Choice and Connection – Karen’s Story

Within disability support, Individualised Funding stands as a means to empowerment, granting individuals like Karen the autonomy to shape their support services according to their unique needs and preferences.

Earlier this year, Karen used her Individualised Funding to purchase audio transcription services so she could do something many of us take for granted. She 'watched' her daughter's dance performance.

With an earpiece in tow, an audio transcriber fed her descriptions of her daughter's performance in real-time. Partway through the performance, her daughter stopped and helped another girl on stage – something dancers are taught not to do. This moment was a proud one for Karen because, as a mother, she felt she had raised her daughter well.

The impact of being able to choose goes beyond financial gain. "Individualised funding eliminates barriers that might otherwise restrict life experiences. It liberates us from tasks that could consume valuable time and energy, allowing us to focus on what truly matters," says Karen.

Karen is an advocate for Individualised Funding and is a part of Lifewise’s Disability Team where she helps others get the most out of their funding.

You can learn more about Karen’s story and Individualised Funding here - https://www.lifewise.org.nz/individualised-funding/