This page is specifically aimed at parents of autistic children in New Zealand. It provides links to key information and services; the sort of information I would have appreciated having access to after my own son’s diagnosis. If you think I have forgotten to include a vital resource, or have issues with any included on this list, please do let me know via the comments below. (Even if I don’t go on to include them in this main page, you can bring attention to the services via the comment itself, so feel free to share.)
This page will be regularly updated.
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Links relevant to the “New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline”; a thorough guide provided by the New Zealand government, aimed at families, individuals, and professionals dealing with autism:
- The online version of the book
- The website that provides further information about the book, including the ability to order a free copy
- Online updates to the book
Ministry of Health funded disability support services, including links to information about Needs Assessment, Child Development Services, and Respite.
Ministry of Education, Special Needs section, including information on special services and funding.
Child Disability Allowance information.
Some key New Zealand charities:
- Autism NZ
- Altogether Autism, including a list of training programmes for parents
- IHC
- CCS Disability Support, including Early Intervention Support
- Inclusive Education Action Group (IEAG)
Regional charities:
- Autism Intervention Trust (Wellington)
I also regularly do posts about services, therapies, education options, autism tests, autism books and autism DVDs. You can find these posts listed under the category “Resources for Parents.”
Autism & Oughtisms 
here is an online support forum also
http://asdparents.forumotion.co.nz/
Thanks for the share jeshiko. It looks quite new, do you know when it started up?
I’ll have a look at the discussions and get a feel for it myself, and might join it too. Looks like it could be a useful community to belong to.
As I have an aspergers relative in prison I would like you to contact me please. You may be able to point me in the direction of some much needed help.
I’m sorry to hear that Dacre, but I don’t see how I could be of any help to you or your relative. My best suggestion would be to get in contact with your local autism charity to explain the situation and ask for help. There is obviously a lawyer involved in your relative’s case too, you should discuss your concerns with them directly. I hope you can get your relative the help they need.
The book’s moved – it’s now at http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/new-zealand-autism-spectrum-disorder-guideline (at at June 2013)
Thank you Jon, I’ll fix the link now.
what support group to help parents with adults with Autism who don’t fix into mainstream groups?
Wellington Autism lack funding to start anything new to help parents with over 18+ years old or with public health system to support us 2. no respite care services able in wellington to take 18+ with behave issues so who do we contact to find help to set up more services here?
Hi there, I am new to this website but would really appreciate some advice. We are NZ expats who have lived in Bahrain for six years and we are soon to be returning to Auckland. Our youngest son is seven and has Autism. We have been very fortunate in Bahrain where he has attended an excellent special needs school from the age of two and a half and has received extensive therapy. Although mild on the spectrum I don’t like the thought of him attending a mainstream school. I know absolutely nothing about the schooling in NZ but have heard of satilite classes. Can anyone please share their experiences with these classes or could recommend any SEN schools. Many thanks. Michele
My son is 8 and attends a public school in West Auckland with a special needs unit which has it’s own toilet area, physio room, etc. in West Auckland. My oldest child who is not on the spectrum also attends in the mainstream so I’m lucky to be able to have them both at the same school. The teachers are great, they take into account each child’s needs (autism, down syndrome, ADHD, etc) and are always available to talk about any concerns. Also out my way is a special needs school that host satellite classes in neighbouring schools which I’ve heard to be really good.
Our NGO, Autistic Minority International ( http://www.autisticminority.org ), was asked to provide input for a joint statement on the human rights of autistic persons by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for World Autism Awareness Day 2015. The statement has just been released. Please circulate it widely and use it during your own WAAD events. Thanks!
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Media statement
For World Autism Awareness Day – Wednesday 2 April 2015
Discrimination against autistic persons, the rule rather than the exception – UN rights experts
GENEVA (30 March 2015) – Two United Nations human rights experts today called for an end to discrimination against autistic persons and a celebration of diversity. Speaking ahead of World Autism Awareness Day, the Special Rapporteurs on the rights of persons with disabilities, Catalina Devandas Aguilar, and on the right to health, Dainius Pūras, noted that about one per cent of the world’s population -some 70 million people- is estimated to be on the autism spectrum worldwide.
“As part of human diversity, autistic persons should be embraced, celebrated and respected. However, discrimination against autistic children and adults is more the rule rather than the exception.
In many countries, autistic persons lack access to services which would support, on an equal basis with others, their right to health, education, employment, and living in the community. When available, services are too often far from human rights friendly or evidence-based.
Autistic persons are particularly exposed to professional approaches and medical practices which are unacceptable from a human rights point of view. Such practices – justified many times as treatment or protection measures – violate their basic rights, undermine their dignity, and go against scientific evidence.
Autistic children and adults face the proliferation of medicalized approaches relying on the over-prescription of psychotropic medications, their placement in psychiatric hospitals and long-term care institutions, the use of physical or chemical restraint, electro-impulsive therapy, etc. This may be particularly harmful and lead to the deterioration of their condition. All too often, such practices amount to ill-treatment or torture.
The autism spectrum should be understood from a broader perspective, including in research. We call for caution about enthusiastic attempts to find the causes of autism and ways to ‘cure’ autism through sophisticated but not necessarily ethical research. Autism as a condition is a critical challenge for modern health systems, in which we need to ensure that the practice and science of medicine is never again used to cause the suffering of people.
More investment is needed in services and research into removing societal barriers and misconceptions about autism. Autistics persons should be recognized as the main experts on autism and on their own needs, and funding should be allocated to peer-support projects run by and for autistic persons.
It is about providing individuals and families with the necessary skills and support to have choice and control over their lives. It is also about equal opportunities, access to inclusive education and mainstream employment to achieve equality and rights enjoyment by autistic persons. It is about promoting their independence and respecting their dignity.
Autistic persons should be respected, accepted and valued in our societies, and this can only be achieved by respecting, protecting and fulfilling their basic rights and freedoms.”
ENDS
Ms. Catalina Devandas Aguilar (Costa Rica) was designated as the first Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities in December 2014 by the UN Human Rights Council. Ms. Devandas Aguilar has worked extensively on disability issues at the national, regional and international level with the Strategic Partnerships with the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund, the UN unit responsible for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the World Bank. Her work has focused on the rights of women with disabilities and the rights of indigenous peoples with disabilities. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Disabili … Index.aspx
Mr. Dainius Pūras (Lithuania) was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014. Mr Pûras is a Professor and the Head of the Centre for Child psychiatry social pediatrics at Vilnius University. He is also a human rights advocate who has been actively involved during the last 30 years in the process of transforming public health policies and services, with special focus on the rights of children, persons with mental disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Health/P … Index.aspx
The UN Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the ‘Special Procedures’ of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For more information and media requests, please contact Krista Orama (+41 22 928 9286 / korama@ohchr.org ) or Dolores Infante-Cañibano (+ 41 22 917 9768 / dinfante@ohchr.org )
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org )
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hello people need some advice i have a 13 year old ADHD Autistic Spectrum son. I just found out he had done something extremely terrible. Stole $50 from my wallet and of course spent it. I need ideas on how to treed this and deal consequences.
i have had advice such as the police, trespass notice from the diary, confiscate items, etc.
the problem with this is his level of understanding, how he thinks and level of knowledge.
At this stage he knows what he did was wrong but doesnt understand the ramifications of his actions. The police are no good i find anyway only because of the nature of youth culture today towards authority. Plus being in a small town like Marton they become more your friend rather than a law force (if you get what i mean) so the whole law authority tends to go out the window.
we have confiscated things, but it wont work if he doesnt understand. Plus unfortunately for children such as my boy, i feel he needs to pay for his actions (as does any child or youth) but in such away that it scare him in such away that its not good has an authoritative law figure dish out an appropriate punishment plan for my sons actions, whilst getting to his level of understanding that with every action is a consequence good or bad. i also dont think trespassing will would either.
suggestions please or contacts of groups or agencies for such support would be much appreciated
I would make him work it off ie lawns and gardening work, dont get upset or angry, dont involve others. Make sure he understands you are quietly disappointed, but dont get emotional. Talk to him of impulsive things people do and the consequences, such as the recent police shooter who will spend years in prison, or when news items appear discuss how poor impulse control leads to a world of pain for many ADHDers. For many, Darwins stop button [accidental death] is the last impulsive mistake they make!
Teach him to learn from others mistakes in the media.