Altogether Autism

28/05/2026

Registrations are now open for the next round of the Changemaker Programme from our friends at Your Way l Kia Roha.

Learn more below 👇

🌿 Nau mai, haere mai. Join the free Changemakers programme | Kaupapa Kaihanga Panoni for disabled people and allies across Aotearoa New Zealand.

This 20-week course runs from 6 July to 13 November 2026 and includes 10 online modules and 10 live online sessions.

Designed and created by disabled people — nā te hunga whaikaha, mō te hunga whaikaha — it’s a chance to learn, connect, and build your confidence to lead meaningful change in your communities.

✨ Register now! Applications close on 19 June.
👉 For more details, visit: yourwaykiaroha.nz/changemakers

25/05/2026

Want to have your voice heard at the decision-making tables?

Our friends at IHC New Zealand are running a free online webinar exploring how neurodivergent people, including people with intellectual disability, can get involved in public sector committees.

See details below 👇

How to join a Public Sector Committee (Neurodivergent Guide) 📖

Keen to have your voice heard at decision-making tables?

As part of Neurodiversity Pride Week, join us for a free online webinar exploring how neurodivergent people, including people with intellectual disability, can get involved in public sector committees. These are paid roles and a powerful way to put Nothing About Us Without Us into action.

Getting appointed can take time and can feel challenging, but you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Hear Dr Nicolina Newcombe (Autistic with OCD) and David Corner ONZM (person with intellectual disability and autism) from IHC, and Ollie Goulden (ADHD) from My Life My Voice share their experiences of the recruitment process, what it is like to sit at the table, and answer your questions in an open 'Ask Me Anything' session.

📅 Date: Monday 15 June 2026
🕒 Time: 3pm
📍 Online via Microsoft Teams

To register, email ihc.events@ihc.org.nz

We would love to see more neurodivergent people putting their names forward for these roles.
Join us in this live session to learn how.

20/05/2026

🧠 Free Workshop in Te Awamutu: An Introduction to Autistic Capacity

“But you could do it yesterday…”

Why can an Autistic person manage something one day but struggle with it the next?

Join this free workshop to learn about everyday factors that can impact an Autistic person’s ability to engage and cope. You’ll also explore practical strategies for providing more effective support.

✍️ Registration is required
📅 15 June 2026
⏰ 10 am - 1 pm
📍 Te Awamutu
💙 Free to attend

This session is ideal for parents, educators, professionals, and anyone interested in better understanding and supporting Autistic people.

🔗 Register here: https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/events/an-introduction-to-autistic-capacity-15-06-2026

12/05/2026

We are sharing a research opportunity from a Master of Educational & Developmental Psychology student at Massey University.

Madie Freeland is exploring how autistic girls in years 1–6 experience their classroom sensory environments, and how these experiences influence their comfort, engagement, and wellbeing in mainstream classrooms.

She is looking to connect with whānau of autistic girls who may be open to a single, child friendly interview (around 30 minutes). Participation is voluntary, child controlled, and fully ethics approved.

Madie is aiming to recruit up to 10 participants in total, even one or two families would make a meaningful contribution.

If you would like more information or are interested in taking part, please contact: madie.freeland.1@uni.massey.ac.nz.

12/05/2026

🌟 Free Workshop: Kids Do Well If They Can 🌟

Is there an Autistic child in your life?
Drawing from Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative & Proactive Solutions approach, our Kids Do Well If They Can workshop explores how parents, whānau, and educators can support the growth and development of young Autistics.

✍️ Registration is required
📅 9 June 2026
⏰ 10am - 1:30pm
📍 Whanganui
🔗 Register here: https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/events/kids-do-well-if-they-can-09-06-2026

07/05/2026

Have you signed up for our Palmerston North workshop yet? Only one week to go!

Brain, Body & Behaviour
📅 15 May 2026
🕒 11:30am - 2:30pm
📍 Palmerston North
🔗 Find out more & register here: https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/events/brain-body-behaviour-15-05-2026

Don't miss out!

30/04/2026

As Autism Appreciation Month comes to an end, it feels like a good time to take a step back and reflect.

This year’s theme was Create Space, and throughout the month we’ve worked to do just that. Space to be ourselves. Space to tell our stories on our own terms. Space to connect.

Over the past few weeks we’ve shared writing, events, groups, and even a tiny love-letter to zines. We also reached a huge milestone, 10,000 followers on Facebook, and welcomed over 300 new subscribers to our newsletter. Thank you for being here and being part of this community.

It’s also been 8 weeks since zea joined Altogether Autism, and this month has been a chance to think deeply about the work we do. Who our community is, how we stay responsive, what we deliver, how we deliver it, and what it means to hold this role with care.

A key part of that reflection is whakawhanaungatanga, building connection and relationships. How can autistic people and whānau feel safe to engage with us? How can people connect with our resources and information in ways that feel meaningful? How can our mahi continue to reflect the community we serve?

We hope this month helped strengthen that sense of connection. Our work will continue to be shaped by both lived experience and research, and grounded in the voices of autistic people.

Thank you for being part of the space we’ve created together this month. See you soon.

29/04/2026

Our friends at TalkLink Trust are running free, interactive and practical Zoom sessions to support families and school teams who have recently received a communication device and would like extra help and ideas to get the device up and running.

See more below 👇

💭💻We are back with our very popular free online courses for term 2.

These 1hr online training sessions will help support whanau and school teams who have recently got a communciation device.

To start with, we are running sessions for:
TouchChat WordPower, Proloquo2go, TD Snap and LAMP and a session relevant to all apps.
📆 Tuesday 30th June/Wednesday 1st July
📍Online via Zoom
🕛 Various times throughout the day
💲Free
🌐 For more info and registration links see

https://talklink.org.nz/online-help-with-your-communication-devices?fbclid=IwVERDUARUEhZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeqgvr10FpgVoFN4rm-le8ti_tr_3hqWnEfl3yFm_hiwbiTPSh2mFCuXWeO6g_aem_UhxiqvQen_aK1IfrZR8vyA

26/04/2026

As we head into the final week of Autism Appreciation Month, we want to pause and check in.

This month we’ve been sharing stories about creating space together, from community-led peer groups, to autistic creativity and connection, to moments of being seen and heard in different settings.

So before we close out the month later this week, we want to hear from you:
👉What do you want to see and hear more of from Altogether Autism?
👉What stories, topics, or voices need more space right now?
👉What does creating space look like for you?

Your whakaaro matters, and we’re listening.