An initiative of the Autistic Collaboration Trust
Te Hapori Whai Takiwātanga o Aotearoa (Autism Aotearoa New Zealand) (https://autismaotearoa.org) is a new website that is designed as an access point to the New Zealand Autistic Community.
The autists who are curating and jointly developing the educational material and services of the website are involved in the neurodiversity movement. Most of us are parents – campaigning for a ban of all forms of “conversion therapies”.
- Alice Richardson
- Hemi Hokianga
- Jolene Stockman
- Jorn Bettin
- Julia Campbell
- Dr Matthew Sellen
- Sarah Bettin
If you are autistic and live in Aotearoa New Zealand, you are welcome to join Te Hapori Whai Takiwātanga Aotearoa (Autism Aotearoa New Zealand) and to access the peer-to-peer support services offered by our members – and if you are in a position to do so, to assist us in co-designing and delivering support services to the local autistic community.
Learning about autistic culture and autistic people
Takiwātanga is the Te Reo Māori word for autism, which means “in his/her/their own space and time“.
Te Hapori Whai Takiwātanga presents autistic culture from a first hand perspective and provides a safe environment where parents, educators, and employers can connect with autistic parents and the wider autistic community. The website also offers access to education and advisory services:
➜ For parents. Rather than therapies to “reduce autistic behaviours”, autistic children need to be supported in the full development of their unique autistic potential, and need to be encouraged to follow their intrinsic motivations to explore the world.
➜ For educators. All children thrive when education and parenting nurtures and supports the children’s intrinsic motivations and sensory needs rather than focuses on obedience.
➜ For employers. We all thrive when being given the opportunity to work with our most trusted peers. In a good company everyone is acutely aware of all the collective intelligence and capability that is available in the form of trusted colleagues, friends, and family.