Community support and help
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There are many ways to get help, support, and advice around the community.
Living with stroke
A stroke can be a sudden, life-changing event for the person it happens to and those around them. Whilst the consequences can be devastating, people do recover and learn to live with the loss of some functioning where this has occurred.
Your best chance of recovering from a stroke is getting medical help early, being patient as functions return, accessing a good rehabilitation programme and keeping motivated, even if progress seems slow.
Our stroke information section has more about strokes, and we also have many printed resources available to help you live with stroke. A series of videos giving practical information and tips about performing daily activities such as dressing, putting on make-up or coping with a baby can be watched online here.
We encourage those affected by stroke to contact our regional staff and ask to talk with a Community Stroke Advisor. This is a free and confidential service.
Advice, Support and Services
The links below provide a directory of sources of help, advice, and services in the community, with internet links for contact details, further information, and services available online.
If you would like to add a service to the list or want to inform us of broken links please contact marketing@stroke.org.nz. Please note that in general we can't list individual therapy practices or individual commercial facilities such as gyms, but we can list directories or professional associations which publicise such services.
Advance care planning
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Advance Care Planning (or ACP) is the process of thinking about, talking about, and planning for future health care and end of life care.
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ACP Cooperative |
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Age Concern – What happens if you can no longer make decisions? |
Leaflet explaining Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) (pdf) |
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Alzheimers NZ |
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Enduring Power of Attorney – Protect your future |
Aphasia
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Aphasia New Zealand Charitable Trust |
Services, support, education, information, and advocacy for New Zealanders with Aphasia |
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Aphasia Hubs (support meetings) in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Taupo, Wellington, Paraparaumu, Christchurch and Dunedin; other meetings and support for people with aphasia in Dunedin, Tauranga, Palmerston North/Manawatu, Lower Hutt, Nelson, Christchurch and Rodney. |
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Aphasia Software FinderThe Aphasia Software Finder is a website providing links to a huge variety of software and apps for personal computers, smartphones and tablets to help people with different forms of aphasia communicate. Almost every page now has a video explaining how to use the page for people who may have difficulty reading the text. Software is arranged under different categories and indication is given of where the software is free or if there is a cost. The site is created by the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia (UK). |
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Aphasia training at home online |
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Rotorua Aphasia Group: Stroke Foundation of New Zealand |
Contact details from Vivienne McDonald (Rotorua Community Stroke Advisor) |
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Virtual Speech Center (USA) |
Suite of aphasia and related apps (currently for Apple devices only - prices are in US$) |
Aspire Canterbury
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Aspire Canterbury |
Carer information and support
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Accredited Home Visiting Service |
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Alzheimer's Association |
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Alzheimers NZ |
About Alzheimers (pdf) |
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Carers New Zealand |
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Practical tips for helping someone with moving or handling |
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Caring Caller Service |
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A Guide for Carers Ministry of Social Development |
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Seniorline Helpline for any older person, friend or family member who: wants to stay at home; is caring for an older person at home; or is considering rest home / hospital care. |
0800 725 463 or www.seniorline.org.nz |
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Stroke4Carers (UK based, but with helpful advice for carers) |
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Family and stroke – when your parent or someone you love has a stroke. Support for rangatahi and tamariki. |
Education support services for students
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Advice and information |
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Study link |
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NZ Youth Network Ara Taiohi |
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Pre-schoolers |
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Ministry of Education |
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Kiwi Families |
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Primary and secondary students |
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Ministry of Education |
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Tertiary students - facilities which have a disability services unit |
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Victoria University of Wellington |
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University of Auckland |
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AUT University |
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Massey University |
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University of Otago |
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University of Canterbury |
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Lincoln University |
Inclusive Education: Support for illness, injury, and disability |
Help with communicating and speaking
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Also see ‘Aphasia’ above |
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Christchurch Stroke Club speech-language therapy sessions, Stroke Foundation of New Zealand |
Contact details from Stroke Foundation Southern Region office |
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Healthpoint Volunteer speech-language therapists, Waitemata DHB Speech Language Therapy |
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New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association |
Managing your health
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Health Navigator |
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Continence NZ Useful information for people whose independence is limited by bladder and bowel problems |
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Depression |
Read more in our ‘Stroke and Depression’ section |
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Electronic system to self-manage your healthcare |
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Fatigue after stroke |
Read our fact sheet ‘Fatigue after stroke’ |
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Health Passport Health and Disability Commissioner |
Health Passport (pdf) |
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Let’s P.L.A.N. for better care – Four steps for your next health care visit Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand |
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Medication and Stroke |
Read our fact sheet ‘Medication and Stroke’ |
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Super Seniors Ministry for Social Development |
Health, finance, recreation, and miscellaneous information for superannuitants |
Māori networks
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Auahi kore Quitting smoking support |
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Māori health providers Ministry of Health |
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Providers of cultural and social services in each area – Takoa |
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Information and support for Māori whānau with communication difficulties caused by stroke |
Other community services and resources
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Auckland Health Services AHS provide medical equipment hire for private and commercial clients alike. We have an extensive range of health support and rehabilitation equipment that includes, but is not limited to wheelchairs, walking frames, shower stools, commodes, rehabilitation chairs and exercycles. The friendly team at AHS ensure reliable and efficient coordination of equipment delivery and collection and are happy to assist with any queries relating to your equipment. |
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Citizens Advice Bureau |
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Counselling and support services |
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Health and disability advice and support |
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Ministry of Health website |
Ministry of Health NZ website |
Ministry of Health Healthline |
Healthline information |
Disability Resource Centre Trust |
Disability Resource Centre Trust website |
Independent Living Service (ILS) |
Independent Living Service website |
Information, support, and learning centres for older adults |
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Age Concern |
Age Concern website |
Senior Line |
Senior Line website |
Senior Net |
Senior Net website |
Injury cover and prevention |
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Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) |
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Local Council libraries and other facilities |
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National Library of New Zealand |
Directory of New Zealand Libraries (to contact local library) |
Local Council websites |
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Support for the New Zealand dementia community |
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Alzheimers New Zealand |
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Work and Income |
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Work and Income |
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Workbridge |
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Ministry of Social Development |
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Other languages health information
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Ethnic Affairs community directory |
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Stroke information in other languages |
Health information including Blood Pressure advice in different languages |
Medline Plus (USA)Online information in a variety of languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), Ukrainian and Vietnamese. |
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Stroke Foundation (Australia) |
Australian Stroke Foundation fact sheet 'What is stroke' in both pdf and audio MP3 formats in Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Turkish and Vietnamese. |
American Stroke Association (USA) |
Various fact sheets about stroke, stroke prevention and life after stroke in Spanish. |
Pacific networks
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Pacific health providersPacific Peoples Health |
Pacific health organisations and websites (Ministry of Health) |
Pacific Island Affairs linksMinistry of Pacific Island Affairs |
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Quitline Pacific Campaign |
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Vaka Tautua Health and Disability Support Services for Pacific people |
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Your guide to Disability Support Services (PDF in different languages) from Le Va |
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Words Matter: Disability Positive Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island words or phrases to use to describe disabilities or people with a disability, and a reminder about negative words which should be avoided. |
Words Matter: Disability in Samoan, Cook Islands and Tongan languages with English translations |
Recreational activities
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Art Therapy |
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Community groups for men to develop skills |
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Computer training for senior adults Senior Net |
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Holidays |
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Horse Riding |
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Music therapy |
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Cantabrainers Choir |
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CeleBRation Choir |
Information from the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research |
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Sport NZ |
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Green Prescription |
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Halberg Foundation |
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Parafed Auckland |
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Super Seniors Ministry for Social Development |
Recreation, finance, health and miscellaneous information for superannuitants |
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Swimming - local council swimming pool facilities |
Rehabilitation programmes and support
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Specific to regions (following discharge from hospital)
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Healthpoint |
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Stroke support in Canterbury Laura Fergusson Trust (Canterbury) |
Resources for children
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kidstrokemotion (Australia) A project to collect drawings and personal stories from children of stroke survivors and turn them into a kid-focused animation and resource for healing. |
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Maia and What Matters Illustrated story book for children 6+ telling the story of Maia and her Grandmother who has a stroke. |
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What does Super Jonny do when Mum gets sick? A simple story book which can also be used as a classroom resource for teaching children how to help the sick. At the rear of the book is a page of questions which link to both the English and New Zealand national curricula. |
Return to work support
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Return to Work service |
Read more in our ‘Return to Work service’ section |
Staying fit and healthy
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Accessible gyms Various council and gym facilities websites Contact local gym facilities |
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Falls prevention programmes at home Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand |
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Falls prevention programmes in the community Age Concern – SAYGo (Steady As You Go) Falls Prevention programme: designed for older people to increases strength, balance, mobility, participation and social inclusion |
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Green Prescription (to increase physical activity) – Health Navigator |
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Various council and swimming pool facilities websites |
Contact local swimming pool facilities - Directory of local councils |
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Physiotherapy sessions (Christchurch Stroke Club) Group exercise classes facilitated by a physiotherapist, available during meeting times at:
Group Communication Classes facilitated by a Speech Language Therapist available during meeting times at:
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Contact Stroke Foundation Southern Region Office: southern@stroke.org.nz |
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Tauranga exercise groups YMCA Tauranga |
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Umove University of Otago – individualised exercise programmes for individuals with a neurological condition. |
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Quitline Help giving up smoking |
0800 778 778 |
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Food and nutrition Health Navigator |
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Ready-made meals which are delivered |
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Eat |
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Countdown |
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New World |
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Tai Chi |
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Tai Chi for Health Institute |
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Staying safe at home and in your neighbourhood
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Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) advice |
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Carer-calling programme St John |
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Elder and disabled people abuse |
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Are You Ok? |
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Office for Senior Citizens |
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Emergency preparation |
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Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management |
Information for people with disabilities or special requirements |
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Equipment and advice to assist activities of daily living |
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Easie Living |
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Ministry of Health |
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Women and stroke |
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Ask SARA |
A self help guide on how aids and equipment can help life after stroke |
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Home Safety |
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Able Axcess |
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Know your neighbours |
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Neighbourhood support NZ |
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Medical alarm information |
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Work and Income |
Information on monitored medical alarms funded through Disability Allowance |
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St John |
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NZ Police advice |
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New Zealand Police |
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Smoke alarms |
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New Zealand Fire Service |
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Home Visiting Service |
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Age Concern |
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Stroke clubs
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Stroke Clubs unite people who have had a stroke, for mutual support and friendship. As well as enabling people to share experiences and help each other, the clubs hold social activities and organise outings: Stroke Clubs
Transport assistance and driving – getting about in the community
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CCS Disability Action |
CCS Disability action website |
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Citizens Advice Bureau |
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Driving after a stroke |
Read our fact sheet about ‘Driving and Transport after a stroke’ |
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Driving assessments |
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Occupational Therapy NZ |
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Equipment for mobility |
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New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres |
List of Disability Information Centres around New Zealand |
Ministry of Health |
Low-cost equipment and where to buy it |
Know your neighbours |
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Neighbourhood support NZ |
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Office for Senior Citizens |
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Lottery grants |
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Community Matters |
Information about grants to people with mobility and communication related disabilities |
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Mobility parking permit scheme |
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CCS Disability Action |
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SuperGold card - for use on public transport |
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Total Mobility Scheme |
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NZ Transport Agency |
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Transportation services |
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Vehicle modification |
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Ministry of Health |
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Volunteer drivers |
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Red Cross |
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Age Concern |
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A complementary directory produced for Hamilton Stroke Club contains some additional services and resources, in both the Waikato region and nationwide.
Hamilton_support_directory_2014.pdf