A TIME TO REFLECT, PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK, BE THANKFUL AND LOOK FORWARD

By Kim Porthouse

As the festive season descends upon us it is time to reflect on the year behind us, revel in our successes, pat ourselves on the back for meeting the challenges that have come our way and plan for the next year. COVID-19 has certainly brought us all challenges we were never expecting to face, and I spoke of some of these in my last column, so won’t be dwelling on them again. Instead I am choosing to now think of all the positives that the year brought. Although COVID impacted on all of them and increased the challenges within them, it only makes me prouder of the year’s achievements. For me personally, I reflect on my oldest son’s marriage, Brendon and I moving into a new home, the renovations of that home, travel (within NZ) to visit family and celebrate a niece’s first birthday, my foot surgery that promises to reduce pain and improve mobility, Brendon’s incredible adaptation over the past year to being a school leaver and having to build a new normal, and his general (if somewhat grumpy at times) resilience to the changes COVID-19 bought to his life. I have also become so much more thankful – of mine and my family’s health, of the friends I have, for the job I have, and of the management of COVID in our country and the freedoms we have. My wish is that all of you are able to take a moment and identify the blessings and the positives that have come your way this year and take those gifts to look forward to Christmas and the new year ahead. The positive work of the NZDSA Despite COVID-19 curbing both local and national events, the NZDSA has also had reasons to celebrate 2020. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes over recent years to bring the NZDSA into the 21st century by building database and website capabilities that will better serve the online needs of our families/whānau as well as the carers and professionals who support our community. The culmination was the launch of our new website on World Down Syndrome Day which has opened up so much more information and resources to those who need them.

A good variety of resources have been updated and uploaded to the resources section of the website, including the very recently updated ‘Living with Down syndrome’ booklet, and there is a huge variety of interesting and informative articles accessible via the support and information section. I’d like to remind you that if you haven’t already logged on via the email that was sent to you as a current member, then I strongly urge you to do so. I’m sure you’ll enjoy perusing the website. In the future it is via the website that you will renew and update your membership. If you haven’t seen an email we may not have your correct email address, so please contact Linda via 0800 693724. Over 2020 we have also been building an improved social media presence which has enabled us to provide and share more information to the wider Down syndrome community. Like others, we have also embraced the Zoom platform for connecting with families, each other, and other organisations not only to conduct meetings but also to host webinars and provide education and support. In another project this year we collaborated with Plunket to create an educational resource for their nurses which should see better service provision and help provided to the newest families in our community. As always and in line with our vision that all people with Down syndrome are equal and valued members of their community, fulfilling their goals, the NZDSA has continued to advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with Down syndrome at a national level. So all in all many good things have come out of 2020 to be thankful for, and we will continue to build on these positives in the year ahead. I wish you all a blessed festive season, relaxing holidays and prosperity in the new year.