What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Disability Connect

Home
New Zealand
Auckland
Disability Connect

Supporting the parents and families of children and young people with disabilities.

Formerly known as the Parent and Family Resource Centre, Disability Connect Inc provides information, advice and support for disabled people, their families and whanau based in Auckland, New Zealand.

13/04/2026

So great to see (and hear!) everyone having fun and making music together at this month's Parent Support Group.

There's still one more week of school holidays to go - what plans do you have lined up?

Image/video descriptions:
1. Video: Two men sit opposite each other, one seated and playing a tambourine while the other kneels to play the drum between them.
2. Photo: A young boy sits on a chair holding a drumstick while a woman holds a drum in front of him.
3. Video: Children and adults sit or walk around the room as they try a variety of instruments.
4. Photo: Three children play with the instruments in the centre of the room with support from two adults.
5. Video: A music therapy facilitator talks with a young man at a keyboard, with a phone displaying song lyrics and chords on top.

10/04/2026

The warnings about Cyclone Vaianu are a timely reminder to have a plan in place for a disaster. In a significant event, many of us with a disability may need to stay at home without access to vital resources.

After last year’s storms, our CEO Mike shared how his family prepares. He has a simple email list or WhatsApp group with neighbours, keeps a five-day supply of toileting consumables, and makes sure someone in the family checks the gutters.

What has worked for you in past emergencies? What do you use for social stories? How do you stay connected if power or internet goes down? What are your must-have supplies?

Share your tips in the comments - they might help other families prepare too.

08/04/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Woe to Go, our Work and Income Explainer. Following such strong engagement, we're now planning for a follow‑up session later in the year.

Here are answers to the top four questions asked that evening:

Is income support based on disability diagnosis?

No. Decisions around income support are always based on work capacity, not the diagnosis itself (although it is the impact of the condition that will impact work capacity). Some products rely more heavily on diagnosis and its impact, such as Disability Allowance or Child Disability Allowance where this is the criteria for support.

What are the criteria for Child Disability Allowance (CDA)?

Your child must be under 18, have a disability or health condition, and need significantly more care and attention than a non-disabled child of the same age. Decisions are based on level of care required, what your child can and cannot do independently (function), supervision and safety needs. Eligibility is based on how the disability affects everyday life, not just the diagnosis, and must be confirmed by a health practitioner. Work and Income may ask for additional information from the family or medical practitioner involved in your child’s care to confirm the impacts of the disability.

What can I do if I disagree with an application decision?

Talk to your case manager first and ask for a Review of Decision within three months.

What can I do if I disagree with a Medical Decision?

If talking to your case manager and asking for a Review of Decision doesn't change the decision, you can ask to go to the Medical Appeals Board.

More responses are now available on our website:https://disabilityconnect.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/responses-to-work-and-income-presentation-19th-march-2026.pdf

If you have Work and Income-related questions you’d like covered in a future Woe to Go, you’re welcome to leave them in the comments or email us at admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz.

Image description: social media graphic with the heading "Woe to Go: Work and Income responses" followed by the four questions, "Is income support based on disability diagnosis? What are the criteria for Child Disability Allowance (CDA)? What can I do if I disagree with an application decision? and What can I do if I disagree with a Medical Decision?"

05/04/2026

“Morgen absolutely loved her trip. Despite coming off the boat unwell (like about 80% of the participants), she was smiling and the first words were, "I had a wonderful time and want to do it again."

It has been great for her to connect with others of a similar disposition and I hope some long term friends (she has already met up with one of her crew-mates)” - Wonderful feedback from Leonie, Morgen’s mum.

Six of our young adults experienced the trip of a lifetime this summer on the Spirit of Adventure 5-day Inspiration Voyage. They joined 24 other young people with disabilities from across the country to face challenges outside their usual boundaries, gaining confidence and achieving tasks that previously might have seemed impossible.

This is the second year we've coordinated a group to travel together. We're delighted to hear how much everyone enjoyed it again this round.

Image descriptions:

Image 1: Morgen stands on a platform high up on the boat’s mast, smiling at the camera above her. She is wearing a safety harness and is holding on to a rope ladder beside her.

Image 2: Lily Mae sits cross-legged on a boat’s deck, smiling, with sails and rigging behind her.

Image 3: A collage of two group photos. In the top image, young adults with their families pose before the voyage, smiling with their arms raised and backpacks on the ground in front of them. In the bottom image, six young adults wear safety harnesses while standing together on the boat deck with the blue sea behind them.

02/04/2026

Thinking about moving into your own flat but don't know where to start? Join us in person or online on 30 April for our annual housing discussion - Kāinga Kōrero.

This free event is for disabled people, their families, whānau and support networks who want to learn what to expect and how to prepare for flatting.

Along with our presenters from Flying Kites and Habitat for Humanity, we'll discuss:
• tenancy rights and responsibilities
• how to maintain a healthy home
• ways to find a safe flatmate who's a good fit for you and your whānau.

We'll have some time to answer questions at the end of the session.

For more information, including how to register, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/18m2ByDbjv/

Image description: A promotional event poster. Text reads "Free housing event. Kāinga Kōrero. Next steps to a flat – practical tips for renting and choosing a flatmate. Thursday 30 April 2026, 7:00pm to 8:30pm. 3B Olive Road, Penrose, Auckland. Online via Zoom." In the middle there are photos of the presenters for the event, Ainsley Darvell from Flying Kites, and Tessa Rasmussen from Habitat for Humanity.

29/03/2026

What a fantastic information session we had last week for Woe to Go - our Work and Income explainer.

More than 65 disabled people and their families joined us in person and online, with many asking really important questions about support for their families.

Thank you to Sonja Eriksen and colleagues from the Ministry of Social Development for generously sharing your time and for being advocates for our community within Work and Income.

Shout out to our sign language interpreters from iSign too, for helping us keep our services accessible for all.

Unfortunately we're unable to share slides as the information does change. But keep a look out for a list of questions and answers for the evening that we intend to share in the near future.

Image description: Sonja stands with our CEO Mike in the Disability Connect office, smiling together. She has shoulder-length blonde hair, wears black-framed glasses and a colourful dress, and holds a bright pink walking cane. Mike, seated in his wheelchair, has short brown hair and wears dark blue pants and a white shirt with a green tree pattern.

26/03/2026

Looking for something fun to do with your whānau these school holidays?

Bring the whole family and join us for an interactive music therapy session at our next Parent Support Group event - this time during the day!

Music therapy uses music to help support wellbeing, communication and connection. Things like singing, playing instruments, listening, or moving to music can help people express themselves, build confidence, and connect with others in a fun and meaningful way.

Guided by a registered music therapist from Raukatauri, we’ll explore how music can support our minds and bodies. The session will focus on creating positive experiences for everyone, using a strengths-based approach that encourages families to remember and celebrate what their loved ones can do.

No special skills or musical experience are needed - everyone is welcome. It will be a supportive and encouraging environment where both children and adults can develop communication and socialisation skills.

For more information, including how to register, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/188WW9cHDW/

A promotional poster for the event. The text reads: “Music Therapy. Parent Support Group. Free social event for families! Facilitated by Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre. Wednesday 8 April 2026, 10:00am to 12:00pm. Mt Richmond Special School, 30 Albion Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland.” Large blue music notes appear alongside the text.

23/03/2026

"I learned what it means to accept the things I cannot change for now, and refrain from being a critical parent - choosing instead to be an unconditionally loving parent."

We had an uplifting Parent Support Group this month with counsellor Natalija Isailovic.

Using a model on human personality, she helped us to understand more about ourselves and the ways we interact with others.

We talked about our personal experiences and challenges as family carers. Hearing others share real stories from their own daily lives reminded us that we're not alone in this journey that often feels isolating.

The evening showed us that it’s possible to move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered. We are more capable than we think. And we have many caring families here in our community to encourage and support each other.

For those who couldn’t attend, here are a few takeaways:
• When we invest in our own wellbeing, we nurture not only ourselves but our children as well.
• The more we understand ourselves, the kinder we can be to ourselves - and kindness is what makes change possible.
• Noticing our inner voices allows us to change what no longer helps us.

Thank you Natalija for sharing your valuable strategies and for recognising the often-overlooked needs of family carers.

Image descriptions:

Image 1: Natalija speaks to a seated group in front of a large screen. Three audience members are visible, including Disability Connect CEO Mike in his wheelchair. The screen reads: “Evening Structure: Welcome and introduction. Understanding our inner voices. Real-life parenting examples. Practical exercise. Tools to take home.” The letters P, A, and C are displayed vertically along the side.

Image 2: A group of ten people sit in chairs, including Mike in his wheelchair, looking towards and listening to another parent in the audience who is speaking.

18/03/2026

"This presentation was insightful and well presented in terms of knowledge and the law. I would highly recommend this presentation to anyone in the disability community."

If your child is school-aged and you haven’t yet attended Nan Jensen’s popular webinar, Legal Issues in Education, dates for 2026 are now available.

This webinar will help you understand how to navigate disability rights within the school system. Nan will share information on enrolment, funding declines, stand-downs, the use of restraint, and other important legal issues that families may encounter.

For more information, including how to register, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ch47knFqd/

Image description: A promotional poster for the webinar. Text reads "Legal Issues in Education. Webinar. Enrolment rights, funding declines, stand-downs, use of restraint. Wednesday 25 March 2026, 11:30am to 2:00pm. Tuesday 4 August 2026, 6:30pm to 9:00pm." There's a photo of Nan Jensen smiling next to the text. She has short hair, and is wearing glasses and a floral blue top.

13/03/2026

This week the Government announced that from April, people using DSS flexible funding will have more choice in how they use their budgets.

More support will be available to help people plan and manage their funding, including for those with Hosts. Allocated budgets for flexible funding will stay the same as they are now. There will be no change, and no action is needed to prepare.

If you have questions following this news, or want someone to talk to, we invite you to join us at our weekly Zoom Support Group, hosted by our incredibly knowledgable Disability Information Advisor, Robyn.

This is a safe space where you can ask freely, share information and chat with other families in the community.

Check out our event page for more information, including how to join: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DJLkBvQa9/

Image description: Promotional graphic with the text: “Zoom Support Group. Mondays, 7pm to 8pm. Free for families.” In the middle is an illustration of a woman talking towards her laptop with a video icon floating next to her, and two other people in chat bubbles smiling.

08/03/2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

06/03/2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

Address

3B Olive Road, Penrose
Auckland
1061

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.disabilityconnect.org.nz/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Disability Connect posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Auckland?

Our Story

Disability Connect is a small vigorous community resource centre for the families and whanau of disabled children and young people.