Special Needs Advocacy & Support Trust is a Charitable Trust which was formed on the 3rd February 2006. The service provided under this umbrella has assisted more than 153 families and educational facilities in this time. The organisation and service is unique as we are client focused, not funding focused; it has been developed in consultation with clients to meet their individual needs. Special Needs Support Connection provides support, advocacy and information to families and educational facilities that have a child in their care with a disability, health impairment or special need. Primarily we connect clients to the services and agencies that may be able to help them. We ensure clients are receiving full and correct entitlements with Work and Income NZ, and follow up with clients on a regular basis. We empower parents to take responsibility for their situation and reach out to the support services that are available to assist. 

We connect facilities to funders to support the cost of educational equipment, teacher aide wages, activities outside the classroom, and resources. To promote awareness of special needs we sell a range of specialty resources relating to specific needs to pre-schools, kindergartens, playcentres, primary schools intermediate and high schools and public libraries in teh Napier-Takapau area. In the last year we have sold over 500 specialty books. These books relate to specific conditions and assist peers and adults to understand the condition so as to better understand the child. No other service is providing these resources directly to libraries.

Visit our website for more information www.supportconnection.org.nz