Life-changing courses for parents of disabled children

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PARENTS and whanau raising children with disabilities have the chance to attend free Parent to Parent NZ workshops and meet others who share their experience.

Parent to Parent is a charity that has supported the families of loved ones with disabilities for 34 years.

It will run three workshops in Gisborne in February and March.

The workshops are for parents/caregivers of children with any type of disability or condition that affects their life.

Nationally popular, the Renew, Connect & Reflect workshop helps the parenting journey with renewed energy, new connections and ideas says Sue Pairaudeau from Parent to Parent NZ.

Topics include growing support networks, building a resilient family, coping with stress and understanding grief.

Champion Your Needs is for parents wanting to become a disability champion and learn skills like negotiating, planning meetings and challenging assumptions.

They can also become a support parent, providing a listening ear to parents new to the world of disability.

“I was really excited to hear Catholic Care had provided funding to support these courses in Gisborne,” said Parent to Parent workshop facilitator Ruth Taylor.

“So often, the regions without a Parent to Parent coordinator miss out on our courses.”