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Damned excellent post, Fiona. Over in Brisbane, my sister Janine is the sole carer for my nephew Jordan, who has osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone syndrome). She has her own home, but it's a constant struggle to insure her deadbeat dad ex- husband pays his fair share of child support on time and he also rarely uses his visitation rights. Life would be impossible if it weren't for my parents helping both of them out. And don't get me started on Aussie child support enforcement... :(

Luck, in vast and copious quantities Fiona!

Someone commented on another site the other day on how good people with disabilities have it in NZ.

Both barrels they got.

Great post.

Thank you for sharing this Fiona.

And very best of luck. :-)

Thanks for this Fiona. Just wondering, have you had anything to do with the Enabling Good Lives pilot programme in Christchurch, or is Claudia too young?

I hear you. Can I tell you though that having a job that's YOURS and filling your head with other things is so liberating. My daughter is now 30 (jeeeez) and lives in her house round the corner, with amazing carers who come and go. We have no services - we just make it up as we go along. Instead of a job she goes to loud action movies, cruises the aisles at Bunnings, or goes for rolls along the beach. She comes home for Sunday lunch and the whanau pop in and see her. When I push her home she knows more people on the street than I do. Thank you individualised funding.
I'm telling you this because there are ways you can reclaim your life, and forget all the shit that systems, and services, and experts, and plans dish up endlessly. It's been tricky for us at times - and sometimes we've had to deal with risks that would make your hair stand on end - but we get there because we do it for love and for family.

Thanks everyone ; really loved being back in the world of the working - even looking forward to tomorrow. All the more special because I came home to a fed and showered daughter and a cold glass of Verve Cliquot waiting for me. Could get very used to this!

Great to hear the job AND family life going well :)

Word!

Congratulations Fiona, thrilled for you!

Big milestone for Claudia too, everyone gets to that point of differentiation from Mum and Dad and it’s a metamorphosis alright.

Parents like you make me feel really proud.

Hi Hilary,
No we only moved here at the beginning of the year and Claudia is too young/still at school. I hear positive things though!

wow thank you