IHC is 75 and there have been celebrations throughout the country looking back on a history of advocacy, coming together, vast support and incredible change for IHC and societal attitudes.
The last time we had comprehensive information on the health of New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities was a Ministry of Health report in 2011. That is about to change. After hearing there was no plan to update the Health Indicators for New Zealanders with Intellectual Disability report, IHC has commissioned a research team to do the job.
Not everyone could handle it, knowing that people were depending on you to raise $14 million in a year. But IHC’s National Manager of Fundraising Greg Millar likes having a target. “It’s always somewhat challenging,” he says.
Young game testers have put their stamps on a new simulation game designed to make it easier for young disabled people to manage money. One thing has led to another – and resulted in some paid work for these young testers.
It’s hard to be patient when there’s a lot of talk about improving lives for people with intellectual disabilities, but the better times still feel out of reach.
Researchers tracking the development of young children in Australia and New Zealand with Williams syndrome are returning to New Zealand to catch up on lost COVID time with Kiwi kids.
Alannah was being home-schooled in Hanmer Springs during the lockdown. Diksha was in India wondering when she would be able to see her mother in New Zealand.