STRIVE screen shot with self-advocates
BUSY YEAR FOR STRIVE TEAM The STRIVE advocacy and leadership team had another busy year and even the lockdown could not stop their work. STRIVE is a team of people with Down syndrome who are a member advisory and leadership group who advise and support the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association board, and are ambassadors and advocates for people with Down syndrome. Judging by the STRIVE report to the AGM recently, the STRIVE team has developed its skills and influence significantly during 2019-2020. The team regularly meets for Funshops, which are workshops with different topics, where guest
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speakers share their expertise with the young ambassadors. The past year, the meetings covered Research, Advocacy, Writing Reports, Tips for Public Speaking and developing a Succession Plan. This final subject is particularly important as some of the STRIVE team members have been in their role for several years, and may want a change, while it is also important to get new people involved with fresh energy and ideas. Once COVID-19 started affecting our day-to-day lives and New Zealand went into lockdown, the STRIVE team started using Zoom meetings. The group got together on eight occasions between April and June to share their COVID-19 experiences and continue their other work. Aside from sharing ideas with each other, the group has been very active in the wider community on behalf of the NZDSA. Andrew Oswin attended the Disability Consumer Consortium in Wellington, Edward Borkin presented to Auckland Timber Industry as well as the Auckland Success in Schools workshops,
