Iris opens doors to public

Photo: JASON OXENHAM

OPEN DAY: Iris chief executive John Wade with client Yung Chen, whose artwork was in the open day auction.

Members of the public got an up-close look at disability and health services with an open day to celebrate the International Day for Disabled People.

Iris in Sandringham provides a range of services for people with disabilities, injuries and health concerns and it opened its doors last Thursday for people to get an idea of what it does.

People were able to have a look at the service’s conductive education programme, specially designed for children with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders.

The building also has a gym for rehabilitation work and a registered nursing service.

Chief executive John Wade says conductive education is an innovative approach to working with cerebral palsy. Iris also provides a community living service to help people in their own homes.

"One of the great things about Iris is our ability to work with the whole person and their disabilities, issues and needs," says Mr Wade.

The service’s art therapy programmes help those who are non-verbal express themselves in other ways, says arts therapist Marion Gordon-Flower.

"It’s a self-exploration forum rather than just painting for the sake of painting.

"Clients need to become visible because they are not visible in the community," she says.

Painting deals with people’s challenges in having a disability, social stigmas and the day-to-day barriers they face, she says.

Mr Wade says he would like to see a more national focus on the International Day for Disabled People.

For more information phone 846-6295 or go to www.conductive.org.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News