​Dyslexia awareness and support is growing in Southland with a second organisation gaining their New Zealand Dyslexia-Friendly Quality Mark (DFQM).
Number 10 Youth One Stop Shop recently became accredited after completing the process through Ako Aotearoa and the Tertiary Education Commission.
Chris Cole, Learning Advisor for local charity Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust and one of the DFQM Facilitators for Ako Aotearoa said that Number 10 joins SIT, who became accredited in 2022.
Cole said that to gain the mark education or education adjacent organisations have to complete a robust process based on meeting certain standards. The process is adaptive, recognising each organisations uniqueness.
‘Organisations like Number 10 and SIT achieving the DFQM significantly increase community awareness and help normalise dyslexia for rangatahi. As allies advocating for dyslexia awareness, these organisations help spread the message further and faster’.
Michelle Reynolds, Number 10 Project Manager, said that the organisation had seen more and more dyslexic rangatahi access their services.
‘Having the DFQM has given us a new lens to see the world through, and more tools for our toolbox in working with rangatahi. The biggest difference has been championing the strengths that come with neurodiversity and helping young people to reframe how they see and think about themselves.
Working through the DFQM was a really useful process for us- it forces you to look deeply and widely into your organisation and practices, and we found that it helped us to ask the question “Why do we do this like this?”  When you have been around for a bit, some practices as an organisation are habitual or no longer fit for purpose.  This process helped us to identify a few things that no longer served the rangatahi we work with.
We’d encourage any organisation that works with rangatahi to work towards gaining their DFQM.’

​We are seeking an experienced Governance and Finance Support Administrator to join our small team.
This role will provide high level administration support to our Board, including meeting preparation and accurate minute taking for our monthly and annual meetings.  Excellent computer skills are essential,  finance and accounting knowledge and use of Xero is an advantage.
This is a contract position working 15 hours per month, with some evening hours required.  
Please email [email protected]  with any questions, or for a position description. 
Applications close on Monday 17th June. 

This week our Trustee Scott Lindsay, who works for Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) travelled to Wellington to deliver a speech on neurodiversity at the launch of the FENZ Employee Lead Neurodiversity Network – Kanorau Ā-roro which has been set up to provide a safe space and support for neurodiverse personnel or those personnel who have neurodiverse whānau. It’s also a way others can learn about neurodiversity, to learn and understand the best ways to work with and support their neurodiverse colleagues.  Click here to read more on the FENZ website - https://portal.fireandemergency.nz/notices-news-and-events/news/be-part-of-our-newest-employee-led-network-neurodiversity-network-kanorau-a-roro/
To read Scott's speech click here

We are very happy and grateful to announce that we have received funding from Community Trust South.  It will help us to keep supporting those in our community with learning differences.  Thank you Community Trust South for supporting Southland Charities. 

'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much' - Helen Keller

In September, Chris Cole our Learning Advisor worked closely with Ministry of Social Development (MSD) staff to show them how they could make their job vacancy boards easier to read for people with Dyslexia or other learning differences. 
Click the link to read more about the changes, in this article by Ben Tomsett of the Southland Express. 
www.odt.co.nz/southland/southland-express/job-seeking-now-easier

We are very grateful to have received funding from the NZ Lottery Grants Board. 
This operational funding will help us continue to do our good work supporting people with learning differences.  Thank you Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board! 

 A huge thank you to the ILT and ILT Foundation for generously funding our Growing Stars Children’s Workshops and also facilitator training which will ensure the ongoing sustainability of our programme.
Up to forty Southland children per year, their parents and extended whanau benefit from attending this wonderful unique workshop.
Thank you for your ongoing support!

Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust is excited to be working with pivotalpoint.org.nz/ and Queenstown Lakes District Libraries to bring our Growing Stars Workshop to Queenstown on the 17th and 18th of June. 
Click here to register your interest by 7th June.

The Education Hub is undertaking a research project to explore how well New Zealand’s education system is set up to support our neurodivergent students. As part of the project they are seeking the perspectives of teachers, students, parents and support services in order to better understand what’s working, what’s not, and how the situation can be improved. 
Click the link below to read more, and take the survey.  Be part of the change in supporting neurodivergent young people. 

​https://theeducationhub.org.nz/neurodiversity-research-project/?fbclid=IwAR0B1GDDK1S0Y356TzvrxcjAYRlgg3IFSEMMru_OQIpZwOV0uIN6T5Pyoz0