Limelight Dance Academy
– LDA for All

Limelight Dance Academy, in Rototuna, Hamilton, runs LDA for All classes for children with disabilities, differ-abilities, or additional needs for ages 6-12 approximately.

No diagnosis is necessary – classes are open to individuals with any learning or physical disability, those with neurodivergence and/or sensory, behavioural, emotional or social difficulties.

LDA believe that dance offers a wide range of benefits such as:

• A safe place to explore self-expression and freedom of movement
• The opportunity to connect with others and build social communication skills
• Increased physical skills and body awareness
• Enhanced experiences of music and movement within our body and space

Classes are facilitated by a fully qualified dance teacher (Miss Hayleigh Rossetter), who has a wide range of experience working with this community.

Calling all STARS! 

Dance & Art Therapy New Zealand has a small number of places available in their STARS dance movement therapy groups. STARS has been created to empower children and teens living with intellectual and/or physical disabilities including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, global development delays and brain trauma. 

Sessions combine creative expression and skill development including communication, self-regulation, and motor planning. They are limited in size so the therapist can provide individualised attention and to reduce the level of stimulation that some people find challenging in group settings. 

An assessment is required to participate in this programme.

STARS is available in Auckland at Mt Albert, Pakuranga, Onehunga and North Shore.   

DTNZ also offers programmes for adults throughout the country with information available on the website. 

Email info@dancetherapy.co.nz for further details.

Hydrotherapy

MightyKids Rehab, in collaboration with the Wilson Home Trust, is running a 1:1 hydrotherapy programme for children with physical disabilities.   
The aim is to assist the child, and the family, in developing confidence with handling and exercises in the water that they can continue outside of the programme.   

Each session is approximately 30 min long and will be held weekly at the Wilson Centre, Takapuna, Auckland.  

Funding may be available through the Wilson Home Trust or to current financial members of the Cerebral Palsy Society via their e-card funding.   

Email info@mightykidsrehab.co.nz for more details.

Toes in the Water Whangamata

Toes in the Water Whangamata (TITWW) is a community initiative which enables access to the beach for those who require assistance getting their toes in the water.

TITWW has beach accessible equipment available, including an adult Sandcruiser wheelchair, a child’s Sandpiper wheelchair and two adult walkers.

Beach accessible matting has been provided at Williamson Park within easy access to the water.

Volunteers run the venture from the small shed behind the Whangamata Surf Club. The user’s carer is responsible for taking the wheelchairs onto the beach and into the water.

This is a free service run by donations.

Bookings can be made online or call 027 885 8939.

Glass Ceiling Arts Collective

Do you want to be part of a Youth Arts programme that celebrates diversity? Do you want to join classes where:

• Everyone is welcome (with a disability and without)
• Everyone’s unique talents are celebrated
• Young people choose what they want to do. Youth Voice is encouraged.
• Classes are affordable and accessible
• You get to be a star!

Then you need to join Glass Ceiling Arts Collective.

Glass Ceiling Arts Collective is an Arts charity; it’s a community who believe that young people with disabilities should not be defined by their disability but, rather, they should be afforded the opportunity to enjoy the performing arts alongside their non disabled peers. The benefits for the young person with a disability are untold. Similarly, the benefits for young people without disabilities, and indeed the whole of society, are untold too.

Classes are currently held in Auckland (Rodney, North Shore, West Auckland, South Auckland) and Tauranga. 

Māpura Studios

Māpura Studios offers a creative space located in central Auckland with satellite groups in other areas.

Among the classes available are sessions specifically for children.

Kids’ Creative Therapy is a special art programme designed for small groups of children aged 5 years and upwards.

Most of the participants in the Tuesday afternoon programme have ASD or other special needs. However children of all abilities are included and welcome.

Māpura Studios is an independent organisation, administered by Panacea Arts Charitable Trust and funded by grants and programme fees.

JUMP’s Disability & Sensory programme

JUMP’s Disability & Sensory programme provides “an exclusive environment for those in the community that prefer a lower sensory environment”. 

The exclusive Disability & Sensory sessions are the perfect opportunity to try out the trampolines in a lower sensory environment. They turn off all strobe lighting, implement natural lighting where they can, and reduce overall noise levels in the park by turning off the music and monitoring parkwide noise levels. There are no PA announcements on the loudspeaker except in emergencies, and the safety briefings are conducted in small groups or individually without a microphone.

Sessions will be held at all JUMP locations (Takanini, Avondale and North Shore) every third Sunday of the month. 

Services and supports for children starting school

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to getting your child (and yourself) ready to start school. 
There are plenty of extra processes, steps to navigate, and decisions to be made, when a child with Cerebral Palsy starts school.

Netsafe 

Netsafe is New Zealand’s independent, non-profit online safety organisation. Taking a technology-positive approach to the challenges digital technology presents, Netsafe works to help people in New Zealand take advantage of the opportunities available through technology by providing practical tools, support and advice for managing online challenges.  
They are an independent non-profit organisation with an unrelenting focus on online safety. Netsafe keeps people of all ages safe online by providing free support, advice and education seven days a week.