ONESIE WEDNESDAY - Autism NZ

ONESIE WEDNESDAY

 Autism New Zealand celebrates Autism        changes that we as a society can
 Awareness and Acceptance Month to           make to be more inclusive, and to
 shine a bright light on autism.             move beyond awareness and towards
                                             true acceptance and appreciation.
 This year, Onesie Wednesday and
 Autism Awareness and Acceptance             It's also time to recognise that the
 Month and Day were disrupted by             autism community still needs
 COVID-19 and the lock-down. That is         increased support. Statistics indicate
 why we have decided to relaunch             that around 1 in 59 people have
 Onesie Wednesday on 4 November              autism, representing over 93,000 New
 2020, and to host an online auction!        Zealanders. It is the fastest growing
 The online auction will finish on 5         developmental condition, however
 November, when we will also be              autism remains vastly underfunded.
 hosting an event including a live Q&A
 with Olympic gold medalist and Autism       As we work directly with the
 New Zealand Patron Eric Murray and          community through our outreach and
 the announcement of the auction             education services, we are constantly
 winners.                                    aware of the need in the community.
                                             Autistic students are regularly
 Therefore, it's time to celebrate           excluded from education. Parents and
 neurodiversity. To say loud and clear       caregivers frequently lack access to
 that different is great. To recognise the   crucial respite care.

There is clear evidence that an early          Autism New Zealand is now an
diagnosis and early intervention and           incorporated society with charitable
support enables autistic people to             status, which is funded primarily through
achieve their full potential. However, New     grants from charitable trusts, alongside
Zealand’s average age of diagnosis (at         the generosity of donors, partner
the age of 6) lags behind other western        organisations and a limited number of
countries, wait lists for assessment are       government contracts.
long, and access to intervention and
support is limited. Autism New Zealand is      We provide support, training, advocacy,
striving toward a distinct pathway for         resources and information on autism.
autistic people and their family/whānau,       Our members include autistic children,
to enable empowerment, choice and true         young adults and adults, their
inclusion.                                     family/whānau; caregivers; and
                                               professionals who work within this field.
Autism New Zealand is encouraging              Clients and community members have
schools, workplaces and community              access to 16 Autism New Zealand
groups nationwide to celebrate autism          branches nationwide, which house our
awareness and acceptance through               outreach and education services. Anyone
promotions and fundraisers such as             seeking guidance or information is
Onesie Wednesday, which directly help          always welcome to approach one of our
support our work. We are harnessing our        team and gain support.
strong social media following to share
information and understanding.                 This year, we have also opened
                                               Australasia's first Autism Resource
There is a list of ways to get involved        Centre in Wellington, extending the
within this pack. If you would like to use     range of services and support we can
our logo, please ensure that you have          provide to the community. The Autism
received permission from Autism New            Resource Centre is intended to provide a
Zealand directly, by contacting Eileen         location in which autistic people can
Donovan via the contact details below.         access clinical diagnostic services and
                                               associated therapies. It will also house
If you would like more information about       our education and training programmes,
Autism Awareness and Acceptance, and           as well eventually being able to house
Autism New Zealand's events and                support groups for autistic people and
initiatives, or would like to speak with our   their families/whānau.
team, please contact: Eileen Donovan on
021 190 5572 or                                For more information on Autism New
Eileen.Donovan@autismnz.org.nz.                Zealand, click here, or check out our
                                               Facebook page by clicking here.
About Autism New Zealand
                                               To contact Autism New Zealand, please
Autism New Zealand exists to empower           email info@autismnz.org.nz.
people living with autism, walking every
step of the journey together.

From humble origins as a frustrated
group of parents meeting in a garage in
1969, we have grown to New Zealand’s
foremost autism support network, with a
membership of over 23,000.

Donations - making it easy!                    Fundraising ideas
There are a few different ways you can         There are a number of activities your
send in your donations.                        school/organisation can organise to
                                               participate in fundraising for Autism New
Donations can be made by credit card or        Zealand, including hosting one of these
by bank deposit:                               activities.
  Once your fundraiser is finished, please
  send the donation form to                    Schools:
  accounts@autismnz.org.nz                       Talent show, with entry being a koha
  Donations of $5 or more are tax                for Autism New Zealand
  deductible                                     Dress up day or week on days other
  Our bank account number is: 03-0866-           than Onesie Day
  0356307-01                                     School/teddy bear picnic - this is
  Autism New Zealand can process credit          perfect whilst the warmer weather is
  card payments through our website:             beginning to reappear!
  www.autismnz.org.nz. Please include in         Sports day
  the description: WAAD 2020 and the             Principal/teacher challenge, students
  name of your school/organisation               can vote for their favourite
  A tax receipt for direct deposit               idea/challenge and donate a gold coin
  donations will be emailed as per the           for a vote
  details provided on the donations form         Bake sale - families can bring in a
  in this pack                                   variety of baking with the proceeds
  A tax receipt for website donations will       being donated to Autism New Zealand
  automatically be emailed as per the            Car wash - you can put a twist on this,
  details provided                               how about a superhero car wash?

Use of Autism New Zealand name and/or          Organisations:
logo:                                            Fun run/fun walk/marathon - these can
   Any press release, merchandise or             be short or long. Get everyone to wear
   editorials mentioninig Autism New             blue and green and get out in the sun
   Zealand and/or using Autism New               Trivia night, these can be hosted in the
   Zealand's logo must be approved prior         office or organise with your local
   to being released. Please email or call       restaurant/pub to have proceeds going
   Eileen Donovan on 021 190 5527 or             to Autism New Zealand
   Eileen.Donovan@autismnz.org.nz to             Polar bear plunge, have volunteers
   apply for approval.                           seek sponsors to plunge into cold water
                                                 Silent auction
Responsibilities:                                Karaoke contest
  It is the responsibility of the organiser      Sausage sizzle
  of the event to properly account for all       Bake sale, get everyone to bring baking
  income raised, expenses incurred as            with all proceeds going to Autism New
  well as ensuring that all elements of          Zealand.
  the activity are run safely, ethically and
  lawfully                                     If you are organising a fundraiser, and
  Insurance requirements and any other         would like to have it shared on our social
  liceces e.g. local council approvals etc     media, please email Eileen on
  are the responsibility of the activity       Eileen.Donovan@autismnz.org.nz or call
  organiser.                                   on 021 190 5572.

Here's some other ways you
can support those living with
autism:
 Provide opportunities at your school,
 workplace or community group, to
 learn more about autism and how it
 impacts autistic people and their
 families/whānau. Autism New Zealand
 can provide a korero at different times
 of the year to improve knowledge and
 understanding. We can also provide
 bespoke training for those wanting
 more in depth knowledge.
 Consider promoting autistic writers.
 Some authors are: Judy Endow, Yenn
 Purkis and Chris Bonello.
 Also consider promoting some books
 on autism. Here are some to get you
 started: "The Reason I Jump", "The
 Spark", "Spectrum Women, Walking to
 the Beat of Autism" and "M is for
 Autism".
 Organise, attend or volunteer at an
 autism and/or sensory friendly event
 such as a video game fundraiser,
 LEGO building event, sensory-friendly
 performance etc.
 Educate yourself on terminology that
 relates to autism. Find out what
 peoples preferences are by asking
 them how they describe themselves.
 For example, do they identify as an
 autistic person, or a person with
 autism? Generally the predominant
 preference in the community is autistic
 person.
 Watch a movie or TV series featuring
 autistic actors or characters with
 autism. Some are; "The Autistic
 Gardener", "Mozart and the Whale" or
 "Love on the Spectrum".
 Find ways to involve local autistic
 people in your events - 'nothing about
 them, without them'.

 We would like to say a huge thank you for fundraising for Autism New Zealand.
  With your support, Autism New Zealand can continue to provide our members
   with support, training, advocacy, resources and information on autism. We
 recognise how much time and energy it takes to create a successful fundraising
 activity, and truly appreciate your enthusiasm and care. Thanks for stepping up
                       to empower people living with autism!

Donations
Donations of $5 or more a tax deductible      When completed, please return to Autism
and a tax donation receipt can be issued.     New Zealand.

If individual participants would like their   Postal: PO Box 33481, Petone, Lower
donation to be receipted, please ask          Hutt 5046
them to complete this form and return it
to us along with the other donated funds.     Email: accounts@autismnz.org.nz

      Your participation will help make a difference to the lives of
      many autistic people and their families/whānau. Thank you
                  for supporting Autism New Zealand.

AUTISM AWARENESS
        ONESIE DAY
             RAISING UNDERSTANDING, AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF AUTISM

                       4 NOVEMBER, 2020

   ONESIE WEDNESDAY!
Would you like to support the autistic community in Aotearoa? Then we
                 invite you to take part in Onesie Day!

Wear your onesie (or PJ's) and bring a small donation to support Autism
 New Zealand, who walk every step together with autistic people and
 their family/whānau in Aotearoa. Then take a picture and share it on
 your Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #AutismNZOnesieDay.