Disability Connect

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.

To celebrate Mother's Day earlier this month, our Parent Support Group enjoyed a cosy evening together, connecting over ...
23/05/2026

To celebrate Mother's Day earlier this month, our Parent Support Group enjoyed a cosy evening together, connecting over hot chai tea and chats about wellbeing.

Thank you to Holistic Wellness Coach Anju Desai for teaching us how to make our own chai and sharing the benefits of different spices, such as turmeric, cumin, fennel seeds and cardamom.

Abdul Eraki from Northwest 7 Day Pharmacy also shared information about prescription-based support services, including for vulnerable families and disabled people.

If you didn’t already know, NorthWest 7 Day Pharmacy offers free delivery service to the wider Northwest area for their prescription. They can also provide support at cost for some non-funded prescriptions and vaccines to help whānau, especially those experiencing financial difficulties, as part of their dedication to supporting the community’s healthcare needs.

Image descriptions:
1: Anju gesturing with her hands while presenting to the group. There are jars of spices on the table next to her.
2: Abdul, dressed in a white pharmacy uniform, presents to the group of parents seated opposite him. There is a table with craft items next to the audience, and two people sit here drawing.
3: Disability Connect team member Jess and Anju stand together smiling in front of a Holistic Wellness banner.

The Disability Support Services Bill going into Parliament this week has unsettled a lot of disabled people and their fa...
20/05/2026

The Disability Support Services Bill going into Parliament this week has unsettled a lot of disabled people and their families. It looks like a simple replacement for the old Ministry of Health legislation, but it opens the door to future changes that could seriously affect those who rely on these supports.

For families providing 24/7 care, the Bill removes any chance of redress for existing claims. It also gives government wide powers to change family carer payments later on, without proper public input. That uncertainty is tough for families already carrying a heavy load, especially where there are high or complex needs.

Most family carers are women, already stretched and dealing with the health impacts of long-term caring for family members.

What worries us is how strongly this Bill leans back toward a charity framework from last century. It assumes families will simply absorb whatever comes.

It puts us back in the position of having to ask friends and allies to help us out, as if disabled people and their families are a cause rather than part of the community. Where is our right to be friends without tags or commitments attached?

Whole families get shunned when systems start treating them as a burden. People start thinking "what do you want this time?" instead of seeing us as people who belong like anyone else.

The Bill overreacts to a very narrow Supreme Court ruling about adults needing 24/7 care and some disabled people who may lack the (legal) capacity to be an employer. Instead of addressing that specific issue, it creates a pathway to reshape the whole family carer system. Families deserve clarity about what that could mean.

Disabled people and their families need legislation that reflects real life, respects choice, and supports self-determination. They need clear, accessible information, and a system that recognises the emotional and physical toll of caring for family members. Government wants clarity and cost control. Families still need certainty.

We will keep speaking up for fairness, transparency, and dignity.

What do you want for your family? We will be making a submission to the select committee. Let us know in the comments.

Know we are standing with you.

Image description: a simple illustration of two bears viewed from behind with their arms around each other. Text above reads, "We're standing with you".

Has your family experienced challenges with the General Election voting system?The Electoral Commission is developing an...
18/05/2026

Has your family experienced challenges with the General Election voting system?

The Electoral Commission is developing an Accessibility Action Plan for the 2026 General Election. We’re preparing feedback to advocate for a better experience for disabled people and their families.

Families have told us the current voting process is stressful, confusing, and physically difficult. Many are anxious about making mistakes, being rushed, or not being able to safely access voting places. Some people said they didn't vote in previous elections because the barriers felt too great. Others ended up voting for someone they didn't mean to by mistake!

To make this year's election more accessible, our recommendations will focus on:
• Voting information and digital navigation
• Sample ballots and ballot layouts
• Supported decision-making
• Physical access, including during poor weather
• Independent and secret voting options
• Alternate formats
• Key community languages and cultural needs
• Accountability and reporting

What do you think? Is there anything we should add or change? Do you have experiences to share on these areas of focus?

Leave your thoughts in the comments or email us at admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz by 5pm on Wednesday 27 May so we can consider them in our submission.

Image description: Graphic with a question mark on top and text reading, "Voting in this year’s General Election. What would make voting more accessible for your family?"

“That was super informative. All of the information was so relevant to me going flatting. Thank you.”We recently hosted ...
13/05/2026

“That was super informative. All of the information was so relevant to me going flatting. Thank you.”

We recently hosted our annual housing discussion, Kāinga Kōrero. For this year’s session, we focused on taking the next steps into flatting.

Ainsley from Flying Kites shared practical advice on renting and choosing flatmates. She spoke about finding the right people to live with by advocating for our needs and communicating where we can compromise. She also shared an interesting way to test compatibility before signing a tenancy agreement.

Tessa from Habitat for Humanity helped us understand our rights and responsibilities as occupants. She shared simple ways to keep a warm and dry home, and how to communicate with landlords. We also discovered that their Healthy Homes programme can help assess a home. They even provide lovely winter warming care packages.

If you missed the session, a recording will be available on our website soon. We’ll also share key learnings here over the coming weeks.

A big thank you to Ainsley and Tessa for helping families feel more informed and prepared to take their next step into flatting.

For more information on Moving Out, Flying Kite's guide to help navigate a change in living situation, go to their website: https://www.flyingkites.org.nz/resources/moving-out

For more information on Habitat for Humanity and their Healthy Homes programme, go to their website: https://www.habitat.org.nz/programme/healthy-homes

Image descriptions:
1: Ainsley speaking at the event. She sits next to a large screen with a presentation slide on key principles for flatting.
2: Tessa speaking at the event. She is looking up towards the screen, which has information on occupant rights and responsibilities.

Some of our team forgot it was Mother’s Day this Sunday. If you did too, you’re in good company. To the mums and mother‑...
09/05/2026

Some of our team forgot it was Mother’s Day this Sunday. If you did too, you’re in good company.

To the mums and mother‑figures walking alongside disabled children and adults - the driving, the advocacy, the sleepless nights, the endless forms, the celebrations big and small - you carry so much.

We see you, and we honour you.

May you feel appreciated, supported, and surrounded by aroha. We thank you for all that you do!

Image description: a simple illustration of two bears viewed from behind with their arms around each other. Text above reads, "Happy Mother’s Day!"

Save the date for this year's Transition Expo: Wednesday 9 September at Auckland Netball Centre.Transition Expo is alway...
03/05/2026

Save the date for this year's Transition Expo: Wednesday 9 September at Auckland Netball Centre.

Transition Expo is always a major highlight for our team - we love meeting and connecting with you all.

Is there anything new you'd like to see at Expo this year?

What did you love about last year that you'd like to see more of?

Image description: graphic of an open envelope with the Transition Expo logo on the paper inside. The text "You’re invited!" is above the envelope and "9 September 2026, Auckland Netball Centre" is below.

Join us for an evening of fun, connection and celebration for Mother’s Day at our next Parent Support Group.This free ev...
29/04/2026

Join us for an evening of fun, connection and celebration for Mother’s Day at our next Parent Support Group.

This free event is open to parents, children, and the whole whānau.

Facilitated by Holistic Wellness Coach Anju Desai, we’ll explore self-compassion, self-care and practical tools to support your wellbeing.

There will be fun activities for children, and other surprises too!

For more information, including how to register, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/14c66yWz4zE/

Image description: A promotional poster for the event. The text reads: “Keeping wellness balanced. Parent Support Group. Free social event for families. Join us for an evening of fun, and to celebrate Mother's Day! Wednesday 13 May 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Mt Richmond Special School, 30 Albion Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland.” Beside the text is an illustration of a cup and saucer with flowers growing out of it.

If you live in West Auckland and want to learn more about disability supports, join us in Glen Eden on 11 May for a free...
22/04/2026

If you live in West Auckland and want to learn more about disability supports, join us in Glen Eden on 11 May for a free information session.

Find out what support your whānau might be able to access as representatives from Work and Income NZ and Kaikaranga (formerly Taikura Trust) share information on their services and eligibility criteria.

We continue to receive great feedback from attendees at these events. Access to information empowers us and gives our disabled loved ones choices.

This is a free event for parents and whānau hosted by Glen Eden Community House. Registration is essential.

For more information, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fcrpp6EM3/

Image description: A promotional event poster. Text reads "Understanding disability supports. Free community event. Monday 11 May 2026, 10:00am to 12:45pm. Glen Eden Community House." In the middle is a photo of a young girl in a wheelchair playing with a wooden puzzle. A man in blue scrubs sits beside her, helping hold the board steady.

Our team was invited to Auckland University of Technology to talk about the social model of disability with future educa...
19/04/2026

Our team was invited to Auckland University of Technology to talk about the social model of disability with future educators in its Bachelor of Education programme.

We wanted to help shift thinking away from the medical model, which focuses on a person’s condition as a disadvantage or deficit. Specifically, we imparted culturally inclusive practices when working with Asian and/or Pasifika children with disabilities and their families.

We explored how disability can be understood as a social identity, shaped by barriers in society rather than individual impairments.

It was a great discussion about how we can create a more inclusive understanding of disability - something we believe must be shared with the next generation of educators.

Image description: Our Counsellor Asoka speaking at the front of a lecture hall. The presentation slide displayed behind her reads "Stories from parents. Jason's Kindergarten Journey."

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

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