Blomfield School, we have returned to a full range of outings, adventures and industrious community undertakings following the dry patch created by Covid, and the need to protect ourselves by staying put.

So, what have we been up to?

Most recently we had a Senior School evening Disco, which was a raging success, with its ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme. Prior to this Matariki meant literally getting out under the stars for our Manaia View students, who celebrated this special time with a trip to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and a sleepover at our Central Campus, checking out the stars together.

We know that learning is more effective if it is in real and meaningful contexts. This is true for all learners, but particularly for our students.

Our teachers incorporate opportunities to get out into the community to enjoy fishing, bushwalks, and beaches – to experience the full range of what our beautiful region offers.

The urban environment in Whangarei is truly flourishing these days, with the Town Basin offering a range of cultural and fun activities for students from our 5 year olds to our adult students. The new playground is truly inclusive and we have welcomed the opportunity to engage with the development of this space.

Have you seen the massive ‘Coreboard’ down

there, with pictures and words to support early literacy and communication? I am proud to say that this was a Blomfield initiative!

As a School we are certainly ‘Getting Out There’, expanding our wings to develop further satellite units around areas of need in Te Tai Tokerau. This year we have opened a brand new, custom built double class unit in Oromahoe School in the mid North. This is in addition to our current units in Kaitaia. Clearly, ‘Getting Out There’ is a reality for staff as well as students at Blomfield School.

Student Maddison Bond enjoying our Winter Wonderland Disco.

Getting Out There Disability & Seniors EXPO

It’s been 3 years!!

Friday 11th August 2023

As a School we are certainly ‘Getting Out There’, expanding our wings to develop further satellite units around areas of need in Te Tai Tokerau.

Our Specialists and Leadership team travel far and wide to service these units and those within Whangarei. We also run an Outreach service which provides Specialist Teacher support for students with ORS funding in mainstream schools. All of this getting out and about means our school needs a reliable and growing fleet of vehicles, including mobility vans, cars and 12 seater vans. We are grateful for the support of Real Deal Tyres who ensure our vans are safe and ready for action at all times. And we appreciate the support of you, our local community who ensure our students can continue to feel valued when they are visible and enjoying all the Whangarei community has to offer!

Blomfield Specialist School Free phone: 09 438 2105 Email: admin@blomfield.school.nz Web: www.blomfield.school.nz

Megan Wills LLB, BA Bridget Westenra LLB Jasmine Han Grad. Dip. Law Fiona Newton LLB (Hons), BCom (VPM) Charlotte Woolston LLB

Level 3, Tai Tokerau Building, 5 Hunt Street, P O Box 127, Whangarei 0140 Telephone: 09 459 7000

Our offices are accessible. www.willswestenra.co.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

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K

Kind Hands Respite Care Cottage

ind Hands was initially established in 2018 by Sharlene Clements who had 24 years nursing experience and her husband David, a skilled builder. Together they have provided a lifeline for medically fragile and disabled children and their whanau in Northland.

But in response to requests from parents, Sharlene decided to establish a very special early learning centre staffed by both registered early learning teachers and nurses. Now they are a registered early learning provider for up to 10 children at a time. The ECE service runs alongside the respite care which is open every fortnight from 5pm until Monday morning 08.30am.

“The children who come to us might be oxygen-dependent, have a tracheostomy, heart, lung or neuro-muscular disease, feeding tubes to name a few. We include children having medical treatments: chemotherapy who could be quite sick and for that child to be able to have social interaction in a medically controlled environment it’s really important.

We also cater for children with developmental disabilities such as Downs Syndrome and global development delays. Children on the autism spectrum also attend, it is sometimes a juggle to ensure a good mix to get the best outcomes for each child.

“We have both teachers and nurses working together so when a child is dropped off in the morning, who may have a heart condition or a feeding tube, parents know they don’t have to

explain about how to use the equipment – they know we know what to do,” she says.

A typical day at Kind Hands may include feeding a child who has a feeding tube, therapies twice a day which include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy tailored to each child’s need and a range of activities focusing on each child’s individual needs set in place by their therapists for our staff to carry out while in our care. Low ratios are the key. We have to stay small, so no child is overlooked – some of our kids are quite sick. We are starting to see some awesome successes with the kids.

“I think we are just scratching the surface in Whāngarei. There isn’t a lot of resources for that 0–6-year-old age group with special needs here.

The children are very non-judgmental at this age and just don’t notice the difference about

K in d Hand s each other. They help each other in different ways and accept each other.”

The exciting news is that we are embarking on our next venture of expanding, we have known for quite some time that there are more children they need to support. “I don’t enjoy having a waitlist, but I also won’t compromise the quality of care needed to look after some of our most vulnerable population, so we are expanding to meet the demand”. Building works will commence shorty and hopefully by March 2023 we can double our capacity! This is exciting for our families to have a service that believes in their children knowing that ‘they can be the best they can be’. “It’s been a hard journey setting up something that hasn’t been done before. I would love to help others interested in setting up a similar facility, as I know there is a huge need for it!”

Respite Care Cottage Address 19 Morningside Road, Morningside, Whāngarei, 0110 Email info@kindhands.co.nz Phone 09 459 7383 Mobile 021 234 1294 Website kindhands.co.nz

Proud to be the Authorised Agent for the Omeo in Northland, Auckland, Waikato and BOP Wheel Adventures is now a distributor for Robo Mobility.

Ask us about the latest EV Mobility Wheelchair.

A compact, robust alternative to the traditional scooter.

Ph: 027 243 6619 or email karen@wheeladventures.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

53

Forget Me Not

T

he Northland Disabled Charitable Trust is a non- profit organisation and has been operating the Forget Me Not Adult Day Centre in Tikipunga, Whangarei since 1994. The Centre is a day care service and is available to adults of all ages including those who are young with disabilities, the elderly and frail, those with memory loss, head injuries and/ or other disabilities. The Centre provides quality day care that enhances the welfare not only of the clients but also of the carers and families who look after their loved ones at home on a 24 hour a day basis. The Centre has capacity for 40 client visits per day. The Staff are qualified in their respective fields, and are experienced and caring. Entry criteria is based on you visiting and having a look around to decide if you would like to attend. There is no huge protocols for attendance other than enjoying and benefiting from attending.

The programme is structured with a variety of activities that provide motivation, education, rehabilitation and fun. A cooked lunch is provided daily for clients and ‘take home’ meals service is available for clients who require an evening meal. Clients are transported to and from the Centre by the Trust vans.

To achieve the best quality service to our community the Trust relies heavily on philanthropic funding and sponsorship to keep the service sustainable.

Frozen Meals At Forget Me Not we have identified a need for supply of meals that are easily heated at home.

These delicious meals are not restricted to clients only, but are available for any of the elderly and disabled people in our local community who can no longer cook meals themselves at home.

The meals are cooked in our WDC A certified kitchen by our chefs and are freshly frozen. Moulied meals are available if needed on request.

Forget Me Not was an essential service during the recent COVID 19 shutdown supplying hundreds of meals to the elderly disadvantaged and those with disabilities in the Whangarei Community. These meals were delivered to the person’s doorstep. In response Forget Me Not has had many letters of gratitude from those who would not have been able to cope in the isolation of their homes during this time.

Forget Me Not 110 Boundary Road, Tikipunga WHANGAREI 0112 Phone: 09 4371144 manager@forgetmenot.org.nz www.adultdaycentre.co.nz

ONE PLACE FOR ALL YOUR AUTOMOBILE NEEDS

AtTikipunga we specialize in all mechanical repairs including; transmissions & general services,WOF,brake and clutch repairs as well as tires.We have the latest technology and diagnostic equipment to diagnose problems in all Japanese and European cars.Come in and see our friendly staff atTikipunga Automotive today.Here atTikipungaAutomotive,we are dedicated to treating our customers with honesty,respect,and professionalism.We hope that you find what you’re looking for on our website,but please don’t hesitate to contact us,should you require more information,or to book your car in.

P: 09 437 3866 | 209 Kiripaka Road Tikipunga | Whangarei OPEN: 8.00AM TO 4.30PM MONDAYTO FRIDAY | 8.00AM TO 12.00PM SATURDAY

Your four page guide to

Enjoying this winter.

Protect, prevent & manage at home

The opening of Aotearoa’s borders has seen more viruses reappear in our community with new strains of COVID-19, increasing the risk of people becoming severely ill.

There’s also the risk that of catching COVID-19 and flu (or another illness) at the same time!

We would like to remind people of the importance of protecting yourselves and your whanau against COVID-19, influenza and other winter illnesses.

Te Hiringa Trust & Business Promotions have partnered with Northland DHB (www. northlanddhb.org.nz) and the Hauora Kotahitanga / Northland Wellbing website (www.northlandwellbeing.org.nz) in our advocacy and support of the Mana Wāhine 2022 well-being Kaupapa.

Hauora Kotahitanga

www.northlanddhb.org.nz

www.northlandwellbeing.org.nz

KIA PAI Protect

Colds, COVID-19 and flu spread very easily but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your whānau.

Stay at home if you are unwell If you have symptoms of COVID-19 take a COVID-19 test and report your result at https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ or call0800 222 478and choose option 3.

If your symptoms worsen, or you are concerned about the health of yourself or someone you’re caring for, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your doctor/healthcareprovider. Calls to Healthline are free and the service operates 24/7 with interpreters available. Seek advice early and please keep ED for emergencies only.

Wear a face mask It is a requirement to wear a face mask on public transport, in indoor settings like retail stores and supermarkets, poorly ventilated spaces or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.

Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue.

Avoid touching your face, dispose of tissues in a waste bin immediately and wash or sanitise your hands.

Maintain good hand hygiene Washing and drying your hands thoroughly or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser is one of the best things youcan do to stop the spread of viruses. It is especially important before eating or touching your face.

Develop a winter plan for your whānau Think about who will look after tamariki if you become unwell. Familiarise yourself with what is expected of you by your employer if you become sick yourself.

Eat well and stay active Healthy eating and physical activity play an important part in our overall health and wellbeing, including our bodies’ ability to fight off illness. Getting a good night’s sleep also helps.

Make sure you and your whānau are upto-date with your vaccinations COVID-19 vaccinations are free for everyone and the flu vaccination is free for people who are most likely to get very sick, children aged 3-12 and some others. Find full eligibility information at influenza.org.nz. Winter is also a good time to check that children are up-to-date with all their routine free vaccinations especially measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

Get your Winter Wellness Kit together Your kit may contain: painkillers, a thermometer, tissues, enough food and household items for a few days, and a good stock of the regular medicines you or your whānau will need.

Honey, decongestants and throat lozenges can be helpful to have on hand.

www.northlandwellbeing.org.nz

People who are vaccinated are less likely to become seriously unwell or need hospitalisation which ensures health services are available for those who really need urgent care.

Prevent Help stop the spread of illnesses: • Stay home for 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and show your children how to do this. Throw tissues away immediately.

• Wash hands regularly with soap and warm water and make sure children do too, especially before you eat or touch your face.

• Wear a mask on public transport, retail stores, supermarkets and in tight spaces where it’s hard to physically distance.

Prevent winter illnesses: • Eat well and be active.

• Get a good night’s sleep.

• Get out and about and enjoy the winter sun.

• Avoid sitting still for long periods.

• Don’t over do it- your body’s working hard just to stay warm.

Balanced meals help you stay healthy: • Eat fruit and vegetables everyday.

• Choose foods low in salt with little or no added sugar.

Keep warm, keep well Dressing warm helps keep you well - layers are good as weather often improves through the day.

Wear a hat and scarf, water resistant footwear and coat.

Healthy homes Warm and dry homes help prevent us getting sick-make sure you’ve got heating, insulation and ventilation.

• Close your curtains as the sun sets to keep the heat in.

• Stop cold draughts coming in around windows and doors.

• Open windows for 20 mins a day to let fresh air in and damp air out - especially kitchens and bathrooms during and after cooking, showers and baths.

•

Dry washing outdoors instead of inside.

• Wipe condensation off windows to reduce dampness in your home.

• Check for mould around window frames and corners of the rooms - remove with white vinegar (wear gloves and a mask).

• Fresh food is better for you than processed food.

• Choose unsaturated fats over saturated fats.

• Ah ot lunch can keep you warm for the afternoon.

• Hot drinks can warm you up from the inside.

www.northlanddhb.org.nz

A P KIA I Manage

Symptoms of flu, COVID-19 and other viruses can vary widely. Some people have mild symptoms while others, such as older people and people with high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes or obesity, may feel very unwell or notice their symptoms start to get worse.

Most people will be able to manage illness at home by resting and taking care of themselves including: • Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Managing your child’s illness at home • Managing your child’s illness is similar to managing your own. If your child has any the symptoms below, please get in touch with your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116. In an emergency, always call 111.

• Drinking less than 50 percent of normal fluids over the past 24 hours or significantly reduced urine output/wet nappies.

• Behaviour changes, including irritability or lethargy (decreased responsiveness).

• Taking paracetamol/ibuprofen as directed to reduce aches, pain and fever. People who have certain medical conditions, or who are taking certain medications should not take ibuprofen.

• Difficulty breathing, working harder to breathe by sucking in, under, or in between ribs, or breathing rapidly.

• If unsure, please consult your health provider to check whether ibuprofen is safe for you.

If you feel your symptoms are getting worse call ahead to stop the spread.

• Taking honey or lozenges fora sore throat or decongestants for a blocked nose.

• Continuing to take your regular medications.

• Monitoring your symptoms so you notice any changes. Keep a record of your temperature, how you are feeling, your heart rate, breathing rate and any new symptoms you develop.

• Avoid strenuous exercise or high impact activities until you have recovered.

• Try to reduce contact with other people in your household as much as possible and disinfect surfaces to help others avoid the illness.

Stay home until you are well to stop the spread of viruses in the community

• Fever that lasts more than five days.

Seek help early

• Call your GP for a phone consultation or your local pharmacy.

• Call Healthline 0800 611 116 to speak to a registered nurse. This is a free service open 24 hours a day,7 days a week.

If someone shows any of the following signs call 111: • Is struggling to breathe, is too breathless to speak a sentence, or is unable to walk more than five steps due to breathlessness.

• Is unconscious or unresponsive, has severe dizziness, fainting or is confused.

• Has collapsed.

• Has abnormal skin colour, is blue, or a purple spotty rash, or they are cold or clammy.

• Has chest pain, or severe or unexplained pain not helped by paracetamol or ibuprofen.

• Is coughing up blood.

• Has stopped passing urine.

www.northlandwellbeing.org.nz

ALTOGETHER

DELIVERING REAL ESTATE WITH HEART

Real estate professional Jess Barnes understands the strong connection that people have with their homes. She is a proud Whangārei local and has forged a reputation as a real estate agent with heart.

She truly partners with her clients on their property journey, listening to their needs and then delivering the results they desire.

Looking to sell your home? Give Jess a call today!

Jess Barnes 027 695 8330 jess.barnes@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Getting Out There Disability & Seniors EXPO

It’s been 3 years!!

Friday 11th August 2023

“No Problem, You’re Welcome” H E A LT H S E C TO R C U S TO M E R S E R V I C E S T R A I N I N G F O R M E D I C A L P R O F E S S I O N A L S I N D I S A B I L I T Y AWA R E N E S S Endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)

“No Problem, You’re Welcome” is a training workshop and video which focuses on how to provide excellent customer service to people with disabilities when they enter your place of business or health services. ("!+ *,1!.!.# '1. 0% -$$%,%& $1'% *- $1'% -, )!1 3--/2

Did you know that 24 percent of New Zealanders are considered to have a disability?

As a Health Professional this percentage among your clientele will be a lot higher. Are you and your staff equipped with the right customer service skills to ensure a positive experience for everyone?

Who is the workshop for?

This 2-2.5 hour workshop is highly relevant for all medical professionals and their support staff including doctors, nurses, specialists, medical receptionists, front-line DHB staff, rest home providers with high needs clients and respite care providers. We tailor-make the training to suit the roles of attendees.

Facilitators - Kim Silvey & Wally Noble

Facilitator - Veronique Theberge

If you want to ensure your team is providing excellent customer service to 100% of the people who come through your door, contact Tiaho Trust for information and pricing options. Email Arlene Carter : arlene@tiaho.org.nz Tiaho Trust | Ph 09 430 3406

| Web: www.tiaho.org.nz

About the “No Problem, You’re Welcome” workshop Our aim in producing this workshop is to provide understanding for medical professionals and health service providers, how to engage with disabled clients/patients including older people as they become less mobile or develop physical impairments as they age.

‘No Problem, You’re Welcome’ Disability Awareness training for Medical Professionals has been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and have been approved for up to 2.5 CME credits for the General Practice Educational Programme (GPEP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes.

This is a short and cost-effective means of providing professional development for staff that can have 5 -!#2!8'52+ 01-!+!)% !305'+ 12 +"% '*-+13%.(- %:0%.!%2'%6 Each of our workshop facilitators are people with a disability. They offer real insights in how to be 4%++%. -%.)!'% 0.1)!&%.-7 &.5;!2# 12 8.-+"52& %:0%.!%2'%- +1 52-;%. /*%-+!12-6 ,9 +"% %2& 1$ +"% '1*.-%7 91* ;!<< )!%; &!-54!<!+9 $.13 5 &!$$%.%2+ 0%.-0%'+!)% 52& 4% '128&%2+ !2 providing excellent customer service to disabled people in the same way as for all your customers.

• Learn about how the Social Model and Medical Models of Disability can work together.

• Listen to interviews of people with disabilities on their experiences when engaging with Medical Professionals.

• Hear Dr Shane Reti’s views through a Medical Professional lens.

“Having made the “No problem, you’re welcome’ sessions available to all of our operational staff, it was exceptionally well received. Facilitators -!.# Wally, Kim +*$ %#')*!(&# really brought the content to life making the learning fun and memorable.

Comments such as “I’d never really thought about that…” were a sure sign that new ways of thinking and acting will result from the workshops.”

Michael Boyd, Manager - Learning & Development, Far North District Council

“Jonny and his team at Tiaho Trust have been providing Disability Responsiveness Training to our 2nd year nursing students at NorthTec for the past " years now. The session provided to us has been tailored to suit the learning needs of the students and meet our objectives. Facilitators are knowledgeable, entertaining and connect with the class ensuring a sense of whanaungatanga and a safe learning space. Feedback from the students is always positive and they particularly appreciate learning from people who are ‘living the experience’ and feel the information and strategies provided will enhance their ability to work with people who have disabilities.”

Linda Christian RN, MN, Senior Nursing Lecturer, NorthTec

Tiaho Trust PO Box 374, WHANGAREI Ph 09 430 3406 | Fax 09 438 1679 Web: www.tiaho.org.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

62

2022-2023

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUGUST 2022 11th August 2023 26th

Tiaho Trust “Getting Out There Expo” Forum North Cancer Society Daffodil Day

SEPTEMBER 2022 1st- 30th 1st -30th 1st -30th

World Alzheimer’s Month Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) Awareness Month (part of MDA)

7th

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day

13th – 19th 15th Date to be confirmed 21st 19th – 25th 21st - 28th 23rd 30th

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and Street Appeal www.msnz.org.nz International Myotonic Dystrophy Day Alzheimer’s Memory Walk – Dargaville, Kerikeri and Whangarei -Round the loop www.alzheimers.org.nz World Alzheimer’s Day www.alzheimers.org.nz International Week of the Deaf www.deaf.org.nz Arthritis Awareness Week www.arthritis.org.nz United Nations International Day of Sign Languages Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Day

OCTOBER 2022 1st 31st 1st 6th 10th 12th 13th 22nd-23rd 29th

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month International Day of Older Person www.ageconcern.org.nz Tiaho Trust/Age Concern Kaitaia Seniors Expo Stroke Awareness Week www.stroke.org.nz World Mental Health Day www.mentalhealth.org.nz World Arthritis Day World Sight Day Blind Street Collection World Stroke Day

NOVEMBER 2022 Walk 2 D’Feet MND Scoot the Loop for MS Northland MS Society AGM

DECEMBER 2022 2nd 10th

International Day of People with Disabilities - Tiaho Trust celebration World Human Rights Day www.amnesty.org.nz

JANUARY 2023 4th

World Braille Day

FEBRUARY 2023 1st – 28th

Heart Awareness Month

13th

Annual International Epilepsy Day www.epilepsy.org Ruakaka Surf Day (Date to be announced)

28th

Rare Disease Day

MARCH 2023 1st – 31st

Neurological Brain Awareness Month

21st

Down Syndrome Awareness Day www.nzdsa.org.nz

End of March

Blind Foundation Guide Dog Red Puppy Appeal

26th

Epilepsy Awareness “Purple Day” www.purpleday.org

APRIL 2023 2nd

World Autism Awareness Day www.autismnz.org.nz

Light at the end of the tunnel

2022-2023

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 7th or 14th

Parkinson’s Society Awareness and Appeal Week www.parkinsons.org.nz

11th

World Parkinson’s Day www.parkinsons.org.nz

MAY 2023 1st week

NZ Sign Language Week

1st -31st

Huntington’s Awareness Month

10th May

World Lupus Day

30th

World Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Day www.worldmsday.org

JUNE 2023 1st - 30th

Heart Kids Month

1st -30th

MND Awareness Month

20th

FSH Dystrophy Day

21st

Global ALS/MND Awareness day www.mnda.org.nz

Parkinson’s Northland SUPPORT GROUPS Kerikeri- monthly Kaitaia – monthly Whangarei – 1st Friday monthly Dargaville – 1st Thursday, (alternative month Coffee Group) Waipu – 3rd Friday monthly And monthly Carer Support Groups in Whangarei and Waipu.

Brain Injury Association Northland SUPPORT GROUPS Kerikeri – 1st Thursday monthly Dargaville – 2nd Thursday monthly Kaitaia – 3rd Thursday monthly Whangarei – The last Thursday monthly

Weekly Exercise Groups: Walking, Singing/voice training, Hydrotherapy, Physiotherapy, Ballroom Dance, Movement for PD and Tai Chi (Kerikeri) Counterpunch (Whangarei and Kerikeri) Alzheimer’s Northland Support Groups Whangarei – 1st Wednesday of the month (1pm-2.30pm) And 2nd Thursday of the month (10am-11.30) Every Friday Toastmaster Gavel Club Group Onerahi – 1st Tuesday of the month (10am-11.30) Kerikeri – 3rd Wednesday of the month (10am-12pm) Kaitaia – 2nd Wednesday of the month (10am-12pm) Mangawhai - 2nd Wednesday of the month (11am-1pm) Dargaville – 2nd Wednesday of the month (10am-12pm) Bream Bay -1st Wednesday of the month (10am-12pm) Paihia-fortnightly Thursday (10am -12pm) Arthritis 20+ Northland Support Groups Whangarei - 1st Saturday of the month Hydrotherapy at the Aquatic Centre Wednesdays Contact Els – 022 6466 405

Stroke Foundation Northland Support Groups Whangarei – Every Tuesday Hydrotherapy Classes Every 3rd Wednesday Stroke Club Young Stroke Survivors Group Dargaville – 1st Monday of the month Stroke Survivors Kaitaia – Every Friday Art Therapy Every Thursday Chat Group

Multiple Sclerosis Northland Support Group Whangarei – First Thursday of the month Mid North/Kerikeri – Bi-Monthly

“GETTING OUT THERE” EXPO 2023 – 11th August 2023 – Forum North

63

“To be the innovative and leading provider of equipment information and support services in Northland”

Our aim is to provide information & support options that are relevant, useful to you and assist you in meeting your goals.

Our Services:

We are here to: • Navigate through support service & agencies • +!&)( ,$! -&"' /%.%*(# • Advise you with your decision making • Assist you with your wellbeing and wellness

DIAS - Disability Information Advisory Service

Equipment for Sale & Hire Mobile Van Service Community Presentations NASC - Needs Assessment Coordination Service

LYNKZ - Community Participation Programme (Whangarei, Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Opononi) VHN - Very High needs Transition Service Navigation Service Whangarei Budget Services

P 0508 637 200 | 40-42 & 73 John Street, Whangarei E northable@northable.org.nz F ‘northabledisabilitiesservices’ | ‘equipmentplusnz’ www.northable.org.nz | www.equipmentplus.org.nz Equipment Agency at far North Pharmacy P 09 408 0851 | 3 Commerce Street, Kaitaia

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