Disability Connect

Earlier this year you told us what voting is like for you and your whānau. We took your stories and advocated to the Electoral Commission for accessibility improvements.

Several parents of adults with an intellectual disability said they don't understand Supported Decision Making well or don't know if it's allowed. Many of you asked for clearer guidance and more training for families before voting.

You also wanted Easy Read information on candidates and parties, before voting and inside the booth.

Some of you told us you can't get to a voting place safely on election day, and worried about unsafe transfers with volunteers. We advocated for other options for people who need them: early voting, postal voting, online voting or voting at home.

Parts of the Electoral Commission's Access 2026 plan now reflect the lived-experience insights you shared with us:

• New public information and staff training on Supported Decision Making, so families know what support is allowed. It will also show how disabled people can vote with assistance while still having their wishes respected.

• Easy Read, plain language, NZSL, audio, Braille and translated information, available earlier and across more channels.

• Election websites improved to meet WCAG 2.2 AA digital accessibility standards and tested with assistive technology.

• Sample ballots clearly marked "sample only", instead of reversing the order of candidates.

• Accessibility checks along the full route from footpath to booth, including mobility parking and wet weather plans.

• The Commission will explore accessible digital ballots and ballot-marking devices used internationally, so phone dictation isn't the only option.

Your feedback has made a difference to the upcoming and future elections. Thank you again to everyone who shared their experiences with us.

Don't forget, 25 October is the last day to enrol to vote. You can enrol or update your details at: vote.nz/enrol

Image description: A blue graphic with a bell icon. Text reads: "Advocacy update. You shared your experiences of voting. We took them to the Electoral Commission, and they helped shape its Access 2026 plan. Enrol by 25 October: vote.nz/enrol"

Our last Parent Support Group for the year is about switch access, for whānau supporting young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

With a switch, one small movement can start an adapted toy, turn on an appliance, or say "I'm hungry" on a communication device.

Occupational therapist Jacki Mayne-Davis from POP Occupational Therapy will share practical tips for using switches at home. She'll also go through funding pathways, NZ suppliers, and how to work with your child's school or day programme on equipment.

It's on Wednesday 14 October, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at Mt Richmond Specialist School in Ōtāhuhu.

It's also completely free for families to attend. Details on how to register is on our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F8rQTdJ8w/

Know a family who uses switch access technology, or might want to? Please share this post with them.

Image description: A promotional image for the event. Text reads "Switch Access Technology. Parent Support Group. Free workshop for families. Wednesday 14 October 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Mt Richmond Specialist School, Ōtāhuhu." A photo of presenter Jacki Mayne-Davis, smiling, sits in the bottom right corner.

"A house providing round-the-clock care for adults living with intellectual disabilities in Auckland is being hailed as a turn-around success, giving residents the power to make decisions many would take for granted."

Congratulations to Te Anua Nua Trust, Len Moodley and his team for winning our inaugural Enabling Good Lives Award for Housing.

They've broken away from the institutional model of disability housing, and instead created homes where disabled people live a good life with choice, control and belonging.

Learn more about their incredible mahi in this RNZ article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/1512419/house-for-adults-living-with-intellectual-disabilities-picks-up-award

Image description: An RNZ article headlined "House for adults living with intellectual disabilities picks up award". Below it, Te Anua Nua Trust resident Monique Collins smiles from a couch in her sunny lounge.

"There've been challenges, and a lot of advocacy. Laughter, joy and love too. And... many silent screams in the school car park."

You might remember Sonja Eriksen from Woe to Go, our Work and Income explainer, when she was Principal Disability Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development.

On Wednesday 7 October, Sonja is joining us to share her story. She'll talk about getting her three neurodivergent kids through the school, health, government and disability systems. They're all young adults now, navigating their own journeys.

Sonja lives with disability herself, and will let us know some of the things she does to get through each day. There will be time for questions after.

Our Annual General Meeting follows, where we will present our Impact Report for 2025 to 2026. There will also be Board nominations. We'll keep this part short.

This event is free and online via Zoom, 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

To register and get the link, email [email protected] by 12pm Tuesday 6 October. Please tell us your access needs when you email.

For more information, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EiT7FadPm/

Image description: Promotional image for the event. Text reads "Advocating for a Good Life. A kōrero with Sonja Eriksen, followed by our Annual General Meeting. Wednesday 7 October 2026, 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Free online event. Register for the Zoom link by 12pm, 6 October 2026." The image shows a photo of Sonja Eriksen who has blonde hair and wears glasses.

"Who will look after my child when I'm no longer here?"

It's not the easiest topic to talk about, but it's one that many of us think about often.

If you're planning for your child's future and want to better understand how to make decisions about their care and wellbeing, how to protect their assets, or what the difference is between welfare guardianship, powers of attorney and family trusts, register for our popular webinar.

Planning for Adulthood is presented by disability lawyer Nan Jensen.

There's one more session for this year, on 30 September from 11am to 2pm.

Planning ahead can feel daunting, but understanding your options can help you feel more confident in making informed decisions for the future.

For more information, including how to register, go to our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F6Y5ZBf1Q/

Image description: A promotional poster for the webinar. Text reads "Planning for Adulthood. Webinar. Legal rights, estate planning, asset protection, wills and trusts. Last session for 2026: Wednesday 30 September 2026, 11:00am to 2:00pm." There's a photo of Nan Jensen smiling next to the text. She has short hair, and is wearing glasses and a floral blue top.

Every time the school holidays come around, parents ask us what activities or events are on in Auckland for their kids.

We're putting on some free indoor sports fun for our next Parent Support Group, with help from our friends at Disability Sport Auckland.

Bring the whole whānau and join us on Wednesday 30 September, from 10:30am to 1:00pm, at Mt Richmond Special School.

Disability Sport Auckland's programmes welcome people with physical, visual, learning and intellectual disabilities of all ages and abilities. No one needs to have played a sport before.

For more information, including how to register for this free event, check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/19QEKtxASB/

Image description: A promotional poster for the event. The text reads: "Disability Sports Play. Parent Support Group. Free social event for families. Join us for some school holiday fun with Disability Sport Auckland! Wednesday 30 September 2026, 10:30am to 1:00pm. Mt Richmond Special School, 30 Albion Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland." Beside the text is an illustration of a child in a blue backwards cap, red t-shirt and yellow shorts, kicking a soccer ball.

We announced the winners of our first ever Enabling Good Lives Awards at Transition Expo this week.

Enabling Good Lives began in 2011 as a community vision to give disabled people more choice and control over their lives. Government adopted it as a pilot in 2012 but national progress for a full roll out has stalled since.

We created these awards to show that Enabling Good Lives is still here and worth fighting for.

Please join us in congratulating the winners for their mahi:
• Education – Jaden Movold and Amy Clements, I Lead
• Housing – Len Moodley, Te Anua Nua Trust
• Employment – Rachel Moon, Air New Zealand
• Health and Wellbeing – Chris Blum, Aotearoa Disability Law
• Disability Support – Ainsley Darvell and Macushla Howell, Flying Kites
• Community Choice – Greg Robson, GlowKids Trust

Each winner received a beautiful mosaic trophy produced by disability-led small business Nazaics and a $1,000 cash prize.

Our judges, Colleen Brown, Martine Abel-Williamson and Mark Benjamin, reviewed over 50 nominations and were impressed with the strong themes of respect, choice, control, visibility and self worth across all the categories. Check out the list of nominees on our website, they all deserve recognition for the outstanding work they do: https://disabilityconnect.org.nz/disability-connect-enabling-good-lives-awards/

Thank you to our award sponsors for helping us bring our first awards to life: Northwest 7 Day Pharmacy, Swift - Your Mortgage, Insurance & Finance, Able Axcess, Clipboard, Mercury, IHC New Zealand

Shout out to the partners and sponsors for our Transition Expo too: Mercury, Clipboard, NZ Lottery Grants Board, Ministry of Development, Foundation North, Ōrākei Local Board and Kaikaranga.

Image description: Nine people smiling in front of a balloon arch, most holding framed mosaic trophies. Back row, left to right: Rachel Moon, Chris Blum, Greg Robson, Macushla Howell, Len Moodley. Front row, left to right: Mike Potter (Disability Connect), Jade Farrar (EGL National Leadership Group) and Jaden Movold, seated in wheelchairs, with Amy Clements standing at the right. Text reads: Enabling Good Lives Awards 2026, congratulations to our winners!

Thank you to everyone who came along to Transition Expo. Our team is tired after such a massive day, but really pleased to hear what it's already meant for some families.

We'd like to know how it went for you, so we can make it even better next year.

What did you like? What do you want to see again? How did it make a difference for your whānau?

And what would've made the day better? Is there anything you think was missing, whether it was stalls, access or something else?

We're going to start planning for Transition Expo 2027 later this year, and your feedback will help us decide what comes back and what changes.

Tell us in the comments here, or email us at [email protected] if you'd prefer.



Image description: a group photo of nine Disability Connect team members at the end of Transition Expo 2026. They are all wearing branded vests or jackets, and are in a large sports hall. Mike is sitting in his wheelchair at the front, and the rest of the team is standing around him smiling at the camera.

The Stallholder Guidebook for Transition Expo 2026 is on our website now: https://disabilityconnect.org.nz/annual-transition-expo/

We've got a couple of extra versions for our Blind and Low Vision community this year too, at the link above.

Transition Expo is tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September, at Auckland Netball Centre in St Johns. Free entry and no registration needed.

Doors open at 9am with the opening ceremony. The Enabling Good Lives Awards are at 10am, and the Transition Seminar starts at 11:30am - both upstairs in the seminar room.

Everything else runs all day until we close at 2pm.

Come find our team in the blue hoodies and vests at the Information Desk near the entrance if you need any help.

More information is on our event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/18pVccZGNb/



Image description: Transition Expo graphic. Three circular photos across the top show a busy expo hall, a woman smiling as she climbs a high ropes course, and a man in a flat cap and glasses. Text reads: Transition Expo, explore what is available for disabled young people to have a great life, Wednesday 09 September 2026, Disability Connect, 2026 Stallholder Guidebook.