Launch of ‘Plan for the Future’ DVD

Published 10 November 2011, Posted in Northland

We were pleased to attend the first launch in the country of the New Zealand Down Syndrome Associations new DVD resource ‘Plan for the Future’.  This DVD is aimed at helping young people with Down Syndrome transition from school through to adult life.

There was great support from the disability community in Whangarei for Thomas Sadgove and his family who tell their story on the DVD about Thomas transitioning from school with support from a number of individuals and organisations. His is one story among many that show how successful and included people with Down Syndrome can be with the right supports and attitude from employers.

The launch was rightly held at Bunnings Warehouse Whangarei as they fully supported Thomas on his journey into employment from taking him on for work experience when he was at school to now employing him for 22 hours per week. 

Jo Brown, Bunnings Warehouse Whangarei Operations Manager says that “Employing people with disabilities actually enhances our workforce and organisation.  Thomas gives lots of rewards and insights to our team who work alongside him and is well liked by visitors to our store whether they know him or not”.

Working at Bunnings has not only enhanced Thomas’s participation in the community by being in paid employment that he enjoys, but has also enriched his personal life as he now goes to the gym on one of his days off with Steve, the Complex Manager.

The ‘Plan for the Future’ DVD is a wonderful resource full of stories that show what can be achieved when people with disabilities are fully supported to achieve their dreams and of course information about the support services that are available and how they can support people with Down Syndrome, their family/whanau and carers.

We would also like to acknowledge the New Zealand Down Syndrome Associations 30 year anniversary and thank President Neville Strong who travelled from Palmerston North to attend the launch.

Contact the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association to order your copy of this DVD for $20 or if you are a member who has a child aged 14 - 30 you are entitled to one free copy of the resource,  Members with a child under 14 or over 30 years, or affiliate members can order the resource for $5.50 to cover postage.