Hello! It is with great pleasure that I greet you as the new Executive Officer for the Auckland Disability Providers Network. I feel really fortunate to be in this position at this time and see the prospects as exciting.
By way of introduction: I have a history of working for many years in vocational assessment, rehabilitation, and training when I worked with people from different backgrounds and all types of disability. This was followed by twelve years as an educator and trainer, with people with arthritis and more latterly, as a research co-ordinator in rheumatology. I am qualified to train trainers to run a self management course for people with chronic conditions and am a trainer for a Falls Prevention programme for older adults. I also had a craft studio in which I dyed and printed fabrics (I love colour!) and have a great interest in sculpture and the arts.
I live in the bush in the Waitakeres with my husband Jim, and we have two married daughters, one of whom has two children. I am lucky that they all live in the Auckland area.
I am really looking forward to working with the members of the ADPN and helping to effect change which will improve the lives of people with disabilities. We have a new office, a new logo and are ready to look at ways we can move forward, building on all the great work that has been done to date.
Please make contact with me so that I can get to know you, the members of the network. I feel very much the ‘new kid on the block’ and am keen to learn about your expectations. A network is only as strong as the links within and by working together we can achieve
It’s been a long time coming, but the website is finally ready to go “live”. It’s actually been in existence since the middle of May, but in view of the impending re-branding exercise it was decided to wait until that was completed. As is so often the way, it took a little longer than expected.
The site’s default design is based on the new logo and tagline produced by RedSpark Creative, and graphical elements contributed by Max Wong from the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind.
I recommended WordPress to run the back-end functionality because it is particularly easy for novice computer users to learn the basics of making comments and posting articles, making it ideal for building a vibrant community. My primary challenge has been to make the site as accessible as possible to the widest range of users, and I welcome direct feedback at my site motuweb.com – particularly specific suggestions for improvements which might benefit disabled visitors.
I have enjoyed working with Judith Lunny, and am disappointed that such an diligent student of website administration is planning on spending her days on the golf course rather than behind the keyboard. I look forward to meeting Pam Antill, and supporting her to make this website an effective communication tool for the Auckland Disability Provider’s Network. I sure hope she turns out to be a keen computer whizz…
Please contribute!
Anyone with an interest in disability issues is welcome to comment on the posts here – just click either the heading or the Comments (x) link at the bottom of an article to get to the individual page and then fill in the form at the bottom. Spam advertising or abuse will not be tolerated, and links in comments will not be followed by Google and other search engines.
ADPN members are strongly encouraged to register and post news items themselves if they are of relevance to the disabled community. Please send your name and details via the contact form and we’ll get you started. Finally, if you notice anything that doesn’t seem to be working correctly, please use the form to send me a “heads up”.
ADPN Webmaster, John Potter
The Auckland Disability Providers’ Network presented its oral submission to the Social Services Select Committee at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference centre on Wednesday 15th of August 2007. Sue McKinnon, Stuart Spackman and Judith Lunny made the presentation to MPs Russell Fairbrother, Lynne Pillay, Steve Chadwick, Judith Collins, Dr Paul Hutchison, Katrina Shanks, Bob Clarkson, Judy Turner, and Meteria Turei. Harry Duynhoven and Sue Bradford were absent. (more…)
Presented on 10th August 2007 to the Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Disability Providers’ Network Inc.
This will be my last report to the ADPN. I would like to stress what a wonderful 10 years it has been. Thanks to all of those within and involved in the disability sector that have made the task of co-ordinating the ADPN such a pleasure.
The members are the life blood of any organisation and the ADPN has a healthy membership of committed people. In 2006/07 numbering 97 members, just short of the target of 100 members. Subscriptions are still coming in for this year but have already reached 71. The target of 100 members does not seem unachievable. The stronger the membership, the greater strength the ADPN has so please encourage your colleagues to become financial members. The members are the best advertising and promotional tool the organisation has. It is through the members change can be affected.
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Presented to the AGM August 10th 2007
It was decided by the incoming Executive of the Auckland Disability Providers Network Inc. (ADPN Inc) following last year’s Annual General Meeting to have two people share the Chair of the organization, namely Stuart Spackman and Colin Reive. The decision was made to ensure the Network had continuous leadership throughout the year.
Network Coordinator Judith Lunny has provided details of the work of the organization throughout the year. We are appreciative of all Executive Committee members for contributing significant amounts of their time to guide this work – thank you all. (more…)
