President's pens

I hope this winter issue finds you well, warm and free of winter colds and flu. In the last issue, I mentioned that my family were about to start transitioning out of school using the new transformation system of Mana Whaikaha and the Enabling Good Lives principles. We have had several meetings with Brendon’s lead school teacher, our MOE Learning Support Advisor and the Mana Whaikaha Connector. Brendon was present at the first meeting. I can see the huge potential this new approach has and believe as the system develops and is refined we will have a far superior system than has existed in the past. The reason for this optimism is due to how much the system aims to see Brendon as the individual he is and puts the vision for his life to be full and rewarding right at centre stage. The Connector has also verbalised his recognition that we, his family deserve the support to make a good life for our family member whilst maintaining our own good lives. So far, we have put together a ‘path-plan’ with a vision for what Brendon’s dream job and activities look like and have come up with some ideas toward making this vision a reality. We are still working on what his long term living situation will look like, but have started drafting his ‘Enabling A Good Life Plan’.

The process has taken longer than expected which means that halfway through the final school year there is no allocated funding towards the transition process. The lack of funding for teacher aide support means that opportunities to put transition ideas and plans into action are currently limited. I thought the Connector would make the connections to enable Brendon’s ‘Good Life Plan’, but at this stage, the Connectors are still developing their networks, which is limiting our experience. The timing of the new system coming into effect has delayed our transition plans so my advice for those facing transition next year is to start the plan before the end of the year. On a positive note, Brendon is now starting a couple of hours work experience in a café (which would be one of his dream jobs). He has also secured paid employment cleaning two afternoons a week at our local college (not the one he attends as a student) and as vacuuming and sweeping are two of Brendon’s favourite activities it’s an excellent fit for him. Hopefully, we will see some of you at our AGM being held in Palmerston North in October (see details in this issue).

Greta Dixon is pleased to get to the summit of Mauao. Greta has incredibly low blood pressure and had several near faints and one full faint walking up the mount but when she got to the top she thanked me for a fun outing. Greta’s other sports are athletics, aerobics, 10 pin, netball and RDA.

The Down Right Dragons grading at Wellington Seido Dojo.