Welcome to the Autism New Zealand Inc. Website
Autism New Zealand Inc. provides support, training, advocacy, resources and information on Autism Spectrum disorders including Aspergers Syndrome. Our members include children, young adults and adults on the autism spectrum; their family/whanau; caregivers; and professionals who work within this field.
For more information on the services we offer, related articles, fundraising and what is happening at your local branch please check out all the sections of our website.
Autism New Zealand 2010 Conference
Registrations are now open for the Autism New Zealand 2010 Conference – Celebrating ASD in New Zealand. The conference will provide the chance to hear and learn from world renowned experts and to meet and network with others who live or work with ASD. If you have experience of ASD either personally, in your family, or professionally, you will want to attend this conference which is being held at Te Papa in Wellington on September 10-12.
Full registrations close on 31st August 2010. After the 31st August, please contact conference@autismnz.org.nz
For more information and to register please click here.
10% off the MedicAlert® Service Enrolment Fee for
Autism NZ Members
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and enter this promotional code: “AUT999”
(Valid for Adults and Children when enrolling online for the first time with MedicAlert®- Service Fees and charges apply)
MedicAlert’s service can be vital in an emergency
- It can protect and save your life in a medical emergency
- It can help reduce stress and anxiety when you need help from rescue and law enforcement personnel
- It helps emergency services identify the people who support you
- It is trusted by clinicians and internationally recognised
MedicAlert® is endorsed by Autism New Zealand and recommended for members
MedicAlert® provides a comprehensive service including:
- New Zealand based 24 hour Emergency Hotline service
- You can access your vital personal health information online from anywhere in the world you have internet access
- You can also choose a Free MedicAlert® emblem and receive a free wallet card when you first enrol
- and much much more..
For more information about MedicAlert:
To Enrol: click enrol now
Find out more: click here
Make an inquiry: contact form
Free Call: 0800 840 111 - during normal business hours of 8.30am to 5.00pm – Monday to Friday.
THOMAS AND FRIENDS™ Unite With Autism New Zealand to Help Raise Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism New Zealand Inc. has announced a partnership with the world’s number 1 pre-school property Thomas & FriendsTM. The charity has joined forces with HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners, and Australian/New Zealand Agent, Haven Licensing, to help raise awareness about autism. This follows on from similar partnerships the famous children’s entertainment icon has formed with autism organisations around the world.
Research studies conducted in both Australia and the UK have demonstrated that many children with autism have a particular love of Thomas & Friends who is celebrating his 65th anniversary this year! Results from a survey of parents of children with autism, commissioned by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) mirror that of a similar survey conducted by the National Autistic Society (NAS) in the UK. Findings for both studies revealed children with autism like Thomas & Friends more than any other children’s programme due to the characters’ clear facial expressions, which make them easy to identify. Parents also reported that Thomas & Friends helped their children understand the feelings and emotions of others which is an important step in assisting these children with developing social interaction skills and engaging with people around them.
“HIT Entertainment, Haven Licensing and Thomas & Friends are delighted to have the opportunity to work together to support Autism New Zealand and it’s endeavours and to build on the wonderful relationship Thomas has formed with other autism associations in the UK, Australia and HK,” said Mr Tom Punch, Managing Director of Haven Licensing, Licensing Agent for Thomas & Friends in Australia and New Zealand.
Autism New Zealand Inc Chief Executive, Alison Molloy, says, “This is a wonderful opportunity for Autism NZ to generate greater awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders through an icon in children’s entertainment. We know children with autism relate particularly to Thomas, and now we have the chance to build on that relationship.”
Attend a Special Screening of Thomas' new movie Misty Island Rescue - Proceeds to Autism New Zealand
Two special screenings of will be held in Auckland and Christchurch. Go along, have fun and support Autism New Zealand!
A new Search and Rescue Centre is being built on the Island of Sodor. Super strong Jobi wood, from Hiro's homeland, is being used to make the Centre. Diesel is carrying the Jobi wood when disaster strikes. Thomas has to rescue Diesel from falling off a cliff and all of the Jobi wood crashes into the sea. As a reward for his daring rescue, Thomas gets to visit the mainland - his first trip off of the Island of Sodor. When the raft carrying Thomas becomes separated from its tugboat, he ends up stranded and alone and on the mysterious Misty Island. Thomas soon meets Misty Island's resident engines - three funny logging locos called Bash, Dash and Ferdinand. Thomas also finds that Misty Island has plentiful supplies of the rare Jobi wood! With the help of his new friends, Thomas attempts to find his way back to Sodor and uncovers more of Misty Island's mysteries!
Time: 10am
Venues:
Auckland: Hoyts Wairau Park Cinema, Link Drive - Glenfield
Christchurch: Moorhouse Avenue Cinema, 392 Moorhouse Avenue - Christchurch
All tickets are $6!
For screening details see http://www.hoyts.co.nz/Movies/Events/Thomas_Misty_Island_Rescue.aspx
Get Your Thomas and Friends Bumper Sticker!
Just give a gold coin donation and get you special Thomas and Friends™ bumper sticker. Stickers are available from Autism New Zealand branches and from the Glenbrook Vintage Railway in Auckland from September.
Donating to Autism NZ Inc.
Autism NZ Inc. relies heavily on funding, grants and donations to be able to offer the support, training, advocacy, resources and information to families and professionals.
By making a donation online to Autism Nz Inc. you will help us to support families and those whose lives are touched by Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and other related disorders.
is to improve the quality of life for people with autism, Asperger syndrome, those with associated conditions, their family/whanau and those who support them 
Teenagers & Young Adult Forum
With many Teenagers and Young Adults on the autism spectrum suffering from high anxiety in social situations there was a need for help and support to make contact. In some areas of New Zealand, there are groups in place to help build on the social and communication skills that can sometimes be lacking. In other areas though these type of social skills groups are just not available, whether it be due to the remoteness of the area or prohibitive costs in larger urban areas.
The forum page is designed to enable users to log on, from any location, at any hour during the day, and interact with others in a similar position. If you would like to get involved please click here.
Submission on Special Education Review
Following significant interest in the Special Education Review the attached pdf has been made available here
Follow the Progress of a Dad on a Mission
Jason Uden is a sports nut, a farmer and a dad. Read his blog as he prepares for his first ever ironman triathlon to raise funds and awareness for autism. His writing is entertaining and enlightening as he deals with skinny bike seats, early starts, surly cows, a pregnant wife and the daily issues faced by a family with a child on the spectrum. http://ironmanforcam.blogspot.com