Strong Voices

Rochelle Waters and Joel Forman are part of Move, a programme run by Christchurch-based dance company Jolt.

The last time we had comprehensive information on the health of New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities was a Ministry of Health report in 2011. That is about to change. After hearing there was no plan to update the Health Indicators for New Zealanders with Intellectual Disability report, IHC has commissioned a research team to do the job.

Not everyone could handle it, knowing that people were depending on you to raise $14 million in a year. But IHC’s National Manager of Fundraising Greg Millar likes having a target. “It’s always somewhat challenging,” he says.

Young game testers have put their stamps on a new simulation game designed to make it easier for young disabled people to manage money. One thing has led to another – and resulted in some paid work for these young testers.

Four art works – all winners of the IHC Art Awards L’affare People’s Choice Award – have been chosen as the designs for new NZ Post stamps.

Alannah was being home-schooled in Hanmer Springs during the lockdown. Diksha was in India wondering when she would be able to see her mother in New Zealand.

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New IHC Director of Advocacy Tania Thomas has waited too long to see positive changes happening for people with intellectual disabilities.

Awhi Ngā Mātua is a community of parents who Emily Writes wishes she had known in those long nights when she felt alone and overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for a sick child.

Every person portrayed in this multimedia exhibition has a story to tell, but their pictures alone are worth a thousand words. More than a thousand.

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David Snelgar doesn’t say much when he’s concentrating on art. But during the 10 years he has shared Bruce Maunder’s art studio the men have come to an understanding about a few important things.