Issue 61 - Spectrum Care

Asian ServicesAsian Services at Spectrum Care startedin June 2005 as a new part of the CommunityCultural Services. It is now over two yearssince I took up the role in setting up thenew services.Currently, we support more than twenty peopleand their families and support workers. Theyconsist of Chinese people (from China, HongKong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodiaand Vietnam) and Koreans. About half ofthem live in Spectrum Care homes and therest live with their families.The primary purpose of the Asian Servicesis to provide support services to people ina culturally appropriate way. This is usuallydone in partnership with other teams.The majority of people supported by theAsian Services are referred by our BehaviourSupport Services. The two services are underthe same management team and workclosely in providing behavioural supportprogrammes to Asian people. These includepeople in our Adult Services, and Child Youthand Respite Services.As the Asian Services Advisor, I have alsoprovided support and advice to colleagues inthe Home Support Services, AspirationsServices, Property Management team andthe Communications Advisor on cultural issues.As in other health services, disability servicesare often not used adequately by Asianpeople because of lack of information andfor cultural reasons. Over the past two years,we have promoted our services to Asiancommunities through setting up informationdesks at community meetings, a live interviewat a Chinese radio, and a press interview ofan Asian man whom we support by an Englishnewspaper for Asian people.We liaise with community organisations suchas TANI (The Asian Network Inc.), CNSST(Chinese New Settlers Services Trust), NZCYT(New Zealand Chinese Youth Trust) andAutism New Zealand, Auckland Branch(Chinese Section). Over the last two years,there has been a steady increase in thenumber of Asian users of our service.Within Spectrum Care, awareness of Asiancultures has been promoted in our staffnewsletter. A column on Asian Cultures wasstarted in August 2006, introducingConfucius Sayings, which is a major influencefor many Asian cultures. The column alsocovers Asian teachings that are of Indianorigin. A lot of our colleagues have learnedof the service through reading the Asianculture column.We thank our colleagues who are passionateabout their work and are doing so much forthe Asian people. It has been a pleasureto work with you in exploring new anddifferent ways of supporting our people andtheir families.Ian ChanAsian Services AdvisorIan works part-time on Monday, Tuesdayand Thursday morning. He is based at ourOnehunga office. You can contact him on09 6343790 ext 339Thanks to Moore Gallagher for helping to distribute Across the Spectrum.Free Subscription‘Across the Spectrum’ is aimed at celebrating the achievements of individuals with an intellectual disability as well as promotingawareness and understanding of disability issues. If you would like to receive ‘Across the Spectrum’ regularly, or know of anyonewho you think would benefit from a copy then please let us know. ‘Across the Spectrum’ is mailed out quarterly.Please tick a box and add the relevant detailsYes, I want to receive your newsletter, Acrossthe Spectrum.I already receive Across the Spectrum.Please update my mailing details.I no longer wish to receive Across theSpectrum.NameOrganisationAddressPhoneEmailPlease post or fax to: The Editor, Across the Spectrum, PO Box 91 147, Auckland, fax 09 634 3791