People First NZ

People First NZ's mission is to empower and assist people with learning disability to be strong and valued individuals in New Zealand.

They are a disabled people's organisation that is governed by and for people with learning disability. All their work is about making sure that rights for people with learning disability are a reality and that our communities are inclusive.

Members belong to local groups where they learn about self-advocacy and have opportunities to speak up in their local communities, as well as at regional meetings, and through national networking like People First NZ's Leadership Forums.

People First NZ also provides:

• Free information and advice about disability support services, decision making and your rights.
• An Easy Read translation service, Make it Easy. This contains both translations already done, and the ability to contact them to make an Easy Read translation for your services.
• Learning Courses
  • Speaking up, learn about your rights and where to look for help in your community.
  • Money Smarts Made Easy, learn about money and how to keep it safe
  • Keeping Safe Feeling Safe, learn about bullying, abuse, and neglect, how to keep yourself safe, and where to go for help.
• The Life Skills app, where you can learn about speaking up, friendship, consent and your rights.

Currently, there are groups in:

• Ōamaru
• Dunedin
• Balclutha
• Gore
• Invercargill

To become a member, you need to be a person with a learning (intellectual) disability and be over 18 years of age.

The Regional Coordinator for the Southern Region is: Lee-ann Wightman

southern@peoplefirst.org.nz