Featured post

Innovation awards!

Launched by the Minister for Disability Issues

We were stoked that Hon. Nicky Wagner launched our Speed Dating - Job Fair on Saturday!!!



STARS training held a Job Fair - Speed Dating style first in New Zealand! Families looking for support staff to assist disabled people in achieving their good life met many candidates for a 1 hour session... The event was launched by Hon. Nicky Wagner, Minister for Disability Issues, who is so supportive of initiatives such as this one! 

She tweeted the below:



...but was also caught on camera having pure fun:

... as well as listening intently to parents helping their children set up and run a micro-business. Below, Nicky is talking to Sandra about her daughter's laundry micro-business.


At the Fast Track Inclusion Trust, we were inspired whilst recording Sandra's story below:


Sandra is planning now for her daughter's future life. Because Prue has little communication and needs support around the clock, her parents planned for a house where she can move into in the future, when she is ready. Then they went on building a micro-business around Prue's interests and skills. Observing that Prue really liked the routine of washing, hanging and folding, Sandra is building a small operation for Prue to wash tea towels for a few businesses in her area. This is made possible with the help of support workers who can assist her and help with what she cannot do. Sandra is also interested in the social part of this business - in the future Prue will take on more interactions with customers and this will be an meaningful part of her life as well as a contribution she can make to her community. Sandra also reflects on the specific challenges of rural life for farming families.