40 episodes

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Family, Whanau and Disability. This podcast features interviews with parents, professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities in New Zealand. Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability.

Family, Whanau and Disability Family, Whanau and Disability

    • Kids & Family

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Family, Whanau and Disability. This podcast features interviews with parents, professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities in New Zealand. Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability.

    38. Mainstream First in Education with Frian Wadia

    38. Mainstream First in Education with Frian Wadia

    Presenters: Jo Hannah
    Produced by Parent to Parent NZ
    Guests: Frian Wadia
    Frian Wadia is a mother of  3 lovely boys 16yrs, 14yrs and 12yrs old, all with varying disabilities and learning needs.   Through her experiences within the education and health systems, she has become a passionate advocate for creating systemic change to ensure inclusion and enabling a meaningful dignified life for all individuals with disabilities. She is particularly interested in the creation of a truly inclusive education system.
    Her  constant endeavours are aimed at empowering families and disabled people; improving systems, policies and legislation to ensure disabled children’s rights are upheld; and equity is ensured for all children irrespective of their abilities, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity and any other challenges. 

    Programme Synopsis
    Jo talks to Frian about what mainstream first has meant to her family and ways that other families can work with their child's school to ensure that they have an inclusive educational environment  for their child.
    Links
    Ministry of Education: the team that will support your child - https://parents.education.govt.nz/learning-support/learning-support-needs/the-team-that-will-support-your-child/Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc VIPS Equity in Education Enabling Good Lives principlesAltogether AutismCare Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carersMana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

    • 38 min
    01. What is Parent to Parent (part 1)

    01. What is Parent to Parent (part 1)

    Research: Rebecca Armstrong
    Presenter: Val Ockenden
    Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

    Guests

    Anne Wilkinson ONZM
    Enabling Good Lives (EGL)

    Anne’s involvement in the sector began over 30 years ago as a parent. She has a background of working with families and for 25 years worked for and held a number of roles within Parent to Parent New Zealand. In early 2016 she resigned after 12 years as Chief Executive, but continues to be a volunteer Support Parent and member of the organisation. Anne has been involved with EGL since 2011, currently serving on the National Leadership Group and the Waikato Leadership Group. She believes disabled people have the same rights as others to have control over their lives, and that families are an integral part in achieving this.

    Jacqui Stokes
    Waikato Support Parent

    “I found out about Parent to Parent when my son was diagnosed at two years old. It supported me by helping getting assessed for respite care and putting me in touch with another parent whose child had the same diagnosis. “When I moved to Hamilton I started going to coffee mornings. It was nice to chat with other mums who were going through the same things. From there I was asked to join the committee and become a Support Parent.

    “Since becoming a Support Parent I have talked and listened, and even met with other
    parents who have the same diagnosis as my son. I have been on and off the committee over
    the years and have always been willing to support the group that help support me especially
    through my son’s younger years.”

    Programme Synopsis
    Introduction to Connect, Inform, Support podcast.A history of Parent to Parent from Anne Wilkinson who has been with the organisation for almost 30 years.Lived experience from Jacqui Stokes who has been actively involved as a volunteer Support Parent for 15 years.Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

    Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

    Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

    Links
    enablinggoodlives.co.nzSafesquaresParent to Parent New Zealand IncAltogether AutismCare Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carersMana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

    • 23 min
    02. What is Parent to Parent (part 2)

    02. What is Parent to Parent (part 2)

    Research: Rebecca Armstrong
    Presenter: Val Ockenden
    Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

    Guests

    Carolyn Jury
    Support and Information Co-ordinator

    I have been involved with Parent to Parent for 10 years, first as a requester looking for support and information, then as a volunteer support parent and now as the Support and Information Coordinator at National Office in Hamilton. I have previously worked as a medical professional, but in recent years I retrained as a counsellor, graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Applied Social Science from Wintec in Hamilton.

    Ruth Taylor
    Executive Co-ordinator

    Ruth has been connected with Parent to Parent since 2008 as a programme coordinator and trainer. She is currently responsible for coordinating a range of workshops, seminars and support events, including the unique SibSupportNZ programme.

    Jo Eastwood
    Executive Manager

    Jo is passionate about providing the right tools to help people with disabilities and health
    impairments live the lives they choose. With a Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing (1989) and working as a Registered Nurse in Australia and New Zealand, Jo met her desire to help people.

    Programme Synopsis
    Connecting parents - Parent to Parent operates a parent support network for families raising a child with a disability in New Zealand. We have a network of more than 600 speciallytrained volunteer support parents. We connect families with support parents who have a family member with the same/similar disability or issue. The role of the support parent is to be the ‘listening ear’ who can empathise and understand the challenges and joys of raising a child who is different.Sibling Support –The longest relationship a person with a disability has is with their brother and/or sister. Living with a brother or sister who has a disability can be a blessing and a challenge. The SibSupportNZ programme offers young people support to thrive in their own unique family environment through SibCamps, SibShops and SibDays. Our SibSupport programmes are run by facilitators who are assisted by leaders who have also grown up with a sibling with a disability, again sharing that ‘lived experience’ level of understanding.Information Service - Our dedicated research team provides free, researched, evidencebased information to families, and those involved in a family’s care, on nearly 4,000 conditions each year, from the very rare to the more common. The information is designed to be easy to understand, written in plain English (also available in different languages) and is tailor-made for your child’s individual condition or issue.
    There is no limit to the number of requests a parent can make for medical conditions
    themselves and related-issues, from diagnosis to adulthood. Parent to Parent can provide information for early childcare learning centres, schools, workplaces and any organisation that works with, and for, people with disabilities and health impairments.Music

    “Retail Blues” by The Mutes (from Mars)

    Links
    themutes.bandcamp.comfacebook.com/themutesfrommarsenablinggoodlives.co.nzSafesquaresParent to Parent New Zealand IncAltogether AutismCare Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carersMana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

    • 29 min
    03. Disability Transformation with Minister for Disability Carmel Sepuloni, and Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero

    03. Disability Transformation with Minister for Disability Carmel Sepuloni, and Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero

    Research: Rebecca Armstrong
    Presenter: Val Ockenden
    Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

    Guests:

    Paula Tesoriero, MNZM Disability Rights Commissioner

    Disability advocate, former Paralympian and Human Rights Commission’s Disability Rights Commissioner. Working for the rights of disabled New Zealanders, she is an amputee and a mum to a five-year-old son. Paula Tesoriero took up her three-year appointment as the Human Rights Commission’s Disability Rights Commissioner on July 31, 2017. “Ms Tesoriero has a significant record of working to increase awareness of disability issues,” Associate Justice Minister Mark Mitchell said at her appointment in June. “She is well informed on New Zealand’s international human rights standing and her legal background and understanding of the machinery of government will be advantageous in the context of the Commission’s work.” Since February 2016 Ms Tesoriero has been General Manager, Systems and Partnerships with Statistics New Zealand. From 2010-2016 she was General Manager Higher Courts with the Ministry of Justice. Ms Tesoriero created history with her world record-breaking time in the
    women’s 500m cycling time trial at the Beijing Summer Paralympics in 2008, securing New Zealand’s first gold medal at the Games.

    Hon Carmel Sepuloni Minister for Social Development and Disability issues

    Carmel Sepuloni is our new Minister of Disability issues. Carmel is of Samoan, Tongan and NZ European descent. Born and raised in Waitara, she has lived in Auckland since 1996. Carmel has always been committed to improving social, health and educational outcomes for all New Zealanders, but has especially focused during her career on low socio-economic groups; Māori, Pacific, disabled people and sole parents. During her political career Carmel has brought to the fore the slashing of the training incentive allowance, made public the impact of cuts to ACC funding for survivors of sexual violence, campaigned for better legislation around social workers and fought for the right to privacy for social service users. As the Minister for
    Social Development and Disability issues Carmel is looking forward to building a fairer welfare system that treats New Zealanders with the respect, upholds their dignity and supports them and their families to realise their potential.Outside of politics Carmel has worked broadly across the health and education sectors as a Literacy Educator with youth in West Auckland, teaching in Samoa, managing equity programmes at the University of Auckland, managing the Pacific nonregulated Pacific health research project, and acting as CEO of New Zealand’s only National Pacific health provider, Vaka Tautua.Carmel is the mother of two boys aged four and 19.

    Programme Synopsis
    Understanding the role of the Disability Rights Commission, its relationship with government, its process in resolving issues and advocating for individuals and changeOverview of government policy and initiatives in the disability spaceMusic

    “Get up, stand up” Bob Marley

    Links
    http://www.labour.org.nz/carmelsepulonihttps://www.odi.govt.nz/nz-disability-strategy/SafesquaresParent to Parent New Zealand IncAltogether AutismCare Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carersMana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

    • 26 min
    04. Inclusivity in Education with MoE Director of Learning Support Dr David Wales, and Accredited Facilitator with Vision Education Justine Brock

    04. Inclusivity in Education with MoE Director of Learning Support Dr David Wales, and Accredited Facilitator with Vision Education Justine Brock

    Research: Rebecca Armstrong
    Presenter: Val Ockenden
    Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

    Guests: Justine Brock

    Accredited Facilitator for Vision Education and parent of five boys on the Autism Spectrum
    From Vision Education website: I have been working as a literacy facilitator for Vision Education since the beginning of 2013 and as a team leader for Vision Education since 2014. I have experience working with a wide range of schools, who face a variety of complex challenges including low literacy achievement.
    As a literacy facilitator, an integral part of my role is to develop and strengthen effective literacy practice across schools. In order to do so, I hold strong content knowledge and experience in many aspects of literacy practice, including but not limited to the following:

    Reading
    WritingOral languageInquiryCulturally Responsive PedagogyMentoring and leadershipBuilding leadership capacityAssessmentEnglish Language LearningInclusive educationDigital technologyI am an accredited facilitator available for centrally funded PLD. Click here to read a summary of practice

    Dr David Wales PhD

    National Director of Learning Support, Ministry of Education

    From Ministry of Education website: We are the Government’s lead advisor on education. Our mission is to lift aspiration and raise educational achievement for every New Zealander. Achieving this means ensuring the education system:
    Enables every child, young person and student to succeedMaximises the contribution education makes to the New Zealand economyProgramme Synopsis
    As part of the services Vision Education provides for schools, there is a focus on inclusive practice - particularly supporting schools to review and implement inclusive practices that meet the needs of all learners.Just over 25 years ago, a new vision for special education was written into law. The
    Education Act was changed so that schools were required to enrol all children who came
    through their doors, including those with disabilities. In 2010 the public were invited to participate in the Review of Special Education by responding to a discussion document featuring questions on special education and inclusiveness (see info below). This reviews approximately half of schools practiced inclusive education. A review in 2013 showed that 77 percent of schools identified as inclusive.Music

    “We are the same” by Mark Goffeney

    Links
    bigtoerocks.com/facebook.com/The-Real-Mark-Goffeney-500011805726/education.govt.nz/ministry-of-education/specific-initiatives/learning-support/visioneducation.co.nz/welcome/SafesquaresParent to Parent New Zealand IncAltogether AutismCare Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carersMana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

    • 38 min
    05. Autism and Education

    05. Autism and Education

    Research: Rebecca Armstrong
    Presenter: Val Ockenden
    Produced by Louise Ratcliffe and FreeFM89.0

    Guests: Joanne Dacombe

    Joanne Dacombe has spent 21 years working at the Reserve Bank in the area of monetary policy. She was diagnosed with autism later in life and has a son on the Autism Spectrum. Joanne currently serves on the Board of Autism New Zealand as well as the Board of the ASK Trust, an autistic-led organisation for autistic adults.

    Cat Noakes-Duncan

    Cat is the mother of three beautiful children, two with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Recently Cat founded 'Spectrum Playgroup' a community playgroup for children on the autism spectrum, their siblings and families. Cat is trained in Early Childhood Education and is currently undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching: Autism Spectrum
    Disorders.

    Programme Synopsis
    The difficulties parents have trying navigate the education system with an Autistic childParenting a child on the Autistic SpectrumInclusive EducationMusic

    “Same Page” Rich Austin, from Memories Forever album

    Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support

    Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.

    Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.

    Links
    Further information on Joanne Dacombe - https://altogetherautism.org.nz/autism-information/6433/6433/Autistic Burnout - https://boren.blog/2017/01/26/autistic-burnout-the-cost-ofcoping-and-passing/Further information on Spectrum Playgroup -
    https://altogetherautism.org.nz/autism-information/6390/playgroup-providescare-support/https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018617
    601/spectrum-playgroup-a-special-place-for-kids-with-autismhttps://www.richaustinmusic.com/index.htmlhttps://altogetherautism.org.nz/SafesquaresParent to Parent New Zealand IncAltogether AutismCare Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carersMana Whaikaha – MidCentral only

    • 27 min

Top Podcasts In Kids & Family

Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Dr. Becky Kennedy
Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids
Brains On! Science podcast for kids
American Public Media
Circle Round
WBUR
Raising Good Humans
Dear Media, Aliza Pressman
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
Ginny Yurich