Whaikaha, the Ministry for Disabled People, has set up an advisory group to inform a review of eligibility of Disability Support Services (DSS). 

FASD-CAN have been invited to be part of this advisory group. 

As many of you will know, people with FASD must under current regulations have an IQ of 70 or lower to access funding via DSS. This excludes many people with FASD, but many still struggle to hold down a job because of other mental or physical challenges. Their caregivers can also be affected by this in multiple ways.

Whaikaha are asking for information from all those with lived experience (people with FASD, their caregivers, parents or grandparents) about how current DSS structures support them, or fail to support them, and how this impacts their lives. 

This review, if favourable, could make an enormous difference to the quality of life for many people impacted by FASD.

It is therefore vitally important that we get input from as many of you as possible so we can advocate on your behalf for our whānau to have improved eligibility to DSS funding. Please respond if you possibly can.

The preliminary deadline is Sunday 5 November. Many thanks in advance for your input. 

Click here to go to the survey.