NEO notes
Celebrating Waitangi Day with our patron Her Excellency, Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy
SO WHAT DOES THE NZDSA DO FOR YOU?
National Executive Officer Zandra
The NZDSA work programme is driven by our mission to work alongside families, whānau and carers to support and empower people with Down syndrome to realise their potential and aspirations through all life stages and within all communities. The NZDSA’s mission means that the scope of our work is broad, but the guiding principle is to provide support, information and advocacy at a national level. Our members might be familiar with our 0800 number, our website, CHAT 21, E-news or our social media platform but be less aware of the work that we do at a national systemic advocacy level. National systemic advocacy work might not always be visible, it can be time-consuming and achieving outcomes can be slow, but it is extremely valuable as it is the means to influence changes in policy and processes so that all people with Down syndrome can benefit and enjoy more
equitable access to the same rights as all New Zealanders. Some of the NZDSA’s national systemic advocacy work includes attending national stakeholder meetings to ensure that people with Down syndrome and their family and whānau are represented. We collaborate with other organisations so that we can keep our members informed of current issues, collaborating to promote inclusive practices and working on submissions so that people with Down syndrome and their family and whānau are considered in decision-making. Recent examples of the NZDSA’s national systemic advocacy include: • The NZDSA collaborating with People First and the Donald Beasley Institute to prepare a submission on the Courtappointed Communication Assistance Quality Framework – consultation.
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Vaccarino is frequently asked what the NZDSA does. To provide some more clarity she will share in each 2021 edition of CHAT 21, some of the things that the NZDSA does.
