Asthma Foundation Balloon Day, New Zealand, May 2013

Asthma Awareness Week is on the 20-26 May. Balloon Day is on the 24 May – this is our opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges associated with having asthma in New Zealand and also to raise much needed funds so we can help 'keep our kids out of hospital'.

Why balloons? We use balloons as 1 in 4 children will struggle to blow up a balloon, their asthma won't let them. Why is this? Asthma causes the breathing tubes to swell. It's easy for an asthmatic to breathe in, however, when they try to breathe out, to perhaps blow up a balloon, the lungs struggle to push air through the swollen breathing tubes.

More here.

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Inspiring Excellence in Autism, 2013, New Zealand

Highlighting and encouraging research, best practice, worthwhile support and effective self-advocacy in New Zealand. This conference seeks to celebrate and extend New Zealand achievements in the Autism field by highlighting and encouraging research, best practice, worthwhile support and effective self-advocacy for people with Autism in New Zealand.

9 - 10 JULY 2013. Kingsgate Hotel, 100 Garnett Ave, Te Rapa, Hamilton

This conference will be relevant to: Clinicians; Professionals working in the autism field; Families; People with lived experience of autism.

More information here.

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The Go4It programme from Children's Autism Foundation New Zealand

The Go4It programme caters for families with teenagers to young adults with ASD with services that complement each other.

Friendship skills for Teenagers: Understanding the value of friendships. How to teach your child to choose the right friends. How to teach to maintain a friendship.

Sexuality education: what is it and what should be covered? How to talk about sex with teenagers on the spectrum. Demonstration of the Me range of resources – a series of CD Rom and books to teach young people with intellectual disabilities about safety in relationships, hygiene, getting help and other related topics. Demonstration of the SexSmart resource – a CD Rom already available in 20% of secondary schools ion NZ, covering relationships, sexuality, contraception and sexual health.

Much more information here.

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Autism information sheets

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) has been providing support to people with an ASD and their families since 1966. It is now the country's largest not for profit autism-specific service provider working with 10,000 people and families annually across NSW, Victoria and the ACT. Aspect's specialised education program, operating through eight schools, 94 satellite classes and an itinerant educational outreach team, is one of the largest in the world.

Information sheets here.