NEWS & UPDATES
CP Society news for June – Amy’s update from Germany and much more
27 Jun 2025
Winter has definitely made itself known! I hope you are coping ok with the cold, the wind and the rain.
There’s an article about keeping warm in winter on the Living with CP page of our website. Maybe there are some tips there that will help you feel a bit cozier: www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/keeping-warm-in-winter
EACD/IAACD 2025 conference
As you read this, our Researcher and Member Support Advisor, Amy Hogan is representing the Cerebral Palsy Society at EACD/IAACD 2025 in Heidelberg, Germany.
EACD is the European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability.
IAACD is the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability.
Amy spent her first day of the conference with delegates from 25 countries including Brazil, Ireland, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Germany, South Africa.
They contributed to the ongoing development of an international statement aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), advocating for the inclusion of disabled voices in global disability policy.
The statement will be presented to international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations in due course.
Usually this group of people all meet online, but thanks to funding from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation they were able to meet in-person while in Germany.
Her pre-recorded presentations about aging and pain were also screened as part of other conference sessions.
Amy will spend the final three conference days as a delegate soaking up international knowledge and experiences to bring back to Aotearoa New Zealand.
We look forward to hearing how the rest of the conference goes, and hearing about Amy’s accessible travel experiences when she returns home.
Housing Survey
Thank you to everyone who completed our Housing Survey last month. We’ve been working through all the great responses.
Your insights will help us identify barriers and opportunities in the housing sector, enabling us to advocate for better support and accessibility for people with disabilities.
We will keep you posted about our work in this area.
getMoving update
getMoving is all about getting children, teenagers and young adults moving and we still have spaces available for new participants.
getMoving is Auckland-based and run by Mike Hynard and the team at Functional Adaptive Movement™ Ltd (FAM™).
If you or your child are aged 6-21 and would like to be part of the programme please get in touch with our Member Support and Programmes Coordinator, Theo van de Klundert – 0800 503 603 or theo@cpsociety.org.nz.
Sessions are held on Wednesdays from 3.30pm-4.30pm at The Y Auckland City. More information is here: www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/member-services/getmoving
Christchurch – expressions of interest
Last month we sought feedback from our Christchurch members aged 6-21 asking for their thoughts on a getMoving programme being set up in their city.
Thank you to everyone that responded – we truly appreciate your feedback. The information you provided is helping us carefully consider whether setting up a getMoving program in Christchurch is feasible. We’re currently exploring a range of possibilities, including funding options. If the program goes ahead, we’ll be sure to keep you informed.
Physical activity programmes for members
We are investigating the idea of helping more of our members to get moving. Would you, or your child, be interested in a physical activity programme in your town or city?
We’d love you to fill in this expression of interest form please. https://forms.gle/R2sJrbVA7Yx1fAT59
It will help give us an idea of whether there is interest in these types of programmes, and where those interested people live.
Filling in this form does not guarantee that we will run a programme(s), nor does it lock you into, or confirm a place on a programme.
We are seeking expressions of interest so we can determine if it is feasible to continue investigating establishing physical exercise programmes in locations around the country.
Coffee group
Have you come along to one of our coffee groups yet? If there is one in your area, we’d love to see you there.
Coffee groups are currently held in Auckland, Whanganui, Masterton, Wellington and Christchurch. Up to $15 worth of refreshments per person is provided for a member and their companion, support worker and/or family member.
All the coffee group information is here: www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/member-services/events/coffee-groups
If you’d like more information about coffee group, please call us on 0800 503 603 or email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz.
Thank you for the support
The Cerebral Palsy Society relies on donations and grants to help us do the mahi we do for Kiwis living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi.
With that in mind, we want to say a massive thank you to the Trusts, Foundations and friends that have supported us. Most recently:
– David Ellison Charitable Trust
You can check out all the Trusts and Foundations that support the Society here: www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz/our-supporters
CP Society e-Card
How to check your e-card balance:
It’s easy to check the balance on your e-card. Simply:
– Go to https://ecardsolutions.nz/portal/cps/
– Check your last receipt
– Or go to www.cerebralpalsy.org.nz, click the Dashboard button, sign in and click the “Check Your E-Card Balance” button.
How to add a supplier to the e-card programme:
Ever wondered how to add a company or service provider to the Cerebral Palsy Society’s e-card programme?
We’ve written a step-by-step guide to help you. Feel free to share the link with companies and service providers that you think would be interested in becoming a supplier. www.tinyurl.com/b8j7s3j5
Housing Navigation Service
Disability Connect is offering a Disability Housing Navigation Service in Auckland.
Led and staffed by disabled people and their parents, the free service provides an advisor to support disabled people and their families to research, broker and find a suitable place to live.
If you need help finding a home, email admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz with the word “housing” in the subject line or call 09 636 0351.
Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service
The Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service offers free, independent, and confidential advice and support to help you resolve issues with health and disability services.
Their advocates can let you know about your rights, answer your questions, and talk through your options for making a complaint. They will support you through the whole process.
Phone 0800 555 050 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, or go to https://advocacy.org.nz/
What’s On
– Webinar – CP registers
Did you know that there are more than 60 cerebral palsy registers globally? Have you been curious about why we have and need cerebral palsy registers? Then this free webinar might be for you.
It’s being presented by our friends at My CP Guide and will have a global approach, with a good overview of the purpose of CP registers.
– Date: Tuesday, 8 July 2025
– Time: 6pm NZ time (4pm AEST)
– Register: https://tinyurl.com/279c7hvz
– No Limits Netball
No Limits Netball is a programme of skills and netball activities for people with disabilities. It provides a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone to get out on the court and give netball a go.
– Monthly sessions starting Sunday 13th July, 10am-12pm
– Age 5+
– FREE to attend
– Auckland Netball Centre indoor courts in St Johns.
For more information or to register go to: https://bit.ly/4e7okcB or email: development@aucklandnetball.co.nz
– ATSNZ Disability Expo
If you live with a disability, you’re a caregiver, an allied health professional, or you’re interested in assistive technology, the ATSNZ Disability Expo is worth checking out.
The expo showcases products and services and is an opportunity to learn from industry experts, and experience hands-on demos.
– Auckland – August 6 and 7
– Christchurch – August 19 and 20
More information: www.atsnzexpo.nz
That’s it from me for this month. I look forward to writing to you again soon.
In the meantime, if we can be of any help, please call the Member Support team on 0800 503 603 or email cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz. We’d love to hear from you.
Ngā mihi,
Clare Williams
General Manager
