30. Future Planning for Families of Children with Special Needs with Tiffany Wilkinson

Family, Whanau and Disability

Research and co-ordination: Lisa Pirihi
Presenters: Louise Ratcliffe and David Taylor
Produced by Louise Ratcliffe with help from Wintec Music and Performing Arts
Guests: Tiffany Wilkinson
Tiffany lives in Tauranga and works for Enrich + as a community facilitator, helping people with disabilities integrate into the community. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and a Masters in Disability and Inclusion studies, with experience working in mainstream and special education schools in both NZ and London. Tiffany has a brother with ASD and an intellectual disability, and so has been passionate about equality and inclusion from a young age.
Tiffany has been involved with Parent to Parent’s SibSupport programme since she was 18 and is a member of the SAMS board. She lives next door to her brother and helps care for him 2-3 times a week. In her spare time she works as an extra for TV and loves musical theatre, particularly singing
Programme Synopsis

• Louise and David discuss the issues of planning for the future when you have children with special needs and what you might need to consider
• Louise and David talk to Tiffany Wilkinson about what she and her family have done to plan for the future for her brother to have the best life he can.

Tune in to Parent to Parent's podcast Connect, Inform, Support
Connect, Inform, Support features interviews with professionals and specialists on disability-related topics, and is a source of information and resources for families and whānau caring for people with disabilities.
Discussion topics cover a range of subjects related to disability and special needs, such as inclusive education, supporting someone with special needs, and the challenges and triumphs of living with disability.
Links

• Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
• Altogether Autism
• Care Matters or 0508 236 236 freephone service for carers
• Mana Whaikaha – MidCentral only