Latest from Disabilities

Mother's love comes to fore

Jared and Sarah Chisnall watched their eldest daughter deteriorate from a healthy 2-year-old to a brain-damaged 7-year-old. Now their son has the same condition.

Kids solve bank's access problem

A group of primary school children have solved a problem that our biggest bank couldn't solve - finding a way to let disabled people into its downtown Auckland branch.

New revelations about Gammy's dad

The Australian man at the centre of a surrogacy scandal involving a disabled baby is reported to have spent time in jail for indecent assault.

Michele Hewitson interview: Philip Patston

On Tuesday night Philip Patston went to Parliament to collect the inaugural Arts Access Accolade.

Banned in NZ, but ok in France

A New Zealand manufacturer who adapts cars for wheelchair users says he has been forced to go overseas after officials here banned his design.

Lucy Lawless: Seeing the world differently

I once read a news article where a young boy was beaten by his harried mother for lying when he claimed, "Grandma scares me when her eyes slide off her face".

Autistic boy given laptop after presents burgled

A 12-year-old autistic boy who had his electronics and birthday presents stolen in a burglary has been gifted a new laptop by a Hawke's Bay Today reader.

Poor bank access stuns wheelchair user

Wheelchair users who can't get into a new bank branch in downtown Auckland say its inaccessible design makes New Zealand look like a "Third World" country.

Few parents paid for care of disabled children

A 13-year legal battle by parents seeking the right to be paid caregivers for their disabled adult children has ended in bitterness, with only a handful of parents being paid.

The courage to change

Some people choose to make changes in their life, sometimes personal, others are work related. For other people, though, that change is forced on them.

Friends face extra hurdle for triathlon fun

If things went really well, Sionann Murphy was expected to be able to walk one day. She would certainly never run, much less do a triathlon.

Man acquitted of Segway charges

Peter Calder: Music opens doors to life skills

Last night was the 10th birthday of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in Grey Lynn at Galatos Bar in Auckland.

Nurse fined $30k over mistreatment

A senior nurse who roughly undressed an elderly mental health patient, made derogatory comments about her, left her sitting naked in a bath and kneed her in her back has been fined nearly $30,000.

Pups to rescue for epilepsy

There are dogs that see for the blind and those that hear for the deaf - but for the first time in New Zealand young pups are being trained to assist people with severe epilepsy.

Hail of abuse for mobility park mum

An Auckland mother says she is subjected to abuse and insults by elderly strangers for using mobility parks because her brain-damaged son "doesn't look disabled".