Strong Voices

In December 2025, IHC signed a landmark agreement at Parliament that marks a huge step forward for disabled students and their whānau. This would not have been achieved without the remarkable dedication and resilience of IHC’s members, supporters, staff and Board.

It was an action-packed 24 hours for a group of families with children with intellectual disability at Whenua Iti Outdoor Education Centre in the Tasman District.

Sasanka Mendis works as a library assistant in Auckland and lives with learning and intellectual challenges, autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. He says his favourite part of the job is being surrounded by books and people and encouraging kids’ love of reading. Some days are challenging, but “as long as I’ve got a purpose and I’m working towards something, I’ll get there”, he says.

Teacher and author Keri Opai recently met with the Chief Executive’s Advisory Group to discuss whaikaha ā-hinengaro – a new Māori term for intellectual disability.

My Voice is where we get to know some of the people in our community. Mark Campbell has recently taken over as IHC Board Chair.

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For the past 30 years, Parent to Parent Sib Camps supported by IHC have offered unique camps all over New Zealand for children. The camps bring together children from eight to sixteen who all share the experience of having a sibling with additional needs.

Ray set out to ‘follow the sun’, hoping for a smooth scenic adventure… but the journey turned into something far more extraordinary.

The Chief Executive’s Advisory Group came together early in 2025. It’s chaired by National Self Advocacy Advisor David Corner. He has compiled this report for us.

There aren’t too many corners of New Zealand that IHC’s Chief Executive Andrew Crisp hasn’t found himself in over the past nine months.

Every year the IHC Calf & Rural Scheme photo competition brings out the creativity of our rural supporters, and 2025 is no exception.