Kia ora readers...
I
t is important parents/caregivers and families/whānau have a strong voice as the disability sector is steered into significant system transformation based on the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) vision and principles. It requires considerable input from organisations such as ourselves to ensure our services are relevant to the needs of families living with disability, their communities, and New Zealand. Thinking differently about disability will see us shift to become a more inclusive, accessible country where diversity is welcome. We’ve been honoured to host opinion columnists who are thought leaders and advocates in New Zealand’s disability sector – people with and without disabilities. Last December we welcomed Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero as a regular columnist, and now we are delighted to add Disability Issues Minister Hon Carmel Sepuloni. As this edition went to print we were following the 2018 Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang and look forward to welcoming Paralympics NZ as a regular columnist in June.
Help us empower Kiwi families to lead good lives Editor: Sue Pairaudeau Editorial: Staff writers, guest contributors, and freelancers Monica Holt and Clare Chapman Advertising: Carey McLaughlin Graphic design: Te Reo Hughes, Steven Mahoney Cover: Desiree Thompson’s photo of her daughter, Anahera ISSN 2463-3631 (Print) ISSN 2463-3585 (Online) Copyright: Seek permission from the editor for the whole or part reproduction of any contents in this publication. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of contributing writers and not necessarily those of Parent to Parent NZ. Parent to Parent NZ cannot endorse services or products in paid advertisements.
It is fitting we acknowledge the passing on March 14 of visionary physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, 76, at his home in Cambridge, England. Much of his work was in the field of cosmology, a deep-thinking branch of astronomy that examines the totality of the universe, and his cosmic brilliance has changed science forever. However Hawking, a wheelchair user with a rare form of motor neurone disease, who used a voice synthesiser to speak, changed attitudes towards disability with his off-the-wall humour, impish attitude and ‘real person’ celebrity status. A thank you to BlueSky Community Trust for $2000 towards the costs of printing this magazine. As a non-profit grants and donations are always gratefully received! Enjoy the splendour of autumn!
Sue Pairaudeau, Editor
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