Autism-Takiwātanga Support Information For Youth Aged 16 & Older

Autism-Takiwātanga Support Information For Youth Aged 16 & Older

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Autism-tākiwatanga support information: what's next?

Ngā kete tipuranga: the basket of growth and development 

It can sometimes be overwhelming finding age-appropriate information on autism-takiwātanga. This page is designed to make it easier by tailoring information to youth aged 16 and older. 

This page includes information about helpful organisations and links to useful websites. Topics covered include autism-takiwātanga in adulthood, education, and sexuality, gender and relationships. Click on the images to link through to the websites. 

Check out a QR code poster highlighting the content on this page

How should people refer to a person diagnosed with autism-takiwātanga?

Takiwātanga means in his, her or my own time and space. It comes from a Māori phrase for autism - "tōku/tōna anō takiwā".

There is no single way of describing autism that everyone agrees on. People may refer to autism, autism spectrum, the spectrum and ASD. People with autism-takiwātanga often prefer to identify as autistic, an autistic person, a person with autism or as an autistic individual. In the health system, it's often called autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Check out a brief description on Autism NZ's website.

Navigating resources and supports

Finding your way through autism-takiwātanga supports and information can feel overwhelming at times. The links below may help you find what you need, or to find someone to help you. 

Autism NZ

Autism NZ has resources on navigating the world of autism-takiwātanga, the diagnosis process and education resources. 

Autism NZ has 16 branches nationwide - you can ring your local branch for individualised information and support.

Check out the Autism NZ website

Autism NZ homepage showing the Autism NZ logo, information and a photo of a child on their parent's shoulders at a beach

Altogether Autism 

Altogether Autism can provide personalised information packages for you - just click on the 'Ask us a question' box and fill in the online information request form. This website also contains many articles that are relevant to teenagers with autism-takiwātanga.

Check out the information hub section on the Altogether Autism website

Image of Altogether Autism logo and section on its information hub

Education

Altogether Autism

Altogether Autism has a range of information on education and adulthood.

Check out Altogether Autism's information on teenagers, including:

Image of Altogether Autism website education section for teenagers, showing two students studying and wordings of two sections.

Check out Altogether Autism's section on adulthood.

Image of Altogether Autism adulthood section on its website

Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education has general information on tertiary education, including the different options, student loans and allowances. It also has information on the different types of providers.

Find more information on tertiary education on the Ministry of Education website.

Image of Ministry of Education's website section on tertiary education and training

The ministry also has a booklet for parents and caregivers of young people with special education needs.

This booklet includes information on learning support, life after school and preparing to leave school.

Find out more about life after school.

Read the Ministry of Education booklet Preparing to leave school: Te takatū mō te wehe atu i te kura (PDF, 1.3MB).

Image of Ministry of Education booklet on 'preparing to leave school'

Information on life after school is also available from some post-secondary school education providers, most which will have learning support available. Your school careers advisor or counsellor may also have more information.

Employment

Workbridge-Te Arawhiti mо̄ Mahi

Workbridge helps people with disabilities and other conditions find work and supports them in employment. 

The organisation provides a range of free employment support services which are designed to suit each individual's needs.

Check out the Workbridge website.

Workbridge logo, with bridge image in Maori design and the wording: Workbridge Te Arawhiti mo Mahi

CCS Disability Action

CCS Disability Action offers employment and vocational services.

The organisation works with disabled people aged between 16 and 65, who are not currently in school and are looking to build their community connections or move into employment.

Find out more about CCS Disability Action's employment services.

It also offers a broad range of support services for disabled people, their family and whānau. Services include advocacy for whānau and support for people to remain living at home or in their communities. 

Find out more about CCS Disability Action.

Screenshot of CCS website homepage with image of woman and boy embracing and the words 'support advocacy information'

Sexuality, gender and relationships

Some young adults and their families find they want information and support on how to manage aspects of puberty, sex education and gender identity.

Raising Children 

The Australian Raising Children website has information on these topics. The information is mainly aimed at parents of autistic young people. Keep in mind not all services described on this site will be available in New Zealand.

Check out the Raising Children website.

Screenshot image of the Raising Children website showing its autism:sexual development section

Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa (previously Family Planning) 

Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa has a range of information and resources for young people and their families.

Check out the Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa website.

Check out the 'advice' section on the Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa website to read about a range of topics, including sexuality and consent.

See Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa's information for parents and whānau

A screenshot of the sexual wellbeing aotearoa website section for parents and caregivers, with the organisation's logo and written content

Rainbow Youth

There is a variety of information on gender and sexuality on the Rainbow Youth website. Rainbow Youth also offers a support service and social groups at a number of locations throughout Aotearoa.

Check out the Rainbow Youth website.

Image of the Rainbow Youth website logo

Social support for young people with autism-takiwātanga

Many youth with autism-takiwātanga need support to develop social skills and friendships.

Some social skills-focused groups that might be useful include:

  • music or dance groups
  • youth groups
  • physical activity, gymnastics, climbing or sports groups 
  • Lego groups
  • social conversation and speaking development groups
  • special interest groups

Contact your local Autism NZ outreach coordinator or Altogether Autism cordinator for more information about groups in your area. 

Image of children holding hands and logo of the Autism NZ website

Image of children playing soccer with Altogether Autism logo and words from its website 'home > information hub / request information'

Cultural support

Talk to your iwi or hapu about what support they may be able to provide. For help with finding your iwi website, head to the Te Puni Kōkiri website. Once there, you can find your iwi by searching on the map function. Click on the iwi, then on 'Representative Organisations' - this will give you a website address and contact details for your local iwi.

Check out the map function on the Te Puni Kōkiri website.

Te Puni Kokiri website logo

Pasifika Autism Support Group is for parents and carers of children and youth with autism-takiwātanga. The group aims to meet every term and also operates a Facebook page

Logo of the Pasifika Autism Support group - big colourful letters 'PASG' with words 'a journey of hope' underneath

Other useful information

Needs Assessment Service Coordination Association (NASCA) 

Your local NASCA organisation helps with respite care and carer support. If your situation has changed since your last assessment, please discuss this with your NASCA organisation. If you have a carer support allocation, this may need updating.

Find your local Needs Assessment Service Coordination Association services.

Find out more about Needs Assessment Service Coordination Association

Image of the Needs Assessment Service Coordination Association website showing a map of New Zealand and links to different regions.

Explore (HealthCare NZ) autism-takiwātanga services

Explore (HealthCare NZ) offers a range of services for children with autism-takiwātanga and their families.

Services include:

Targeted Parenting Support programme

This programme helps parents develop specific skills and goals.

Explore Specialist Advice

A service to help parents and whānau manage challenging behaviour. 

Resources and online support

Free online courses to help you understand your teen's behaviour, communicate with them and develop strategies. 

Check out Explore (Healthcare NZ's) autism support services.

Image of the autism services section on the Healthcare NZ website

QR code poster

To give others easy access to KidsHealth's autism-takiwātanga content, you can share a QR code poster. Anyone can scan the QR code with their smartphone and go straight to the KidsHealth autism-takiwātanga - support and resources by age group landing page

Share a digital image of the poster (PNG, 3.0MB) or print out a PDF version (PDF, 1.3MB).

A QR poster highlighting the age-specific information on autism-takiwatanga on the KidsHealth website. Includes images, words and a QR code.

See more KidsHealth content on autism-takiwātanga

Check out KidsHealth's section on autism-takiwātanga

Find age-specific resources for autistic children and their families

Find more supports and resources

Watch autism-takiwātanga videos

Find out more about autism-takiwātanga

This page last reviewed 17 August 2022.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 any time of the day or night for free health advice when you need it