Groups that can support you
There are many organisations and groups around the country that you can get in touch with for practical support, advice, resources and contact details of specialists.
It is really valuable to be able to talk with people who understand what it's like to parent or care for a child who requires learning support.
These organisations and groups provide support to parents or carers. Some of them also have databases of their members so if you're looking for a specialist in your area they may be able to help with this.
If you would like your group to be included on this list email us at web.channel@education.govt.nz.
General
Barnardos(external link) |
Parent Help(external link) |
Citizens Advice Bureau(external link) |
Plunket(external link)
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KidsHealth(external link) |
Skylight(external link) |
Advocacy
Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) New Zealand(external link) An umbrella organisation |
The Advocacy Team promotes |
Health and Disability Commissioner(external link) |
The Office for Disability Issues(external link) Works across government agencies to |
Human Rights Commission(external link) |
The Office of the Ombudsman(external link) Helps the community in its dealings with |
Autism
Altogether Autism(external link) |
Aotearoa New Zealand Autism Guideline(external link) |
Autism New Zealand(external link) |
Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation(external link) |
Behaviour
ADHD Online (also mentions advocacy)(external link) Provides information and support |
Communication
Dyspraxia Support Group(external link) Support group for parents and caregivers of children with dyspraxia that aims to help children to learn and achieve their potential. |
TalkLink(external link) Links people who need help with speaking, writing, learning and environment control with the right technologies. Can offer free specialist assessment services to eligible clients. |
New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists Association(external link) |
Disability
CCS Disability Action(external link) |
Enable New Zealand(external link) |
Early intervention
Champion Centre(external link) An early intervention service for infants and young children with developmental delay. |
Ohomairangi Trust(external link) An early intervention service in the Auckland region for young children who require learning support and their families. Particular focus on services for Māori. |
NZ Foundation for Conductive Education(external link) Early childhood education for children with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders. |
Wellington Early Intervention Trust (WEIT)(external link) A therapy-based service for children aged 0 - 5 who require learning support. |
McKenzie Centre(external link) An early intervention service in the Hamilton region for young children who require learning support and their families. |
Education
Inclusive Education website(external link) |
Regional health schools |
New Zealand Council for Educational Research(external link) |
Te Kete Ipurangi – The Online Learning Centre(external link) |
Ministry of Education (external link) |
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura) (external link) |
Employment and transition
Association of Supported Employment New Zealand (ASENZ)(external link) |
Work and Income New Zealand(external link) |
Careers NZ(external link) |
Workbridge(external link) |
Health-related
Allergy New Zealand(external link) Provides information, education and support to the many thousands of New Zealanders living with allergies, including those at risk of anaphylaxis. |
Heart Kids(external link) Dedicated to providing support for children with heart conditions and their families and whānau. Freephone 0800 543 943 |
Arthritis New Zealand(external link) Provides information, education, advice and support to people with arthritis and their families. Provides support groups and referrals to local therapy and service providers. Freephone 0800 663 463 |
Kidney Kids(external link) A parent organisation set up to meet the needs of children who have kidney disorders and their families and whānau. Freephone 0800 215 437 |
Arthrogryposis Group New Zealand(external link) Provides support and assistance to people with arthrogryposis and their families and whānau. Phone 06 343 3394 |
Ministry of Health – Disability Support Services (DSS)(external link) Responsible for planning and funding disability support services. Many of the services DSS funds are accessed through a Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) service. NASCs work with disabled people to help identify their needs and to outline what disability support services are available. They allocate Ministry-funded support services and assist with accessing other supports. |
Asthma Foundation(external link) Advocates to Government and raises awareness of respiratory illnesses, funds research for better treatments and educates on best practice, provides resources on its website and supports 18 affiliated asthma societies to provide education, support and advice services. |
Muscular Dystrophy Association(external link) |
Cerebral Palsy Society(external link) Provides information and support for people with cerebral palsy. Freephone 0800 503 603 |
Rare Disorders NZ(external link) |
Cystic Fibrosis Association of New Zealand(external link) Provides an information service about cystic fibrosis (CF), promotes public awareness, provides support for people with CF and their families, provides educational opportunities for people with CF, provides a voice to Government agencies on behalf of the CF community, encourages and funds CF research. |
New Zealand Spinal Trust(external link) Provides information, resources and support for everyone with spinal cord injuries, their families, friends, caregivers and health professionals. |
Diabetes New Zealand(external link) Offers support and education for people with diabetes. |
New Zealand Williams Syndrome Association(external link) Provides help and support for families with a child or adult with Williams syndrome, and resources for parents and/or carers, teachers, employers and medical professionals. |
Epilepsy New Zealand(external link) Education, information and support services for people with epilepsy, their families and professionals. Provides seizure management planning advice. Freephone 0800 37 45 37 |
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Association(external link) Provides education, information and support for people with PWS and their families and whānau. |
Cleft New Zealand(external link) Support network for people with a cleft lip and/or palate. Freephone 0800 425 338 |
Hearing
Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand(external link) |
Deaf Children New Zealand(external link) |
Kelston Deaf Education Centre(external link) |
Van Asch Deaf Education Centre(external link) |
New Zealand Audiological Society(external link) |
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Information and library services
Allan Bean Centre Library(external link) |
People First NZ(external link) |
CCS Disability Action – Information Service(external link) |
New Zealand Federation of |
IHC Library(external link) |
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Intellectual disabilities
Hohepa(external link) |
IHC and IDEA Services(external link) |
Learning difficulties
Dyslexia Foundation(external link) |
SPELD(external link) |
Māori
There are a number of local Māori groups around the country that can support you. Here are some of them. Ask the kaitakawaenga at your local Ministry of Education learning support office(external link) for more in your area.
Ngā Kura ā Iwi(external link) |
Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust(external link) |
Kotahi Mano Kāika(external link) |
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa(external link) |
Migrants and refugees
Immigration New Zealand(external link) |
Refugee Council of New Zealand(external link) |
Red Cross(external link) |
New Zealand Now(external link) |
Mental health and support
Depression(external link) |
Samaritans(external link) |
Youthline(external link) |
The Lowdown(external link) |
Lifeline(external link) |
What’s Up(external link) |
Mental Health Foundation(external link) |
Mental Health and Nutrition Research Group The research group is currently running a clinical trial looking at emotional dysregulation in teens aged 12-17, and are looking for participants
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Parent and/or carer support groups
Carers New Zealand(external link) |
Parent Help(external link) |
New Zealand Down Syndrome Association(external link) Informs and supports families/whānau whose |
Parent to Parent(external link) |
Disability Connect(external link) |
Tākai(external link) |
Pasifika
Ministry of Pacific Peoples(external link) |
Vaka Tautua(external link) |
Sports-related
Blind Sport New Zealand(external link) |
Riding for the Disabled(external link) |
Halberg Disability Sport Foundation(external link) |
Special Olympics New Zealand(external link) |
Paralympics New Zealand(external link) |
Vision
Blind Citizens New Zealand(external link) |
Deafblind Association New Zealand(external link)
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Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand (BLENNZ)(external link) |
Ngāti Kāpo O Aotearoa(external link) |
Blind + Low Foundation(external link) |
Parents of Vision Impaired NZ(external link)
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Blind Sport New Zealand(external link) |
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