ENews - NZDSA Virtual Conference Wrap, Upcoming Events and More!

NZDSA Enews

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VIRTUAL CONFERENCE WRAP!
THE NZDSA CELEBRATES DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS IN STYLE

The NZDSA has completed a fantastic World Down Syndrome Awareness Month in which it celebrated by hosting the second Virtual Down Syndrome Conference which run from the 3rd to the 21st of October.

“The past month has been a highlight for everyone involved and we want to thank our speakers from all over the world, the hundreds of people who participated, and the NZDSA staff involved in organising this event,” says NZDSA National Executive Officer, Zandra Vaccarino.

The NZDSA is pleased that once again we could embrace the power of modern video technology to reach people all over the country, create opportunities for greater connections, raise awareness of Down syndrome, address barriers to inclusion and share an incredible variety of information by a range of experts on strategies to support inclusion.

During the past month, nearly 700 individuals and households joined one or more of the 21 events and presentations. The 27 speakers hosted a staggering 1, 300 minutes of webinars, Q&A sessions and social gatherings.

A live conference with 27 speakers, nearly 700 guests, and over 23 hours of presentations would have been nearly impossible to host, but Covid lockdowns have taught us new ways of communicating, created new opportunities for connecting, and facilitated how we deliver our service to our community.

The NZDSA was keen to offer ways for our community to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in style and to call for actions to remove barriers that prevent people with Down syndrome from enjoying full inclusion in their community. We hope the Virtual Conference has demonstrated what the Association has to offer.

“We really want to encourage anyone who is yet to become an NZDSA member, to register as a member, so we can offer our support and our resources and represent more families and whānau when we advocate for our community,” says Vaccarino.

Once again, unlike most conferences, the NZDSA decided not to charge for the 2022 Virtual conference, so that everyone could access this event. “We would love to keep offering a free Annual Virtual Conference, but as we are not funded by Government, we fully rely on donations to keep our Association going,” says Vaccarino. “If you got value out of your session at the Virtual Conference or you want to support the work of the NZDSA please consider making a donation to our online appeal

Make one-off donation

REQUEST TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

We would appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete this short survey.

Take Survey here

DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH ONLINE APPEAL

The NZDSA vision is to see people with Down syndrome respected, valued and equal members of their community fulfilling their potential and aspirations. We can’t do this alone and we need your support.

We need your help to raise awareness and we need your help to raise funds so we can continue to provide our information, support, education and systemic advocacy service to our community.

During Down Syndrome Awareness Month we are running an online appeal and we would love your support.

Would you become a fundraiser supporter?
Would you make a donation to the campaign?
Would you share the campaign with friends and family?

You can Donate here

WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR FIRST SUPPORTER! VINCENZO VACCARINO

My name is Vincenzo. I think inclusion means to be included in school, work, sports, the community, in everything and it is about making choices. Inclusion is about having the same rights as everyone.

I want to help the NZDSA to raise awareness about Down syndrome and what inclusion means.

So I have set up a fundraising page for the NZDSA.

You can help me raise money for this great cause by donating directly to my fundraising page - https://www.justgiving.com/NZDSA-vincenzo-DSAM.

Or you can set up your own fundraising page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/nzdsa-wdsm22

Just press on start fundraising and you can set up your own page.

NZDSA ONLINE EVENTS - NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill - Have your say!

1 st November
7pm- 8.00pm
Audience: Everyone

Juliana Carvalho
Access Matters Aotearoa - Lead Campaigner

Meeting ID: 894 7526 6529
Passcode: 094816

The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill proposes the establishment of a new legislative framework intended to address
systemic access barriers that prevent disabled people, tāngata whaikaha, their whānau, and others with accessibility
needs, from living independently and participating in all areas of life.
Juliana will provide an overview of the Bill and highlight the Bill’s shortcomings, and how you can get involved so that we can get this
legislation right.

Join Zoom here

GOING FLATTING ZOOM MEETING

Save the Date
Date: 8th November 2022
Time: 07:00 PM

Audience: Parents and whānau. Part of the Down syndrome and Autism online support.

Topic: Going Flatting!
Kaye Young will share strategies of how she successfully achieved the goal for James to go flatting. This session is particularly suited for parents who may have children with Down syndrome and Autism or additional support needs.

Meeting ID: 875 4365 7509
Passcode: 804054

Join Zoom Meeting

STRIVE AFTERNOON TEA CLUB

12th November
4pm-5pm
Audience: People with Down Syndrome

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 869 9522 9182
Passcode: 138344

Join Zoom Meeting

TOPIC: THE F-WORDS LIFE WHEEL:

15th November
7pm- 8.00pm
Audience: Everyone

Lucy Charles and Arul Hamill are both Occupational Therapists and will be sharing The F-Words Life Wheel which is an An approach to facilitate meaningful conversations, enabling you to share your child’s story and to look at next steps or goals for the future.

Meeting ID: 851 6235 8811

Passcode: 493833

Join Zoom Meeting

A SPEED DATE WITH CAROLYN FROM TO BE FRANK

18th November
7pm- 8.30pm
Parents and whānau

A speed date with Carolyn from To Be Frank - Session for parents – Carolyn O'Neill

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 868 7364 8383
Passcode: 953332

Join Zoom Meeting

To be Frank Questionnaire

LAUNCH STRIVE WELLBEING VIDEO RESOURCE - STRIVE MEMBERS

22nd November
7pm- 8.00pm
Audience: Everyone

Launch STRIVE Wellbeing Video Resource –STRIVE members

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 878 3948 4867
Passcode: 511334

Join Zoom Meeting

A SPEED DATE WITH CAROLYN FROM TO BE FRANK

3rd December
2.15pm – 3.45pm
Audience: People with Down Syndrome - most suited to people who want to start dating

A speed date with Carolyn from To Be Frank – session for people with Down syndrome

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 886 6238 7157
Passcode: 646762

Join Zoom Meeting

STRIVE ANNIVERSARY AND INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEMBERS

3rd December
4pm – 5pm
Audience: Everyone
STRIVE Anniversary and introduction to new members
Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 865 8112 7722
Passcode: 068898

Join Zoom Meeting

LAUNCH OF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GAINING EMPLOYMENT

6 th December
12-1pm
Audience: Everyone

Launch of Resources to support gaining employment for whānau and support people of individuals with Down syndrome

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 846 5312 1308
Passcode: 981389

Join Zoom Meeting

PRESS RELEASE - ESTABLISH MUSIC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1st September 2022.

Bringing accessibility to the forefront of Aotearoa’s Music Industry

Establish Music’s Frances Dickinson is aspiring to make accessibility a mainstream concept within Aotearoa’s Music community, through the release of a brand new Accessibility Framework.

In 2021 Establish Music launched the Access All Areas project to explore participation barriers that exist within the music industry for disabled music practitioners. Now, Access All Areas is delivering a ‘first of its kind’ music-focused Accessibility Framework, with the aim to increase music opportunities for disabled people.

Dickinson is a leading music coach and has worked with some of New Zealand's biggest musical artists including Grammy award winner Lorde and Six60. She also happens to be Autistic, but prefers to use the term ‘neurodiverse’ to describe her way of relating to the world. “The inspiration for the Access All Areas programme came from my own experiences” she explains. “I’ve had to overcome the challenges of being a neurodiverse music practitioner within a competitive industry, and it’s not always been easy.”

The Accessibility Framework is being delivered online in a series of multi accessible formats, and draws ideas from Aotoearoa’s leading disability strategies and from the experiences of the disabled music practitioners who took part in the Access All Areas coaching programme. Dickinson hopes the framework will help to “elevate the voices of those who need to be heard” through a series of approaches and principles that focus on improving access to future opportunities, environments and career pathways for all disabled people.

In November 2022 the Access All Areas project is delivering a series of free workshops and leadership seminars throughout Aotearoa to present the ideas in the Accessibility Framework and receive feedback from the wider community. “We are very proud of the work we’ve done, but it really is only the beginning,” Dickinson says. “Moving forward, we want to gain feedback and ideas from the music and disability communities on how we can move the ideas in the framework forward, and the workshops will provide a forum to do this”.

The Access All Areas project has been funded by the New Zealand Music Commission through the Capability Grant Scheme. More information regarding the workshop dates can be found through the details below.

Press Contact:

Frances Dickinson

Email: frances@establishmusic.com

Phone: 021 08322083

www.establishmusic.com

About Establish Music:

Establish Music was founded by Frances Dickinson in 2014 to bridge the quality gap between every day music lessons and record label development services. Since they started, they have helped hundreds of musicians around the world to create professional pathways to their own unique version of success.

THE MUSIC ACCESSIBILITY WORKSHOP SERIES

This year Establish Music has been looking for ways to promote accessibility in the music industry for disabled music practitioners. They are excited to let you know that they have just launched the final stage the Access All Areas project to share their work with you all.

The Music Accessibility Workshop Series
Cost: FREE!

The EM team will be travelling to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch (plus they'll also present an online event), to meet with you all and hear your ideas for future and positive changes that can be created together.

The workshops are designed to be fun, relaxed and interactive. There will be time to get to know everyone over refreshments and morning tea, discuss current approaches to accessibility, explore the principles created in Establish Music's information guide - ' The Accessibility Framework' - and to workshop ideas through a co-design session.

Tickets are available through their website and are open to everyone (including disabled and non-disabled individuals, musicians and non-musicians), who are interested to learn more about accessibility pathways.

Book Tickets

We want to acknowledge celebrations, everyday achievements, exciting milestones and tributes for people with Down syndrome in New Zealand. Please send us a photo and details such as name and age (if appropriate). We would always welcome you including a short story/paragraph. Please email hello@nzdsa.org.nz We’d love to share these stories via our NZDSA e-news and on our Facebook page.

NZDSA MEMBERSHIP

Would you like to become a NZDSA Member? Becoming a member entitles you to receive the quarterly NZDSA Journal, resources and self-advocates have the opportunity to attend camps. For more information or to become a member email Rose at nzdsai@xtra.co.nz or visit our website https://nzdsa.org.nz/become-a-member/

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Disclaimer:
Through the NZDSA e-news the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (NZDSA) will attempt to report items of interest relating to Down syndrome. The NZDSA does not promote or recommend any therapy, treatment, agency, product, political position, religion or advice. The opinions expressed in items featured in our NZDSA e-news are not necessarily those of the NZDSA.