Megan and her two children were living in a tent in a friend’s front garden when she found IHC’s support.
She was a single mum, raising her 9-year-old daughter Amani and 18-month-old Makai – who was born with Down syndrome and later diagnosed with leukaemia.
The family had to leave their home in Northland so Makai could have lifesaving treatment. When they returned, Megan struggled to find housing.
Thankfully, IHC’s Family-Whānau Liaison Service connected with Megan – and helped her access the financial and practical support she needed to get her family settled again.
She also found understanding, friendship and advice through the local mothers’ group that IHC set up. Megan said:
“When Makai was born, there was no celebrating my beautiful boy who was otherwise healthy. Through the group, I’ve found the support of other mums who understand what that feels like.”
Today, with the help of IHC and kind New Zealanders like you, Makai is thriving and so is his family.
Megan is training to teach Makaton – a simple sign language for children with disabilities. She said it’s also opened up the way little Makai can communicate his feelings at home:
“I hope Makai can do whatever he desires in life. I want him to be a part of his community and have a great network of people around him that support him and embrace him for who he is.
Through a gift in your Will, you can help make sure children like Makai and their families have the support they need, for as long as they need it. No matter what.
If you believe that everyone deserves to live a full and meaningful life, the freedom to experience things that make them happy, and the security of knowing they will not be left out or treated unjustly, please consider including a gift to IHC in your Will.
Your gift will support New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities long into the future.
You will support their families so they, in turn, can give their whānau with a disability the best possible opportunities – and know they will always be cared for.
You will make sure IHC, which has played an important role in disability rights and services in our country, can keep innovating, advocating, and challenging outdated views.
Your gift can make sure that as the world changes, people continue to feel part of it and create lives filled with friendship, adventure, chances to learn, careers, service to the community, and independence – if that’s what they choose.
It’s hard to imagine that not so long ago, people with intellectual disabilities were kept apart from the rest of their community. But today, thanks to the support of New Zealanders like you and the work of IHC, they are welcome in their communities. They have choices and are listened to. They are included.
But there’s still so much more we need to do.
If you have enjoyed opportunity and meaning in your own life and would like to give back, including a gift to IHC in your Will is a wonderful way to do it.
Read on to find out how easy it is to bring meaning, purpose, and joy to people’s lives.
“I was 13 when my youngest brother, Tan was born with Down syndrome and severe disabilities.”
“Back then, children like Tan faced a lot of stigma, and had no services or support.”
“I was 13 when my youngest brother, Tan was born with Down syndrome and severe disabilities.”
“Back then, children like Tan faced a lot of stigma, and had no services or support. My family took Tan everywhere with us, which inspired other parents of children with intellectual disabilities to ‘come out of the woodwork’. They later formed a local branch of IHC.
When my siblings and I left home, mum couldn’t cope on her own. The only option for Tan was to stay at an institution run by the state where his progress sadly went backward. Tan died there of pneumonia at the age of 30.
I’m leaving a gift in my Will to IHC because of the support they provide to people like my brother Tan and their families is so important, and I want that to continue into the future.”
“What inspires me is helping to make sure that everyone, no matter their barriers, gets the best chance to live their best life.”
“I have been a proud supporter of IHC for over 10 years.”
Now I’ve gifted money in my Will to IHC so their amazing work for people with intellectual disabilities and their whānau can continue.
What inspires me is helping to make sure that everyone, no matter their barriers, gets the best chance to live their best life.
It was very easy to make IHC one of the beneficiaries in my Will, and I encourage others to do the same.”
“I know it’s hard on parents caring for a child with an intellectual disability, and I want to make sure they can always turn to IHC in the future."
“IHC has been around for 75 years, almost as long as I have.”
“I know it’s hard on parents caring for a child with an intellectual disability, and I want to make sure they can always turn to IHC in the future."
"That’s why I’m leaving a gift in my Will to IHC. These gifts add up and will make a big difference for families of children with intellectual disabilities in the years ahead.”
The needs of New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities are varied. And, as a person’s life goes through different stages, so too will their needs.
Your gift to IHC will be used to provide the care and support these New Zealanders deserve in the future. You’ll ensure they are respected and included, where their rights are defended, and their value recognised.
“The work they do for New Zealanders with an intellectual disability is so comprehensive and necessary but may otherwise be overlooked. ”
"The decision to include IHC in my Will was very easy.
They are a charity that fits with my values. And the work they do for New Zealanders with an intellectual disability is so comprehensive and necessary but may otherwise be overlooked.
IHC is an enduring organisation with good management, so I know I can trust them to meet a vital need in our community in the decades to come."
If Sarah had been born 40 years ago, her parents would have been told to put her in an institution.
If Sarah had been born 40 years ago, her parents would have been told to put her in an institution. She would have been separated from her family and cut off from her community.
The long-term vision and generosity of people like you helped change that – and transformed services for people with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand forever.
Today, that means Sarah is independent, has a job she loves, and enjoys life surrounded by her friends and family.
Watch a short video of Sarah here:
Sarah is living proof of just how far we’ve come in the last 40 years, but there’s still so much more to do. With your help and a gift in your Will, we can keep changing the world for people with intellectual disabilities long into the future.
If you intend to include IHC in your Will, or you are a solicitor acting for someone who’d like to do so, we recommend the following wording:
‘I give, IHC New Zealand Incorporated for its general purposes,’ either:
Not at all. We strongly recommend that you use the services of a solicitor to make your arrangements so that your Will accurately reflects what your wishes are. A solicitor will usually want to meet you or have a discussion over the phone before drafting up a Will. You’ll have a chance to review and amend drafts until you are completely happy, and a final version is created.
And if you’d like any help with the wording or have questions about how to update your Will, we’re happy to help.
Absolutely. If you already have a Will, you simply need to get in touch with your solicitor and include an extra sentence about your gift.
Yes, you can. As a very family-focussed organisation, IHC suggests you put your family and loved ones first. There are a number of ways you can also support IHC – and one of the most effective is to leave a ‘residual bequest.’
The ‘residuary’ is the remainder of your estate (or a percentage of it) after your family has been taken care of and all expenses have been deducted.
You can certainly do this. We’ve had supporters who’ve left real estate, jewellery, shares, and art – all items that tend to retain their value over time.
Every gift will make a difference, and the amount you choose to leave is completely up to you. If you’d rather not commit to a dollar amount, you can simply leave a percentage of your estate.
Do you have questions? Would you like a confidential, no-obligation conversation or a free brochure?
We’re happy to help. Please get in touch with Lisa Marshall by email lisa@ihc.org.nz or phone 0800 746 444.
A gift in your Will will bring meaning, purpose and joy to the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
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Level 15, 57 Willis Street
Wellington
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