Differently Normal NZ

06/10/2025

Dyslexia
This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week.
🔸️Dyslexia affects how the brain processes written language, making reading and spelling more challenging despite normal intelligence and adequate instruction
🔸️Children with dyslexia often have strong verbal skills, creative thinking, problem- solving, and big-picture reasoning, but struggle specifically with written language tasks.
🔸️It's very common, thought to affect 7-17% of NZr's, although there are no national figures
🔸️Early identification and intervention will lead to the best outcomes
🔸️This year’s theme is "Raise the Volume," focusing on amplifying the voices and experiences of young people with dyslexia.
🔸️Stickman makes excellent resources to explain Dyspraxia. Available in NZ through Differently Normal NZ
🔸️Key events include a nationwide "Light It Up" campaign illuminating over 20 iconic locations in aqua
🚥The Cloud: Auckland🚥Nelson/Tasman : The Richmond Sundial Square, the Clock Tower on Trafalgar Street, the Suter Art Gallery, and the Nelson Provincial Museum 🚥Tauranga & Gisborne: Wharf Street in Tauranga and the Gisborne Clock Tower🚥Cambridge Clock Tower
🔸️Additionally, Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust is running a "Dyslexia Champions Project" to share positive stories of individuals with dyslexia
🔸️Online Events: Dyslexia Support South is hosting online forums for youth and adults, with meeting dates listed for the year.
Educational Resources: Organisations like The Study Nook are providing resources and information for parents about dyslexia

Dyslexia Foundation of NZ https://dfnz.org.nz/
Dyslexia Support South https://www.dyslexiasupportsouth.org.nz/parent-toolkit/emotional-impact/increasing-dyslexia-awareness/
Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust https://www.ldalearning.org/
https://www.serviceiq.org.nz/about-us/equity/dyslexia-awareness

03/10/2025

Interested in participating in PEM research?
There's a new validation study open for the
DSQ-PEM version 2 (more details about the DSQ-PEM below). If you experience post-exertional malaise (PEM) or support someone who does, you are welcome to participate. They estimate it takes 10-15 mins. I had lots of comments on it, which it welcomes.
https://www.dsqpem2.com/?s=08
🔸️What is the DSQ-PEM?
DSQ-PEM stands for the DePaul Symptom
Questionnaire - Post-Exertional Malaise.
🔸️What it measures: PEM presence, frequency, severity, and characteristic features - a core symptom in ME/CFS also reported in Long COVID.
🔸️DSQ-PEM 2.0 is an updated version intended to improve clarity and accuracy of PEM measurement for research and clinical use
🔸️Why measuring PEM matters
~Research quality: Reliable tools help researchers identify PEM consistently, compare groups, and evaluate treatments.
~Clinical usefulness: Validated measures support better diagnosis, monitoring, and personalised management.
~Policy and trials: Strong measurement tools are needed for clinical trials, guidelines, and to inform healthcare services

https://www.dsqpem2.com/?s=08&fbclid=IwY2xjawNLwshleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHti5_XPAVOPP8LB8pkMiyEACB9bM6WyIbFLWw_dXhn9fXhfqF19BKyJCcn1n_aem_aO3G3IVPPHeqvqEPAobl0Q
Taken from the FB page: Covid-19 Research Involvement Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/covid19researchinvolvementgroup/permalink/4098772763714140/?app=fbl

02/10/2025

‘‘Lives We Cannot Live,’ a photographic exhibition by ME Association (UK charity for people with ME/CFS).
The exhibition has now closed, so it's is now available online

The exhibition held at OXO Gallery, London, ran from 24th - 28th September 2025, and told the stories of people with ME/CFS through a collection of more than 50 striking images.

On Wednesday 24th September, the ME Association (UK charity for people with ME/CFS) held a prestigious event to launch ‘Lives We Cannot Live,’ a photographic...

02/10/2025

It's Dysautonomia month! (October)
✨️Dysautonomia/ autonomic dysfunction is a term for disorders where the autonomic nervous system (ANS) doesn't function properly. The ANS regulates our involuntary body functions like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, brain, bladder, and more.
✨️Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Orthostatic Intolerance (OI), and Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH) are all forms of dysautonomia
✨️Symptoms can vary widely and include
dizziness, lightheadedness, rapid heart
rate, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, bladder issues, and temperature dysregulation.
✨️ It's a common co-existing illness with EDS, Long COVID, ME/CFS, Lyme Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and others
✨️While there is currently no cure, most people find that lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet and medical treatment can improve symptoms.
✨️More info (although it is POTS specific)
https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/p/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots
✨️StickmanCommunications has communication resources for dysautonmia, POTS, brain fog etc. You can order them through us at Differentlynormalnz for Aotearoa delivery

These organisations offer support and resources:
🔸️Complex Chronic lllness Support (CCI):
https://ccisupport.org.nz/
🔸️ Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Aotearoa
New Zealand https://ehlers-danlos.org.nz/common-comorbid-conditions/
🔸️ Long Covid Support Aotearoa https://longcovidsupport.co.nz/support/symptoms/pots/

22/09/2025

19/09/2025

I haven't read the article yet. I subscribe, so I'll read it next week. Its good to see this condition make it to the mainstream media. Stickman Communications by Hannah Ensor will be presenting on EDS soon, and her communication resources explain EDS well. Available in NZ through Differently Normal NZ.

What it’s like to live with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: ‘It’s about adapting and fighting every day’
🔗: https://nz-listener.visitlink.me/qLHKlZ

18/09/2025

Dyspraxia
It's Dyspraxia awareness time, so a good time to mention that Stickman makes excellent resources to explain Dyspraxia. Available in NZ through Differently Normal NZ.
🔸️Dyspraxia is a neurological development coordination disorder affecting the processes involved in learning, planning, and coordinated movements
🔸️ It is different to Dyslexia.
🔸️ It may affect any or all areas of development – physical, intellectual, emotional, sensory, social, and language.
🔸️It's more common than you think, but because it's 'invisible', people can get a delayed diagnosis
🔸️ Students with dyspraxia may appear to be no different from their peers until they try to learn new skills or known ones are taken out of their usual context.
🔸️It's also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Aotearoa support:
Dyspraxia Support Group. They provide support (training, resources, and information) for children, young adults and adults, their family/whanau; caregivers; and professionals working in related fields. https://dyspraxia.org.nz/

Video explainer by Inclusive Education https://inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/dyspraxia-and-learning/understanding-dyspraxia/

SPELD https://www.speld.org.nz/specific-learning-disability-definitions/dyspraxia

16/09/2025

Like Hannah says, there are many many ways people manage their disabilities and it can be surprising, especially when you have an invisible disability. As NZ stockists for Stickman, we've got you covered! Order through us if you're a Kiwi. We offer discounts for students, CSC holders, healthcare workers and charities. 😊