Accessible Properties New Zealand Ltd receives $8.81 million in grant
Andrew Wilson, General Manager of Accessible Properties New Zealand Limited (APNZ) is delighted to have been successful in securing two grants from the recently formed Social Housing Fund (SHF), which is administered by government’s new Social Housing Unit (SHU).
The SHU’s key objectives is to increase the number of homes for people in need and develop a bigger, more diverse and responsive housing sector, more on this can be found in SHU’s May Newsletter.
For the record, 94 applications were received for a grant totaling $25.3million, and Accessible Properties were one of only 13 successful non-government housing providers to receive a grant, gaining two grants totaling $8.81m.
The first grant was from the Niche Fund ($560,000) and is a $1.3m project to deliver two six bedroom units, or paired housing in a development in Wigram Skies, in Christchurch for rental to a support service provider.
The second grant was from the Growth Fund ($8.25m) with a combined value of the total projects being $20.62m. The projects are throughout New Zealand including 35 in Auckland, 10 in Hamilton, seven in Wellington, four in Christchurch and five in Tauranga. The properties will be two and three bedroom units for affordable rent for individuals, designed to be accessible for people with disabilities and meeting the Life Mark Standards.
Andrew and his team are now busy gearing up to deliver these projects over the next 18 months. The development of the housing projects will be updated on the Accessible Properties website, for more information and progress please check www.accessibleproperties.co.nz
END
IHC calls for entries for showcase Art Awards
Media release:
Experts from the worlds of fashion, photography and abstract art, will choose the winners in this year’s IHC Art Awards – a showcase for the talents of disabled artists.
High-profile fashion designer Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, from WORLD is returning as judge for the third time, this year teamed up with Dunedin artist Kim Pieters and Wellington photographer/designer Neil Pardington. They will judge entries that traditionally cover everything from sculpture and fibre art, to painting and drawing.
Denise says she finds the artists inspirational. “It shows us that even with a disability, art transcends all boundaries as a means to express oneself in so many different forms, be it painting, drawing or sculptures.”
Next stop New York for ‘Take a Moment’ show
Media release:
A group of Kiwis are about to tell New York audiences what it is like to live with an intellectual disability.
The IHC film, Take a Moment With Us will feature at the 2012 Sprout Film Festival from April 27–29 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s New Uris Education Center.
“We are honored to include it in our line-up,” says Sprout’s executive director Anthony Di Salvo, who saw the promotional video online and got in touch.
Sprout is a New-York based organisation offering programmes for people in the United States with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It presents annual international film festivals featuring people with disabilities as subjects and performers.
“Sprout and IHC have a lot in common,” says Take A Moment With Us project coordinator Pip O’Connell. “Like them, we want to accurately portray people with intellectual disabilities in the media and in communities, to break down stereotypes, and encourage people to accept their differences.”
Surf’s up in the Wairarapa
Surfing proved to be a real hit with ten stoked Wairarapa service users earlier this year.
A perfect day in February with glorious sunshine and beautiful waves greeted the group at Riversdale beach on the Wairarapa coast.
Education complaint getting news coverage
IHC is seeking a declaration of discrimination in its legal case against the Government. IHC says that intellectually and physically disabled pupils are being treated unlawfully. This issue is gaining momentum and features in the news this week.
Read the Dominion Post article: ‘Court fight looms over rights of disabled’ http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6558050/Court-fight-looms-over-rights-of-disabled
Listen to the interview on National Radio with IHC’s Director of Advocacy Trish Grant: ‘Are state schools discriminating against disabled pupils?’ http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon
IHC Submission on the Inquiry into the Determinants of wellbeing for Maori Children
The IHC Advocacy team has made a submission to the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into the Determinants of Wellbeing for Maori Children.
IHC has told the committee that the community of almost 3000 Maori children and young people with an intellectual disability can be even more vulnerable than non-Maori disabled children, because of the disadvantages experienced by the Maori population in general.
Parents and whanau of Maori children must be connected to support, services, information and, at times of transition, into early childhood, schools and adult support services and employment, when children and young people are especially vulnerable. Parents and whanau have told IHC that they want to receive early, sustained, flexible and culturally appropriate services that are integrated across all government agencies.
Oamaru families invited to first Heartland seminar
Oamaru families are the first in New Zealand to be invited to a seminar run by IHC to highlight the rights of children and young people with disabilities.
IHC’s Heartland seminars provide free information and resources for families with a child with a disability.
The Big Event Health and Disability Expo
IHC is one of more than one hundred exhibitors who will be at the health and disability expo The Big Event in three weeks time on the 9 and 10 March at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland.
The event is an opportunity for visitors to explore the latest health and disability products, services, technology and resources. There is free entry and free parking at the ASB Showgrounds.
There will be a huge variety of stalls including information about assistive and adaptive devices, medical equipment, computer software, mobility products, adaptive learning tools, disability law resources, recreation and travel, adapted bikes and exercise equipment, personal care products, communication devices, products for the visually and/or hearing impaired, local agencies and support groups, product demonstrations, entertainers, raffles and giveaways.
This will be an incredible educational experience, and an opportunity for networking and fun. There will be a youth focus and the Halberg Trust has got on board and will be demonstrating great recreational activities in the hall next door.
Even more exciting is that two great bands (including one from Australia) will be playing at a disco on the Saturday afternoon. Take the opportunity to bring along your friends for this great social opportunity.
Trish and Anne from the IHC advocacy team will be there to answer your questions and share information, along with a stand from IDEA Services.
Green Paper: IHC says disabled children the most vulnerable
IHC says that many disabled children are more vulnerable to sexual abuse, neglect, violence, and poverty than other children, in its submission on the Green Paper for Vulnerable Children.
“The key points in IHC’s submission are that many disabled children are vulnerable merely by virtue of their disability. They can experience threats to their survival and wellbeing and experience a lack of valuing and belonging,” says IHC Director of Advocacy Trish Grant.
IHC horrified at treatment of Mojo Mathers
IHC is horrified that Speaker Hon Lockwood Smith has told Mojo Mathers she must pay for her own electronic notetaking services.
