Success Stories |

James

James has been with Renaissance for just over 5 years. When he first began he did not anticipate that he was on a journey that would lead to Abu Dhabi. James was a rather shy guy, not one for the limelight. He says having Supported Living in place helped him gain confidence in social situations. His experiences coupled along-side his friendly and sociable nature have helped him overcome his shyness, to a place where he is well positioned and equipped to reach out to others. While still not an attention seeker, the development in his confidence allows him to fulfil […]

Josh

Josh has made some bold steps forward in his life and his dreams. When we approached him about sharing his story, he saw it as an opportunity that he wanted to seize. Josh is growing personally as well as being very passionate about his new endeavours and the impact he wants to make on his community. Here is Josh’s story from his perspective: I want to share with you a bit of the journey I’ve travelled and the path I am still on. Some steps are small. Some steps are big. Some steps are managing basic everyday things. Some steps […]

John

John and Renaissance started working together a little over a year ago. John had friends and a job, lived in his own flat, and seemed pretty content with his life, so why put Supported Living services in place? To answer that question we have to look at how John was achieving success in these areas, and what difference having Supported Living could make, for both John and his family. John receives great support from his sister, Carla, though, before having Supported Living services, managing all of his needs was sometimes challenging and stressful. She would get calls from the council […]

Radio Gaga

Mel Jones (producer) and Josh Hastings (presenter) have been the driving force among the team of Radio Gaga presenters since the inception of the show. ‘It’s been a really good experience for me,’ Hastings says. Every presenter lives with a disability and this is the foundation that makes Radio Gaga supreme. Usually disabled people’s voices are unheard on mainstream radio. Radio Gaga is breaking stereotypes and giving people with disabilities a self-directed environment to be heard. ‘I’ve got a lot of confidence out of it and I’ve learned a lot about different disabilities which has made me more understanding of all kinds of people,’ Hastings said. Renaissance Group founded Radio […]

Daryl

Against all odds. Daryl is man with a dream – A dream to get to the Special Olympics in Los Angeles in 2015. At the age of 36, Daryl has fought against all odds to be where he is in his sporting career. Although he has Thrombocytopenia, Leukopenia and along with a diagnosis of mild intellectual disability, Daryl upholds a bright and positive attitude towards life and proudly states “I want to achieve more!” Daryl enjoys many sports, but due to his physical health issues, his choices for sport have been limited. Luckily, there was one sport that caught Daryl’s […]

Blake and Ryan

Designed and managed their own services. My brother Ryan and I have a genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II. The condition usually prevents living past the age of six, but my brother and I are now in our early 20’s. It was never expected that we would live to this age or that we would live relatively ‘normal’ lives. Instead we went to public schools, had social lives, I had a religious life for a time, we’ve been involved in our community, I’ve had a part-time job, and we both went to university. The only ‘normal’ thing left by […]

Rachel

My amazing journey……….so far. Hi, my name is Rachel George and I am 28 years old. I have been with Renaissance for a couple of years now and my life has really changed in some amazing ways. When I started, some people would have described me as shy. A few of my main goals were to become active in my community, make friends and be healthier. We started out walking to a community centre where I was involved in art classes and Zumba. I walked slowly and got tired easily. I enjoyed the art classes and am still involved in […]

Alan

If anything goes wrong, all I do is give Renaissance a call. Alan Hamilton has been a Renaissance Group client for many years. With no family in the Auckland region, Alan, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, has managed to work his way towards greater self-reliance by reducing the amount of support he receives through Renaissance from 44 hours a week, down to just 12. This is a remarkable achievement for a man who clearly values his independence, and will stop at nothing to get it. Originally Alan was living in a residential facility, however, with the help of the Renaissance […]

Michelle

I always used to say I can’t, but now I say I can. When asked what she has achieved over the last year Michelle Rahman replied, “The list is endless! I’ve got my learners drivers licence and I’m well on my way to getting my restricted“. “And these two are just the start of the list!” her Supported Living Facilitator commented. So what’s so special about getting a drivers licence? The answer to this lies in the fact that Michelle lives with a mild intellectual disability as well as dealing with Dyspraxia on a daily basis. So what’s the secret […]

Todd

Now I enjoy my mum as a mum. Todd Robertson is a very independent person who lives such a busy lifestyle, it’s hard to keep up with what he’s doing at any one time! What a difference from his lifestyle of three years ago when he was heavily relying on mum. Now as Todd says, “I can now enjoy her more as mum than a support person”. The answer to this amazing change is Todd has been receiving the support of the Supported Living Team from the Renaissance Group since 2006. Todd is an interesting person who is continually coming […]

Catherine

Renaissance helps support me to become healthy! When you are profoundly deaf and you also have a mild intellectual disability it may seem that your future is fairly limited to staying at home or going to work with your mother so that she could be near to you. Or does it? Destiny’s pathway took a different direction for Catherine Broughton when she decided to take on the Supported Living option offered by the Renaissance Group. Just over three years ago Catherine met with a coordinator from the Renaissance Group and decided the goals she wanted to set for herself in […]

Joe

At least I’m not closed up in my room, any more! “At least I’m not closed up in my room any more”, this statement from Joe Mahu is a simple one that speaks volumes for the need and benefit of Supported Living. Joe has spina bifida and problems with his only remaining kidney failing, for which it is believed there is no option of a transplant being available. Quite a gloomy outlook for Joe just over 18 months ago. Today the story is a little different. Joe lives in his own two bedroom unit, goes out shopping and goes out […]

Rebecca

Having support is wonderful. Watching a Television Programme with her parents back in 2004 was the key to a lifestyle changing decision for Rebecca Rabbits. The programme was about the Renaissance Group and how they used the Supported Living Philosophy to assist people with disabilities to live the lifestyle of their choice. To Rebecca and her parents the Supported Living model was just what they had been looking for to assist Rebecca achieve her goals in life. Prior to discovering the Supported Living option life it was difficult for Rebecca, “I hardly had any money and didn’t have many support […]

Jody

It’s been tremendous, with a capital T! A terrible motor vehicle accident in 1994 meant a whole new life for Jody Drane. In 2008, after a long period in hospital and a residential rehabilitation centre, Jody was transferred to a Supported Living programme provided by the Renaissance Group. “Moving into my own two bedroom flat was a real highlight and I can’t thank the Renaissance staff enough who guided me through the process. Just having someone to ‘walk’ beside me was such a reassurance.”

Andrew

Sometimes, just talking helps. A motorcycle accident resulted in Andrew suffering head injuries, numerous fractures and burns. Recovering from the physical impact has taken a number of years; recovering from the emotional impact will take a lot longer. With support from the Renaissance Group, Andrew is looking forward to a less complicated and stressful lifestyle. He says, “I get help and advice with my shopping, budgeting and cooking. Sometimes just talking, helps take the stress away”.

Patrick

Someone to egg you along! A serious motor vehicle accident in 2000 left Patrick with a spinal injury which robbed him of most sensation in the lower part of his body. In 2001 doctors told him,’ You cannot walk and will never walk again!’ Seven years later Patrick can walk around his home and garden. So why would the Supported Living services of the Renaissance Group be of use to him? Patrick said, “My Supported Living Facilitators assisted me with the process of getting my Unitec welding course and getting my quotes sorted out. It’s been helpful to have someone […]

David

It makes all the difference! In 2007, David Harwood received a brain injury in a car accident which left him with a whole range of problems, arguably the worst being his poor memory. Working with his Supported Living Facilitator has been a real positive for David, “We go shopping together and he remembers things that I forget and its good to have his support when dealing with WINZ or HNZ”.

Kenneth

Yeah it’s great – nice people! Some years ago Kenneth fell backwards off a high stool onto a concrete floor causing severe spinal stenosis, a condition which, due to narrowing of the spinal cord, causes nerve pinching resulting in persistent pain and decreased physical activity. Kenneth has not been able to get out of the Glen Innes area for some years. With the guidance of his Supported Living Facilitator and his own resolve to achieve his goals Kenneth enjoys travelling by train and visiting the viaduct basin on Auckland’s waterfront.

Anne

It has been very enabling. Anne Jessen’s life was majorly impacted by a brain injury she received in a motor vehicle accident. Relearning even some of the most basic of tasks is all part of her rehabilitation process. When asked what it was like having a Supported Living Facilitator in her life, Anne replied “She is not an interrupter of my thoughts. She is really good. It has been very enabling – it sounds crazy, but that is the way it is. It is much easier having my Supported Living Facilitator and if I want to talk she will listen […]

Lio

Having all the team work with me makes it easier! Injured in a car accident in 2001, and left with a severe spinal injury, Lio languished around home, not knowing or caring what the future held for him. However, since working with the team from Renaissance Group, he has set many goals, some of which he is slowly achieving. When asked what having the support of the Renaissance Team means to him, Lio responded, “Having all the team work with me makes it easier and I really appreciate it – they do a good job”. […]

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