Disability a family affair
Journalist Monica Tischler of the Western leader writes an article about Charmeyne TeNana-Williams after the announcement of her award for the Queens service medal for her work in the disability sector. It talks about the realization of her true calling in life and how such a traumatic event has only made her family stronger then ever. The article also talks about how the company was founded and how it has evolved into one of the country’s leading home health care and rehabilitation company with opportunities to adapt her model in care to other countries.
Nga mihi
It took a tragedy for Charmeyne Te Nana-Williams to realise her true calling in life.
Her husband, boxer Peter Williams, suffered a traumatic brain injury during a fight in 2002 which left him quadriplegic and non-verbal.
He won the fight and gained the title of New Zealand super heavyweight boxer but collapsed afterwards from a brain bleed.
The former "man's man" is wheelchair bound and the pair now communicate by Williams wriggling his big toe through letters of the alphabet.
Life as they knew it changed forever and with 8-month-old twin daughters Safena and Leata, now 12, the young family was suddenly forced to make new decisions and choices.
Getting disability organisations to see them as a "family unit" was challenging, Te Nana-Williams says.
"Me and my girls were ignored and made to feel like we were totally irrelevant.
"Out of desperation I tried to make things better for myself so I could survive," she says.
The 43-year-old established home-based rehabilitation and support services organisation What Ever It Takes in 2005.
The New Lynn-based venture provides families of the disabled with a voice about the type of care they require and includes everyone in decision making processes.
Te Nana-Williams is among those recognised in the Queen's Birthday 2014 Royal New Zealand Honours.
She has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to people with disabilities.
Te Nana-Williams lives in Herne Bay with her daughters while Williams lives in Oratia with a team of about five 24/7 carers. But the family still enjoys time together. Te Nana-Williams says it's important to explore ways to retain and manage relationships.
"Families become so focused on the person with the disability that it can destroy relationships and create resentment.
"About 3 per cent of relationships survive among couples with serious injury.
"Peter was such a man's man before the accident and the last thing I wanted was for him to not be able to make his own decisions."
What Ever It Takes has evolved over the years and with 150 staff in Auckland and Wellington, is focusing on all vulnerable and isolated communities including the elderly.
Te Nana-Williams has used the trust to help establish netball and basketball squads as an outlet for children with disabled family members.
Youth also have a platform to express and communicate ideas creatively through the Pacific Pearls programme.
Te Nana-Williams has been a Whanau Ora Champion since 2012 and has travelled abroad to adapt her model of care to other countries.
She's also a member of advisory boards including ACC consumer outlook group, the ACC serious injury advisory group and has also been involved in the Health and Disability Expert panel for Welfare reform.
Go to the link below for the full article
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/10113302/Disability-a-family-affair.