Local families are invited to take a step back from the day-to-day juggle and focus on what really matters, with a free weekend workshop designed to build confidence, connection and practical skills.
Raglan-based clinical psychologist Annick Janson is bringing the Now & Next programme to the community, offering parents of children and teens with special needs a supportive space to learn, share and plan for the future.
Developed by parents for parents, it gives participants tools to set meaningful goals for their child and whānau, while connecting with others on a similar journey. Annick, the programme’s co-founder, runs the programme in eight countries and is thrilled to launch it “at home”.
“Funding from CCS Disability Action Waikato enables us to offer it in Raglan,” Annick says. Backed by research and shaped by lived experience, Now & Next is known for helping parents feel less isolated, more confident and involved in their child’s progress.
“Its power is building local leadership through networks of like-minded people,” she says. “Not every journey is the same, but there are many shared experiences, and one thing we all have in common is our love for our children.”
Annick’s daughter Melissa, who will co-run the programme, is also a psychologist who takes a strengths-based approach, with a focus on family-led support and sibling leadership.
“Sibling relationships are the longest in a person’s life – they play a unique role, being similar in age and life stage.” Melissa says. “Research with siblings shows that when parents don’t discuss the future of our sibling, because they don’t want to ‘burden’ us, we then fill that gap with anxiety. We, like parents, want choice about being involved.”
“We support our neurodiverse brother with his health, friendship, and dating goals. We also helped him to make the decision to go flatting. The point is, we get the best outcomes when starting conversations and actions early – not when parents are no longer able to care for their adult children,” Melissa says.
“You don’t want to place pressure on other children, but when working with siblings or whānau, we could see how important it is to support and strengthen those relationships,” Annick adds
Creative, hands-on activities encourage carers to build a clear, positive vision for their child and family, grounded in possibility rather than limitation, helping break strengths-based goals into small, practical steps, while supporting and learning from one another in a collaborative environment.
By the end of the weekend, families leave not only with a plan, but with greater confidence, stronger connections and tools they can continue to use into the future.
Raglan Now & Next programme runs Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, 10am-2pm at the Old School Art Centre, 5 Stewart St. Registration essential tinyurl.com/info-parent-quest-2026 or annick@egl.ac.nz
