Strong Voices

IHC’s small Family-Whānau Liaison team is changing the way it works to reach and help more people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Since 2018, IHC’s Family-Whānau Liaison team has linked families – of whom many struggle to navigate the disability support system - with vital information, services, support groups and other families in their communities. This work has helped people with intellectual disabilities to participate in and contribute to their communities.

“They do a fantastic job, but they’re really stretched in an increasingly complex world,” says IHC Advocacy Director Tania Thomas. “We need to do more with less and adapt the way we work.”

Working as coaches will allow the Family-Whānau Liaison team to support more disenfranchised families throughout the country in accessing the available help.

A key part of that work will be ensuring that we have a clear picture of the current support services in communities. “We’re collaborating with organisations, government agencies, schools and groups to understand their practices and attitudes toward inclusion,” says Tania.

“Then we’ll work with them to build their capacity and inclusivity. Training, workshops and educational resources are some of the tools we can provide to help ensure people with intellectual disabilities receive the same levels of service as non-disabled people.”

Also being strengthened are connections to the user-friendly resources of the IHC Library and the Awhi Ngā Mātua online community. Awhi was established by and for parents of disabled, neurodivergent and medically fragile children during COVID-19.

Tania says the team will track the impacts of the changes by collecting and analysing data from case studies, user experiences, surveys and storytelling.

“Ultimately we are all responsible for upholding the rights of people with intellectual disability to participate in society on an equitable basis, and everyone needs to do their part.”

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Caption: IHC’s Family-Whānau Liaison team (from left) Rae Gwynn, Anna Wong, Cindy Carson, Jim Callaghan, Suzanne Downes and Donna Higgs-Herrick.