Strong Voices

Families shut inside in Auckland and Northland have had some online relief during their extended COVID-19 lockdown, with Auckland-based music therapist Ahjay Stelino taking his sounds and skills directly to families with disabled children.

Danni-Lee Kokiri, 18, from Lower Hutt, won first place in the IHC Art Awards for 2021 and a $5000 prize for her mystical painting The Chakra Forest. Interviewed after her win, the Taita College student said the trees made her want to fly over them.

In May and June four ‘wellness’ workshops gave family carers the opportunity to connect with other parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

Donors to IHC now have an easy way to claim their 33.33 percent tax rebates on any donation to IHC – and other charitable organisations over the past five years. As a donor you decide whether to re-gift or keep your rebate. Supporters can sign up to supergenerous.co.nz to do this. Although there is no upfront cost, there will be an automatic charge of 10 percent plus GST taken out of the Inland Revenue donation tax rebate to pay for this service. IHC National Fundraising Manager Greg Millar says many New Zealanders aren’t reclaiming this rebate that they are due from Inland Revenue. “This is a simple and quick way to do this. It’s also simple to choose to re-gift the rebate to IHC if you wish.”

Photo credit: Recha Oktaviani – Unsplash

This year Dannevirke celebrates a long and special relationship between its indoor bowling clubs and IHC. This is a town that has always said yes to supporting local people with intellectual disabilities.

Eight young artists have their eyes on a new prize in the IHC Art Awards 2021.

Northland families with disabled children are withdrawing from contact with other people because of the sheer stress of trying to manage the children with little support.

The Human Rights Review Tribunal and IHC are collecting evidence about the experiences of disabled children in the education system from parents, educators and community groups, ahead of a hearing in that tribunal.

A new category in the IHC Art Awards this year is giving young artists with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to win on a national stage.

IHC members can now renew their memberships for a one- or three-year term.