Canterbury Family/Whānau voices - disability system transformation

Canterbury Family/Whānau voices - disability system transformation We amplify the voice of Family/Whānau and their disabled family members.

04/05/2026

NZSL Week 2026 is here, celebrating 20 years of New Zealand Sign Language as an official language of Aotearoa!

This week we are celebrating our Turi Māori and Deaf community here in Waitaha Canterbury and reflecting on how we keep working to remove exclusion.

If you’re hearing, this is a great time to start learning a few signs!
It’s not about perfection, it’s about having a go and making new connections.

We’re also kicking off our Clap It Forward challenge and tagging Egl Christchurch and Aspire Canterbury to create their own videos and keep it going.

Check out Deaf Aotearoa and the important work they do. Give them a follow to learn more about NZSL and keep building your understanding of NZSL and Deaf culture.

Community Event: Chat to ThriveA community event focused on connection, communication, and mental wellbeing.📆 Monday 4 M...
30/04/2026

Community Event: Chat to Thrive

A community event focused on connection, communication, and mental wellbeing.

📆 Monday 4 May
⏱️ 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 BrainTree Wellness Centre, 70 Langdons RdChristchurch

This session is part of the Thrive Speaker Series, created for people living with acquired neurological conditions. It focuses on practical ways to support mental health, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with others.

About the session:
• Led by Kimberley Wade (Music Therapist) and Grant Cowan
• Shares real-life experiences of stroke recovery and aphasia
• Explores how music can support communication and brain function
• Highlights the role of neuroplasticity in rebuilding pathways

Cost:
General admission: $5
Koha option available (pay what you can)

Thrive is a community initiative built around five key areas: Move, Rest, Chat, Mood and Food, supporting overall mental health and wellbeing.
Find out more or get tickets here 👉 https://events.humanitix.com/chat-to-thrive

Kim and Grant will run a fun and interactive session, focused on helping you to use music to make connections within yourself and with others.

Health and Disability Advocacy Service and IHCNew Zealand have produced a range of Easy Read booklets covering advocacy ...
29/04/2026

Health and Disability Advocacy Service and IHCNew Zealand have produced a range of Easy Read booklets covering advocacy and Health and Disability services.

Please see original post for the link and to find out more.

Thanks IHC New Zealand for helping us produce this great range of Easy Read booklets!
Head over to our website to check them out https://www.advocacy.org.nz/resources

Recently our whānau core group representatives attended this workshop by Care Matters NZ, it was a great opportunity to ...
29/04/2026

Recently our whānau core group representatives attended this workshop by Care Matters NZ, it was a great opportunity to connect with whānau living with or caring for family with disability.

Hopefully we will meet many more of our community at future events.

In the mean time if you would like to hear more from us, please sign up to our monthly newsletter where we share free opportunities and events, and any news we think matters.

Sign up here 👉 https://stats.sender.net/forms/e9rEyY/view

Stats NZ has just released a new report, “An overview of disability data in Aotearoa New Zealand.”It’s designed to make ...
28/04/2026

Stats NZ has just released a new report, “An overview of disability data in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

It’s designed to make disability data easier to find, understand, and actually use, bringing together insights from a range of population surveys (as at 1 January 2026).

The report pulls everything into four key areas:
• wellbeing and inclusion
• participation in society
• standard of living
• services and support

With more disability data being collected than ever before, this report helps paint a clearer picture of the experiences of disabled people across Aotearoa, and supports those working in advocacy, policy, and community spaces to make better use of that information.

You can find the alternative formats here: 👇
https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/an-overview-of-disability-data-in-aotearoa-new-zealand/

Image description: Text at the top says Easy Read Document
An overview of disability data in Aotearoa New Zealand - April. There is an image of two easy read documents with the same text and a picture of 8 people standing and in wheel chairs next to a pie chart representing statistics. The second document is a table of contents with small images next to each line of text. At the bottom left the document says Make it Easy Kia Mãmã Mai

Today is Hoods up, volume down. A way to support our Autistic community by having volume and lights low from 10am - 11am...
28/04/2026

Today is Hoods up, volume down. A way to support our Autistic community by having volume and lights low from 10am - 11am.

Tomorrow is the official Hoods Up Volume Down quiet hour, from 10-11am. We are so grateful for the many many schools and organisations that are holding a quiet hour tomorrow: turning down the lights, turning down the noise and turning up for the autistic community.

We have a special announcement coming tomorrow at 11am when the quiet hour ends, so check back to check it out!

Please make sure to tag us in your photos tomorrow, wearing your hoodies or preparing for your events. You can use or tag our official accounts.

It’s just started! But a last minute reminder to join this online session. Our whānau reps Lisa, Irene and Stef will be ...
28/04/2026

It’s just started! But a last minute reminder to join this online session. Our whānau reps Lisa, Irene and Stef will be there.

Free online course: Understanding The DSS Flexible Funding Changes

On Tuesday, 28 April, from 7.00-8.15pm, DSS will join FLA to cover common questions + how flexible funding and an EGL approach can support more choice and control.

On 1 April, the flexible funding purchasing rules were removed. DSS will join FLA to give a high level overview of what this means. Please send questions in advance to help shape the discussion, as there will be limited time for individual questions.

JOIN HERE:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/453 79358218384?p=NDZWJKChvaNEUI8751

Meeting ID: 453 793 582 183 84

Passcode: iU9D9NE9

Or Contact: info@fla.org.nz

24/04/2026
23/04/2026

Response from Blind Low Vision NZ in regards to the changes to Total Mobility which was discussed in Parliament on Tuesday.

See original post for the link to watch online.

23/04/2026

Keen for an online session about your health and disability rights? Let Health and Disability Advocacy know when would suit you and make sure to follow them when a confirmed time and date has been set.

EGL Christchurch are holding a drop in next Friday for our North Canterbury Community. Alongside Aspire Canterbury and •...
21/04/2026

EGL Christchurch are holding a drop in next Friday for our North Canterbury Community. Alongside Aspire Canterbury and •The•Place• a safe sensory space •

Come along to connect and to learn about some local options for disabled people and whānau.

📆 24th April
⏱️ 12pm-1pm
📍 The Place, 87 Ivory Street, Rangiora

An NZSL interpreter will be booked for each session.
Look out for Parent to Parent drop-in events from 10am-12pm- check their website for dates.

Image description: A poster advertising EGL Christchurch’s upcoming North Canterbury community drop in sessions. The poster has a large graphic two people signing at a café table. Above them a speech bubble reads “Join EGLC and Aspire from 12-1pm.
The poster also has the logos for Aspire Canterbury, The Place, and Enabling Good Lives. The main colours of the poster are green, white, orange, purple, and light pink.
The text on the poster reads as follows
“Want to connect with the local community? Want to learn about some local options for disabled people and whānau? North Canterbury Community Drop-in sessions. The Place, 87 Ivory Street, Rangiora. 12pm - 1pm. 27th March, 24th April, 29th May. Join us to connect and to ask any questions you may have. NZSL interpreters are booked. Look out for Parent to Parent’s drop-in event from 10am-12pm - check their website for dates For more information phone 0800 225 570 or email EGLCinfo@msd.govt.nz

Join us next Friday for our North Canterbury Community drop-in session alongside Aspire Canterbury and •The•Place• a safe sensory space •

Come along to connection and to learn about some local options for disabled people and whānau.

Dates: 24th April, 29th May 2026
Time: 12pm-1pm
Location: The Place, 87 Ivory Street, Rangiora

An NZSL interpreter will be booked for each session.
Look out for Parent to Parent drop-in events from 10am-12pm- check their website for dates.

[Image description begins] A poster advertising EGL Christchurch’s upcoming North Canterbury community drop in sessions. The poster has a large graphic two people signing at a café table. Above them a speech bubble reads “Join EGLC and Aspire from 12-1pm.
The poster also has the logos for Aspire Canterbury, The Place, and Enabling Good Lives. The main colours of the poster are green, white, orange, purple, and light pink.
The text on the poster reads as follows
“Want to connect with the local community? Want to learn about some local options for disabled people and whānau? North Canterbury Community Drop-in sessions. The Place, 87 Ivory Street, Rangiora. 12pm - 1pm. 27th March, 24th April, 29th May. Join us to connect and to ask any questions you may have. NZSL interpreters are booked. Look out for Parent to Parent’s drop-in event from 10am-12pm - check their website for dates For more information phone 0800 225 570 or email EGLCinfo@msd.govt.nz
[Image description ends]

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