Embargoed until 9.45am Wednesday 30 July 2008

VIDEO CONFERENCING NETWORK CONNECTING FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES AND HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS, MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER – PHASE 2 LAUNCHED
Parent to Parent New Zealand, a national disability support network, is pleased to announce the completion of its Video Conferencing (VC) network. Parent to Parent is a 25 year old not-for-profit organisation which provides families with support, information and tools to enable them to manage the many challenges associated with parenting a child with a disability, special need or health impairment.

The first stage of the VC network was launched in August 2007. The installation of the final seven units over recent months means that the technology is now available nation-wide at Parent to Parent offices in:

• Whangarei
• Auckland
• National Office (Hamilton)
• Hamilton (Waikato Regional Group)
• Tauranga
• Rotorua
• Manawatu
• Wellington
• Nelson
• Christchurch
• Dunedin
• Invercargill

Partnering with the Starship Foundation and the NZ TelePaediatric Service, the new VC technology has enabled Parent to Parent to help mitigate the isolation many families feel when a child has been diagnosed with a disability or health impairment. It has also provided improved access to a variety of key services for families.

The VC network has already provided a number of new benefits for families requiring support. This includes having access to Parent to Parent workshops and specialist speakers, conferences, and being able to communicate face to face with Support Parents.

Video Conferencing is an important tool in the empowerment process facilitated by Parent to Parent for families. Video Conferencing technology enables families to access specialist advice from professionals located in larger centres. It also gives parents a chance to connect with overseas experts on their child’s condition.

The project has received operational funding through the Government’s Community Partnership Plan, as well as a generous financial contribution from private donor, Helen Henderson. During the second stage of the project, the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust has also come on board to provide funds for a VC unit in Dunedin.

Guest speakers at the latest launch will include Dr Jan Scown, Director for the Office for Disability Issues, Starship Foundation Chief Executive Andrew Young, Simon Hayden, CEO of New Zealand TelePaediatrics Service, and Helen Henderson.

Julie Van Dam a Parent to Parent, volunteer Support Parent will talk about her own personal experience using the VC and Olympian and Atlantic Rowing race champion Rob Hamill will MC the event from the new VC site in Dinsdale, Hamilton.

Parents and community organisations are invited to use the equipment to enhance their own communications and enquiries regarding use can be made to email: national@parent2parent.org.nz or by phoning 0508 236 236.

More information:
Lynda Peploe
Marketing & Fundraising Officer
Parent to Parent New Zealand
Ph 07 853 8491

“As Turners Syndrome is a relatively rare condition, it can be hard to make contact with others in a similar situation. Video conferencing has opened up communication opportunities for us with other people with this condition” says Julie, who has video conferenced with families in Auckland and Christchurch. “It’s great to be able to talk with, support, and help others in similar circumstances, face to face, and Denise has benefited from meeting other girls as well!”

For further information including contacting the above family please contact

Contact: Lynda Peploe ph 07 853 8491 or email: lynda@parent2parent.org.nz

Every year the organisation helps thousands of families whose children have special needs by:

• Providing information, advice, and support to families
• Linking families locally, nationally and internationally with other families of children affected by the same condition, enabling a mutual support network to be established
• Training Support Parents in the skills necessary to support other parents
• Linking families with trained Support Parents who provide experienced and practical support and information
• Connecting families, professionals and community through video conferencing
• Providing parents with information regarding local, national and international support groups for their child’s disability or condition
• Recognising the unique and specific needs of families so that regular support is provided to avoid crises developing
• Responding to requests for information and advice about issues affecting families of children with special needs
• Providing specific support to young people who have brothers and sisters with special needs
• Providing information to the health, social care, and education professions which support children with special needs
• Offering an advice and information service for Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Providing a national lending library and journal service accessible to families

We operate through a network of regional groups and trained volunteer Support Parents to provide information and emotional support to parents. There are 10 regional groups throughout the country. Each group is affiliated to the National body and provides its own matching, support and information service.

In areas where a Parent to Parent group is not active, the National office which is based in Hamilton, will provide all necessary services, including running a toll-free line, arranging Support Parent matches and providing information on any of the 3,600 different conditions covered by the organisation. National office also administers the Parent to Parent New Zealand web page www.parent2parent.org.nz

Parents Centres Chief Executive Officer Viv Gurrey said today that parents were fed up with waiting for the Government to take action to support dyslexic children.

“2007 saw an amazing milestone reached as Steve Maharey, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, officially recognised Dyslexia. Understanding has been raised, empathy is extended and most importantly we celebrate the amazing gift that those who think with a Dyslexic mind offer communities, families, friends and overall of course society,” she said.

However, as parents celebrate they have also waited. And Education Minister Chris Carter’s failure to come through with a funding announcement at the official launch of Dyslexia Awareness Week in Wellington last night was a huge disappointment. Parents are left still waiting.

“Tens of thousands of parents have waited for a promised investment by this Government in the professional development of our teachers and resources for our schools to enable those in the classroom to work with dyslexic children in a way that enables them to learn effectively and to utilise their amazing gift.

“Dyslexia Awareness week offered an amazing opportunity for Minister Carter to continue the work of Steve Maharey in this area of education. It is not to be overlooked that the skills and resources needed to effectively deliver education services to dyslexic children intrinsically benefit all others. The resources and competencies are not exclusive,” she says.

Now the waiting game continues. “While the Minister of Education waits, 70,000 families wait with him, continuing to struggle often with pain and heartache caused by dyslexia. While the Ministry of Education waits, between 10 and 35% of kids in our class room slip through the net of opportunity for learning. And schools all around the country continue to strive in vain to educate gifted children in a system that simply doesn’t work,” Viv Gurrey says.

“On top of this, in excess of 50% of prisoners in our jails languish with unaddressed learning difficulties.
In the interests of parents and families across New Zealand we can’t let this continue.”

“The time for lethargy and lip service to this country’s children and their ambition for the future has passed. We need to invest funding now to stop this travesty from continuing. Parents Centres calls on this government, as with successive governments before them to stop waiting and to act now.

For further information contact:
Viv Gurrey
v.gurrey@parentscentre.org.nz
04 233 2022 extension 800
021 277 9029
04 237 9829 a/h

About Parents Centres – www.parentscentre.org.nz

Parents Centres has 52 Centres across the country and provides one of the largest parenting networks and associated infrastructure to support parents and their children aged 0-6. The primary objective of the organisation has two streams: Community Support and Community Education. Parents Centres is the primary provider of Antenatal Education and childbirth support in New Zealand.

ALTOGETHER AUTISM and AUTISM NZ Sign Memorandum of Understanding Friday 22nd March 2008, was a milestone for two organisations working in the disability sector facing similar challenges. Altogether Autism, (a partnership between Parent to Parent New Zealand and LIFE Unlimited), and Autism NZ, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement a protocol for providing a complementary working relationship throughout New Zealand. The organisations agree that with a scarce resource, working in a collaborative manner will be mutually beneficial and add value to the services each organisation provides for people with autism their families and whanau and interested others.

The Memorandum of Understanding states that the organisations agree to work collaboratively - share information, issues or information which affect people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Altogether Autism, will work with Autism NZ branches to ensure that double up of service does not occur and the two organisations will refer people to each other as appropriate.

Both Altogether Autism and Autism NZ see the benefit of future collaboration in professional development and services. This MoU is about the people we serve.

Photo from left to right. Wendy Duff Chairperson Autism NZ, Richard Belton CEO Autism NZ, Anne Wilkinson
CEO Parent to Parent and Adri Isbister CEO LIFE Unlimited.

PINOT NOIR CHARITY AUCTION
Benefits Otago children through Video Conferencing

Central Otago Winegrowers held their Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration on the 26th of January, and a highly successful auction, with futures sold for the 2008 Celebration Cuvee, raised $25,000. The proceeds were given to Starship Foundation.

The Starship Foundation has partnered with NZ TelePaediatric Service and Parent to Parent, in bringing a video conferencing network to families with children with disabilities, health impairments or special needs. The donation will be used for the acquisition of Parent to Parent's video conferencing unit in Dunedin, Otago. This will enable Otago families, professionals and community groups, to link with exisiting Parent to Parent national video conferencing network that was launched in Auckland of last year.

The auction was conducted on behalf of the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust. The celebration included a series of tastings and workshops by well known winemakers and pinot noir experts with delegates attending from all around the world. The event concluded with the auction which drew a fantastic repsonse from both New Zealand and overseas bidders.

Parent to Parent wishes to express its extreme gratitude to the Starship Foundation and the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust for their generosity.

PARENT TO PARENT NEW ZEALAND INC
Parents supporting Parents – volunteers supporting communities

Awareness Week 1-7 December 2007

Comments like “Your organisation saved my family and my sanity”, “The assistance you provided to me has given me hope for the first time in ages”, and “What a great service for parents…just what we were looking for”, are commonly heard at Parent to Parent offices throughout New Zealand. They act as a very welcome endorsement of the value of the services provided by this 24 year-old national, not-for-profit organisation.

December 1st – 7th marks the inaugural awareness week for Parent to Parent, which provides information and support to the parents and families of people with disabilities, special needs and health impairments.

The organisation was established in 1983 by a group of families and medical professionals who recognised the enormous value gained from parents supporting other parents when raising a child with a disability or special needs.

When parents learn that their child has a disability or impairment they often experience shock, disbelief and grief. Their lives can change dramatically in a very short space of time and the future may seem extremely bleak.

Parents who have a child with a disability must not only cope with the typical demands of family life but also with a host of disability related issues that accompany their transition from a world without disabilities to a world with disabilities.

Obtaining information about the child’s condition becomes essential and very time-consuming. Often, however, the most important expert advice is found by talking to people who have been through a similar situation…other parents. The aim of Parent to Parent’s matching service is to put parents in touch with other families who have experienced something similar.

Children with disabilities often need many different services to support their growth to their fullest potential, and their parents are their most important advocates. However, many parents lack information about available resources as well as the assertiveness skills needed to advocate for their child.

Through contact with other parents who have children with special needs, parents gain relevant information and skills and the motivation to handle their role of parent and advocate for their child.

Since its establishment, Parent to Parent New Zealand has grown from one small office based in Auckland to a national organisation, with 11 regional offices throughout the North and South Islands, and a national office based in Hamilton.

The organisation has developed a number of other services in response to the needs of families. These include family camps, sibling workshops and camps for the brothers and sisters of children who have a disability, a family/whanau carer support programme, a web site, Individual education Plan seminars and advocacy training.

During its awareness week, Parent to Parent will also celebrate International Day for Volunteers, on Wednesday 5th December. The organisation is assisted by more than 550 trained, voluntary Support Parents, who make themselves available to families in need, and who are the back bone of the organisation’s matching service.

Support Parents undertake a free 18-hour Parent to Parent training programme which helps enhance the skills required to support a parent who has just learned that his or her child has a disability. They then make themselves available by telephone to listen to newly-diagnosed families and to offer encouragement, moral support and, if asked, advice borne from personal experience.

Parent to Parent’s Chief Executive Officer Anne Wilkinson is the first to acknowledge the importance of the contribution volunteers make to the organisation. “Quite simply, we would not be able to provide a matching service to families if we didn’t have other parents who were prepared to give so freely of their time to support others,” she says.

“Parents who have children with special needs are often very busy people. They have extra demands placed on their time because of the challenges their children face, and must still do all the ordinary things like work, manage a household and care for other children.

“The fact that these parents continue to put their hands up time and time again to help other families is a reflection of both their own personal integrity and the value they place on having had an opportunity themselves to talk to someone who has ‘walked in their shoes’. They know that sharing the knowledge experience of raising a child with a disability with another parent is beneficial, and they want to help others as they themselves have been helped,” Anne Wilkinson says. “We continue to be extremely grateful to our Support Parents for their commitment to Parent to Parent, and their willingness to help others by listening and sharing their knowledge with the families we support.”

If you would like to use our free services or know someone else who might, please contact Parent to Parent National Office, telephone toll free 0508 236 236, or view our web-site www.parent2parent.org.nz

VIDEO CONFERENCING NETWORK BRINGS FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES AND HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS, MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

Parent to Parent New Zealand, a national disability support network, launched its new Video Conferencing network last night.

Partnering with the Starship Foundation and the NZ TelePaediatric Service, the new technology means that Parent to Parent can help mitigate the isolation many families feel when a child has been diagnosed with a disability or health impairment, as well as providing improved access to services.

Parent to Parent’s CEO Anne Wilkinson says, “There are many benefits for families including having access to Parent to Parent workshops and conferences, and being able to communicate face to face with Support Parents.”

“Parent to Parent provides families with support, information and tools to enable them to manage the many challenges associated with parenting a child with a disability. Video Conferencing is an important tool in this empowerment process.”

The Video Conferencing equipment is now available in five of its regional offices - Auckland, Hamilton (National Office), Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill.

The project has been funded by a private donor, together with operational funding for the first stage through the Government’s Digital Strategy initiative. It is hoped that, with the receipt of further funding from the Government, all 11 Parent to Parent offices will be linked by the end of 2008.

“In the future we see the Video Conferencing technology enabling families to access specialist advice from professionals located in larger centres, as well as the chance for parents to connect with overseas experts on their child’s condition.”

“The technology has already proved useful in trials. “We have been using the video conferencing network internally for some months now and benefits are already being seen through improved communications, enhanced working relationships, and supervision, through regular staff meetings, training and workshops. This is an exciting time for our organisation and the families it supports, as improving communications will go a long way to building more inclusive communities,” Anne Wilkinson says.

The Starship Foundation, a key funder of the network, is thrilled with the progress to date. “It’s important our funds support children with complex health needs, their families and the medical professionals who provide the critical care. A major platform to achieving this is ensuring children and families from around the country get access to support when they need it. As a major funder of the network, the Starship Foundation is encouraged by the enthusiasm demonstrated by the network users and their vision for continued and increasing usage,” says Andrew Young, Starship Foundation Chief Executive.

Simon Hayden Chief Executive Officer New Zealand TelePaediatrics service says, “The New Zealand TelePaediatric Service is proud to be part of a project that assists a committed group of people, through the use of enhanced visual connectivity to families with children who have special needs. We believe the fusion of technology and people in a supported environment enhances community involvement for better health outcomes. The New Zealand TelePaediatric Service staff thoroughly enjoys working with the great team at Parent to Parent and look forward to supporting their network of regional groups and trained volunteer Support Parents throughout New Zealand on the TelePaeds national network.”

The Minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson says “Parent to Parent works to empower parents, caregivers and family/whanau of disabled children through support, advice and information. Video conferencing is a great use of technology and a new service Parent to Parent is offering which is an important communication tool for families with disabilities.”

Parents and community organisations are invited to use the equipment to enhance their own communications and enquiries regarding use can be made to; email: national@parent2parent.org.nz or by phoning 0508 236 236.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH – 17 AUGUST

The Official launch of the Parent to Parent Video Conferencing network will take place on Friday 17 August at 14 Erson Ave, Royal Oak between 2.15 and 3.20pm, and simultaneously via video link at Parent to Parent offices in Hamilton - at 25 Claudelands Rd, Claudelands; Wellington - at 8 Gough St, Seaview; Christchurch - at 3rd Floor,141 Hereford St; and Invercargill - at 46 Kelvin St. These offices will also host their own regional launch with invited guests.

Two Families attending the launch to talk about their own experience are:

Gretchen, Lee and Joshua Dainty – Requesting family attending in Auckland. Joshua Dainty is 15 and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He lives in Parakai, 50km North West of Auckland with his little sister Emily and Mum and Dad Gretchen and Lee.

His condition means he gets around in an electric wheelchair and has all sorts of equipment and assistance to get on with his life. Muscular Dystrophy is degenerative, so as time goes by he needs more and more support. Recently he had a spine operation and since that time it has been quite stressful for the family as they adjust to his more fragile condition.

“We contacted Parent to Parent about two months ago because we felt it would be beneficial to talk to a family in the same situation as us. We had a Video Conferencing meeting with our contact family last week and it was fantastic. It is comforting to know we are not the only ones going through this and that Josh has got a buddy he can chat with who understands what it is like living with Muscular Dystrophy. It can feel very isolating living in a family affected by disability and any contact like this with the ‘outside world’ is wonderful” says Gretchen.

The Dainty family Video Conferenced with The Pulman Family from Te Kuiti.

Nanette, Lee and Mike Pulman – Trained volunteer Support Parents attending in Hamilton. Mike’s condition is Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and he lives life in a power chair. He is 15 years of age.

“We initially contacted Parent to Parent around 10 years ago, for information and support which has been invaluable. Over the years we have very much appreciated sibling camps and family camps, interacting with other parents and children, sharing problems and ideas, participating in fun activities and games for all.

Our family recently had the very enjoyable experience of video conferencing with a family from Auckland using the Parent to Parent facility in Hamilton. We spent 2 hours discussing a variety of issues and learnt valuable ways of dealing with these. Talking and having visual contact as well, was very beneficial to us, much more personal than on the phone or using email. Things in common included; Ongoing Renewable Resource Scheme funding and how hours are used in the schools, orthopaedic surgery, bullying, needs of teenagers, accessing and gaining help from the various support agencies (Ministry of health and voluntary organisations) and generally what works for us and the numerous frustrations we face in day to day life. It was enjoyable, very beneficial, and informative. Our teenage boys thought it was awesome!” Says Nanette.

For further information including contacting the above families please contact

Contact: Lynda Peploe ph 07 853 8491 or email: lynda@parent2parent.org.nz

PARENT TO PARENT NEW ZEALAND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc. is a national, not-for-profit organisation set up in 1983 by a group of parents and professionals who believed in the value of parents supporting parents when faced with the challenge of parenting a child with a disability, health impairment, or special need.

Every year the organisation helps thousands of families whose children have special needs by:

• Providing information, advice, and support to families
• Linking families locally, nationally and internationally with other families of children affected by the same condition, enabling a mutual support network to be established
• Training Support Parents in the skills necessary to support other parents
• Linking families with trained Support Parents who provide experienced and practical support and information
• Connecting families, professionals and community through video conferencing
• Providing parents with information regarding local, national and international support groups for their child’s disability or condition
• Recognising the unique and specific needs of families so that regular support is provided to avoid crises developing
• Responding to requests for information and advice about issues affecting families of children with special needs
• Providing specific support to young people who have brothers and sisters with special needs
• Providing information to the health, social care, and education professions which support children with special needs
• Offering an advice and information service for Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Providing a national lending library and journal service accessible to families

We operate through a network of regional groups and trained volunteer Support Parents to provide information and emotional support to parents. There are 10 regional groups throughout the country. Each group is affiliated to the National body and provides its own matching, support and information service.

In areas where a Parent to Parent group is not active, the National office which is based in Hamilton, will provide all necessary services, including running a toll-free line, arranging Support Parent matches and providing information on any of the 3,600 different conditions covered by the organisation. National office also administers the Parent to Parent New Zealand web page www.parent2parent.org.nz

The Parenting Council congratulates Dr Cindy Kiro, the Children’s Commissioner, on her bold and well-reasoned proposals to enhance the well-being of every child in New Zealand.

The Council has made presentations recently to Minister of Social Development, Hon. David Benson-Pope and Minister of Health, Hon. Pete Hodgson, putting forward remarkably similar proposals.

In both cases the proposals are concrete and readily able to be implemented. They go beyond rhetoric to what is both concrete and achievable.

The fact that the Parenting Council, which reflects a broad cross-section of New Zealand parents, and the Children’s Commissioner have come to similar conclusions, suggests that the time is ripe for Government to proceed along these lines, in order to address effectively the shameful record of New Zealand in relation to child well-being.

Points of similarity include:

• Inclusion of every child in New Zealand, requiring a comprehensive, national information system
• A series of comprehensive health and well-being assessments, leading to provision of support, where necessary, tailored to need
• Linkage of health and education
• A life-course perspective, with focus on a good start, fostering attachment between parents and child
• Age-appropriate support and guidance for teenagers towards healthy life-choices

The Parenting Council will lend its support to the Commissioner as she advocates for the refinement and adoption of this plan. Parenting Council Chairman, Lesley Max, says, “There’s a sense that people are realizing that we cannot continue down the path we’re on. If we want to live in a society that is safe, just and prosperous, we need to be much more focused on how children grow and develop and how the critical role of parents can be strengthened. If these proposals are adopted, we should have far fewer horrors like the murder of the Kahui twins blighting New Zealand.”

For further information, phone Lesley Max, Chairman of Parenting Council,
Ph: (09) 377 5384; 027473 4631

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