Support & Connections for Parents and Whanau

There is something important that happens when parents of deaf or hearing impaired children connect...they find a safe place to share both their questions and their answers with people who have “been there, done that.”  In a world where 95% of the group are hearing people with no experience or frame of reference for doing the most important job of their lives—raising their child—this connection is critically important.

New Zealand has a number of family support organisations for parents and Whanau.  KDEC strongly encourages you to contact them for information about their services and events.

http://www.deafchildren.org.nz/display.php?id=679

NZFDCNew Zealand Federation for Deaf Children Incorporated (NZFDC) is the Executive of a National group made up of Parent Groups throughout New Zealand, from Northland Parents of Deaf Children in the north to Southland Association for Deaf Children in Invercargill. We are a registered incorporated society and our Executive committee and Member groups are run by volunteers.  Visit out website http://www.deafchildren.org.nz and sign up: http://www.deafchildren.org.nz/online_registration_form.php

APODC

Auckland Parents of Deaf Children (APODC) is a group run by parents for families with a child with hearing loss. The child can be of any age and with any level of hearing loss or Deafness. No matter what language and communication style is being used, everyone is welcome as we celebrate difference and diversity. We understand that contact with other whanau and families who have similar experiences is very important. Parents can learn from each other and children can become confident in their own identity by being with other children who are "like them". Our purpose is to champion a better quality of life for hearing impaired and Deaf children and their families. We do this through advocacy support and providing information and opportunities for families to connect to each other. Visit us at: http://www.apodc.org.nz/

BEACON NEW ZEALANDBeacon New Zealand is a special programme that connects families with children who are deaf or hearing impaired to a trained parent mentor. A Beacon Parent Mentor is a parent of a child with a hearing loss who has an understanding of some of the issues that may face your family. All Parent Mentors have completed an intensive training programme on supporting families with a child diagnosed with a hearing loss. Parent Mentors help families to learn and understand in what can be an emotional journey following a hearing loss diagnosis.  Find out more at: http://www.deafchildren.org.nz/display.php?id=2730

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FAMILY SUPPORT?

Here’s a good place to go for links to other family support organisations:

http://www.deafchildren.org.nz/display.php?id=697

Life in the Village

We share classes, cooking, cleaning up and caring about each other at Totara Village.

For some deaf or hearing impaired students, the right school setting might be a place where educational resources, teachers and peers to communicate with directly are more accessible. A student who enrolls in KDEC’s residential service lives at Totara Village where both academics and socialisation are strongly valued.  The student will attend mainstream schools in the Kelston area where there is a “Deaf Unit” supported by Teachers of the Deaf, interpreters, and whatever else the student needs based on his/her IEP.  Sunday evening to Friday afternoon, kids live with other deaf or hearing impaired students in one of three houses in Totara Village with cottage staff. On the weekends, everybody goes back home to family. It’s a great arrangement.  If you’d like to learn more about KDEC’s Residential Program, contact tonyw@kdec.school.nz

Tony and Nicki have things under control at Totara Village!