Let’s Talk: Disability and Neurodivergence

People in the Timaru district with physical or intellectual disabilities and those with neurodivergence, together with their whānau and carers, community organisations, schools, and the wider community, are being asked how life is for them living in the Timaru district.

Timaru District Council Community Partnership Manager Jessica Hurst explains that Let’s Talk: Disability and Neurodivergence is designed to engage to find out what is working well for people with disability or neurodivergence, what gaps there are and what would make life better.

“The project isn’t only about council services, it’s much broader than that. It’s about listening and learning. It’s about discovering and sharing where people get information and support, how do they find out what funding is available to them, how are they preparing for their children to enter adulthood, do they feel part of our community and whatever else might come up in our discussions.”

“We already know that accessing services and having to constantly advocate is a barrier for many, so we are going to them - where they live, the group clubs and places they already connect.”

Council’s Community Partnerships team has also arranged community kōrero meetings in Timaru, Temuka and Geraldine, throughout November with two dates in each location. If people are unavailable to meet with the team or attend those meetings they can still respond to an online community survey, including an easy read version for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Hurst says, “Even though we have very strong connections with and within the disability community, we continuously hear about people’s struggles and the lack of coordination of services and information. We are in the position to do this mahi for our community, so we are.”

The information gained from the engagement will form the content of a report outlining solutions and recommendations to the discovered issues. This will be presented to Te Kōtuitui Pūkeko disability network for their consideration and to action where and or when appropriation. The information will also be used to support funding applications, where it is best suited to have the best impact.