Navigating the disability support system in Aotearoa can feel like a full-time job. There's a lot to understand, things keep changing, and the stakes are high, because this is about the support that shapes your daily life, or the life of someone you love. 

Flying Kites is running a free online workshop series to help: Making the Disability System Work for You.

These workshops are for disabled people and their whānau and caregivers. Everyone is welcome. Whether you're brand new to disability supports or have been navigating them for years, there will be something useful here, especially given how much is changing right now.

You can come along to all three workshops or just the one that's most relevant to you now.

All events are free and we are grateful to Foundation North for funding these workshops for people in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau.

Not sure if you can make it?

That's okay, register anyway. We'll keep you in the loop, and you can let us know if you'd like to be notified but aren't sure you can attend live.

• Pick and choose: You are welcome to attend the whole workshop series or just the single session that interests you most. Use the registration form below to select your sessions.
• Can’t attend live? If you’re interested but the timing doesn’t work, please register anyway! We will email the recording of the workshop to everyone who signed up so you can watch it in your own time.
• Just want future updates? If you can’t make this round but want to know when we run these again, scroll to the bottom and join our "Flying Kites" list.

Thursday 23 July | 10am or 6pm

Workshop 1 - How the Disability System Works

A plain-language guide to how disability support is structured in Aotearoa, from government policy through to NASC and the services you actually receive. This session covers eligibility and common supports including Carer Support, Individualised Funding and residential options. You'll leave this session with a better understanding of how the disability system works for you.

Thursday 30 July | 10am or 6pm

Workshop 2 - Needs Assessments in a Time of Change

Your needs assessment is one of the most important conversations you'll have in the disability system. This session covers how the process is meant to work, how to prepare, and some helpful strategies if things aren't going smoothly. You'll leave this session with a clear understanding of how to get the most out of the needs assessment conversations to ensure you get the best outcome.

Thursday 6 August | 10am or 6pm

Workshop 3 - Making the Most of Individualised Funding

Individualised Funding gives you more choice and control, but it can also feel overwhelming. This session explains what IF is, how it works, what a Host organisation does, and what recent changes mean for you. We'll work through real scenarios and talk about helpful strategies to keep things moving.

Event Format

Each session runs for one hour, with a presentation until about 40 minutes in, then open discussion and questions for the rest of the time. Sessions are offered twice, 10am and 6pm, so you can choose the time that suits you.

The presentation portion of each session will be recorded and made available on YouTube, so even if you can't join live, you can still watch it later.